August 18th, 2017
1 Corinthians 2:2 (KJV): “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
So, Paul being the apostle to the Gentiles and we being Gentiles, why are our fellowships so far away from what Paul taught?
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles always was aware of who he was and what his mission was (Acts 9:15). “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:17. Else where Paul writes of his mission, his duty unto God in: Acts 14:7, 14:2, 16:10; Ro 1:15, 10:15, 15:19, 20, 16:25, 1 Cor 9:14, 16, 18, 15:1-4, 2; 2 Cor 2:12, 10:14,16, 11:7; Gal 1:11, 2:2, 3:8, 4:13, Col 1:23, 1 Thess 2:9. It was Paul’s mission, he was obsessed with the LORD Jesus Christ. Every where Paul went he presented the gospel; this gospel: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. What was his intent given by Luke in Acts 13 on to Acts 28:31; “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (that gospel given by the LORD Jesus Christ to Paul Gal 1:11-12), with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:31. Concerning being raised Paul wrote: Acts 13:30; 33, 34, 37; 17:31; Ro 4:24, 25, 6:4, 9, 7:4, 8:11, 10:9; 1 Cor 6:14, 15:15, 16, 17, 35, 42, 43, 44, 52, 2 Cor 4:14; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12; 1 Thess 1:10 & 2 Tim 2:8. Although Paul did not expressly use death, burial & resurrection the implication is always there. When “raised from the dead” is used, it is to be understood that its concerning Christ, that there was death (by crucifixion) burial and then resurrection. i don’t believe Paul sat around for simple minded chit chat, he was always presenting the LORD Jesus Christ. When conversation wained from Christ, Paul would in short order bring the conversation back to the LORD Jesus Christ and his work for our good in Christ’s death, burial and conversation.
Today our song service’s should be geared to Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. The given sermon for those who have come to hear for attaining unto eternal life by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and the belief of the same. Our Sunday School gatherings, to glorify the LORD Jesus Christ in His completed work on the cross for ones sin by His death, burial and resurrection. That at every meeting, gathering that the death, burial and resurrection is paramount in our presentations and our conversations. Rarely is Christ presented as Saviour by His death, burial and resurrection.
Our song’s that we sing are (for the most part) far and away from the truth of the gospel given by Paul; “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4. “Let (a conscience choice) the word of Christ (received and given by Paul; Gal 1:11-12) dwell in you richly (Eph 1:13) in all wisdom (1 Cor 2:7) ; teaching and admonishing one another (2 Tim 3:16-17) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace (Jo 1:14; not with us as then in John but now in us (1 Cor 12:11-12) making us new in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), now His body on earth (Eph 5:32) in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16. Jesus told the Samaritan woman “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24. Would it, in light of this passage, that the songs we sing not only be of good value, in good taste but moreover to be truthful. To many times while singing in a corporate setting or alone when the words are placed in the lyrics are incorrect i will change them for truth. Most often, more than not, the words given are from the LORD: for i know whom i am known of God (Gal 4:9) and that i no longer live but that i live by His faithfulness to me (Gal 2:20-21) for it is not possible that should God to lie. (Titus 1:2).
What can possibly be the reason for Pastors, Elders, Teachers, Evangelists, Sunday School Teachers, Worship Leaders, Song Service Leaders and those in the pews to have a motive other than the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ? What else brings life, salvation, peace, good will, love, faith, hope than: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19. That being most true then why is it neglected to the extent that it is? It has to be either ignorance or design. Hold your leadership accountable to what saith the scripture. It is apparent to me that they, leadership won’t, so then it must lie with the laity too! Those who are in Christ and have the knowledge of the truth are required by that knowledge to make the truth known. To not proclaim the death, burial & resurrection, is to be “that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” Philippians 3:18c. There isn’t any middle ground in the Kingdom of God, one is either for or against.
Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life, which was made possible for me by Your death, burial and resurrection. i understand, i see the way most fellowships are going. i don’t understand why there is such resentment to the work You completed on our behalf. It is hard for me to understand why man is so callused of You. You said well when saying that the world’s sin is unbelief in You. All the work that the Father laid on You to do for me; that by simple faith i may have what You have provided in that death, Your death; burial and resurrection; Thank You, Thank You, Thank You: In Jesus’s name, Your name Amen . . . . . . .
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