Love each other.

1 John

Not sure who the audience is, or who John was writing to, but overall, it seems as if though the disciples were starting to worship idols, and "working" to be saved.
It is alluding to the fact that there are false teachers in the mix leading them astray.
They are becoming more materialistic and selfish.
Hence the warning.

To God be the Glory.

Be steadfast

1 Peter

Keep up the good work.
It is through trails and suffering that our faith and believe gets stronger.
Jesus went through the same trials and died, so we may have a new life.
We pledge through the baptism that we would repent and believe there is an inheritance that God has prepared for us that will never fade or perish.

To God be the Glory.

Stay humble, stay strong in Christ

2 Corinthians

It seems as if though Paul was a bit more "relaxed" on the last letter to the Corinthians.
All in all, the Corinthians did refresh the hearts of Titus.

To God be the Glory.

2 Corinthians 12 & 13

"I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged."

From Paul's letter, 1 Corinthians, to this, the underlining theme, was that the Corinthians were still not repenting from the sin of impurity, sexual sin and debauchery.

Even thought he commended them on the spirit of giving, they are still falling short, and seem to like it, in the sexual and physical aspect of the body.

To God be the Glory.

One husband, Christ

2 Corinthians 10

"...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

"...your faith continues to grow..."


2 Corinthians 11

Knowing God and his plan is pure and simple.
"...simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." NASB

"Concern for Their Faithfulness" NKJV

To God be the Glory

Generosity

2 Corinthians 9

From all that the Corinthians was going through, one thing they seem to do well or at least were commended for was their generosity.

Many a times, this passage was used to teach, or preached, specifically about money given to the church.
I believe it is more than that. The Corinthians gave more than just money. They gave all they had. It was food, clothing, shelter, and last but not least, money. However, there might be one element that might be a stumbling block, and might just make sense. The Corinthians were a nice bunch of people, but because they were so nice and giving, the morale suffered. When does one stop giving? Do we give to even the point of sexual immorality? Be yoked with unbelievers? Is everybody the same? Let's not offend, but be giving. These are something to ponder about if the Corinthians were commended on the generosity and was warned about other short comings as sexual immorality and division among the body.

Just the thought of the day.

To God be the Glory.

Grace of giving

2 Corinthians 8

Give as the Lord gave.
Does it mean money, or does it mean give in general?
If the disciples did not have much money then, what did they give then?
"Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." -Acts 2:45
If they sold the possessions for money, what were they going to do with the money?
Did they sell it for food, clothing, or even a house?

What ever it might be, the whole point is nobody was in need.

To God be the Glory.

Joy

2 Corinthians 7

When disciples of Jesus are united in the Spirit, joy will abound.
Being united in the Spirit results in righteousness brings about repentance from this world and leads to salvation.
We are ultimately not "saved" till the last day.
We are "saved" with a deposit, and like any deposit, we can lose it if the covenant is broken.
If God cannot break the covenant, who can? Us, humans.

So we must be more the eager to do what is right and good, be obedient and grow in God's righteousness till the last day.

To God be the Glory.

Stay pure, stay true, stay faitful.

I was at Jury Duty yesterday, but was disqualified because I could not be impartial.
After being introduced to the case, I found myself condoning the behavior, and as much as I want to see the outcome, the words of the judge, making sure that there is no partiality towards one or the other, ran through my conscience and I could not do it.
Today, I feel like if Jesus was there, would he acted as if he was there where the woman was caught in adultery?
Maybe I was a bit too harsh?

2 Corinthians 6

"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain."
Paul continues to plead with the Corinthian disciples to fight the good fight and not loose heart. One of the short comings seems to be getting involved in bonding with people that are not believers.

V14"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers."

Stay pure.

To God be the Glory.

Ministry of reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5

Since God created humans, we are from heaven but were deceived and fell.

V5 "...So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

V11 "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men."

We are preaching a message of reconciliation with God.
The way to be reconciled is through Jesus Christ.

V15 "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

It is when we are reconciled with God in Christ, we are a new creation.

V17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

As a new creation, we are hopeful to become "the righteousness of God."

To God be the Glory.

Do not lose heart

2 Corinthians 4

"...we have this treasure in jars of clay..."

We are dead in Christ so that we can live and reveal Jesus in our body.

I think I have to read the entire letter of 2 Corinthians to get what Paul is saying.

To God be the Glory.

New Covenant

1 Corinthians 3

V5 "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."

The ministry of Christ is a ministry of glory, life, freedom and righteousness.
Life, freedom and righteousness is brought forth only in Christ.
When Christ died and was resurrected, all these things came about.

V18 "...we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

We should have a ever increase reflection of the Lord's glory form the Spirit in which we received.

To God be the Glory.

Aroma of Christ

2 Corinthians 2

V9: "The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything."

Paul follows this with forgiveness of sinners will sustain a disciple to not be outwitted by satan, and we are aware of his schemes.

Love this passage, and it is convicting:

V14 "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."

To God be the Glory.

Back to Corinth

2 Corinthians 1

V12 "We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace."

V13 "For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand."

I am not sure of his discription: "Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no""

From the looks of it, it means he is not double minded, for God is not double minded.

2 Corinthians 2

Love this verse:
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."

To God be the Glory.

Final greetings in Corinthians

1 Corinthians 16

V13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

V21-24

" I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen."

The Dead

1 Corinthians 15

All in all, Paul is testifying on the matter on the resurrection of Christ, and with it the baptism of Christ.

Here is the link I posted within my blog, which is more of a cross reference study:
Baptism for the dead.

V58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

To God be the Glory.

Excel in the gifts

1 Corinthians 14

V12 "Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church."

The speaking of tongues is always controversial, but so is everything else in the Bible if you do not study it out correctly.

"Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people," Isaiah 28:11

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:4

"(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2:11

Tongues are languages from the different ethnicity in this world.
It is not just the language, but the expressions through the language as each people in their ethnicity has been accustomed to it.

If we reference all the words "tongues" or "tongue" in the scriptures, a clear picture of what it actually means will surface.

Let us "excel in gifts that build up the church."

To God be the Glory.

Love 愛

1 Corinthians 13

This is probably the one of the most well know scriptures and pretty self explanatory.
So I have include a few versions to reference.

V4-8

NIV
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails."

NLT
" Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! "

NKJV
" Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails."


NASB
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails."


Chinese Union Version (Traditional Text)

"愛 是 恆 久 忍 耐 ， 又 有 恩 慈 ； 愛 是 不 嫉 妒 ； 愛 是 不 自 誇 ， 不 張 狂 ，

不 做 害 羞 的 事 ， 不 求 自 己 的 益 處 ， 不 輕 易 發 怒 ， 不 計 算 人 的 惡 ，

不 喜 歡 不 義 ， 只 喜 歡 真 理 ；

凡 事 包 容 ， 凡 事 相 信 ， 凡 事 盼 望 ， 凡 事 忍 耐 。

愛 是 永 不 止 息 。"

To God be the Glory.

Gifts from God

1 Corinthians 12

The Holy Spirit, or God determines who has what gift.
V11 "...he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Each gift is given for one purpose only, to build up God's kingdom for his very own purpose.
V7 "... the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

There is no discrepancy in the Holy Spirit we receive, it is the same.
V13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

So no one is better than the other. We are all part of an intricate part of the equation.
V25-26 "...there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. "

V31 "...eagerly desire the greater gifts."

To God be the Glory

Worship

1 Corinthians 11

This is an interesting passage.
Times have changed, so is this not applicable in regards to the role of men and women in worship?
Should all Godly women have long hair?
v15 "...if a woman has long hair, it is her glory...?"

According to this passage regarding the Lord's supper, it seems to emphasize it is a meal that all the disciples have together, not a "communion" of cracker and juice.
As in the last supper Jesus had.

Learn from Israel's history

1 Corinthians 10

This is a powerful chapter.
Paul shared what happened in the past to the Corinthian church and it is still applicable today, in the 21st century.
V2 "They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Guided by the cloud and went through the red sea equates to the guide of the Holy Spirit and baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

V8 "We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died."
Even though they were God's people and was promised through Abraham, their disobedience put themselves to death.

Therefore, be more aware, and not be ignorant, because we have no excuse to be ignorant of what is written for us to be examples of God's will.

To God be the Glory.

Get the prize

1 Corinthians 9

Paul's only concern is to be rewarded by God.
He knows he is free and is not obligated to anyone here on earth, however he is following through with a task that was entrusted to him by Jesus, and that is to preach the Gospel of Christ.
He works as hard as he can so he might save some, and ultimately receiving what is due him as promised by Jesus in Heaven.

To God be the Glory.

Brother with weaker conscience

1 Corinthians 8

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up

Being careful in exercising my knowledge in Christ, for if I become a stumbling block to a brother with "weak conscience", and wound his knowledge, I sin against Christ.

Therefore be very cautious to encourage people with "weaker conscience."

To God be the Glory.

Be devoted to God's will

1 Corinthians 7

As much as distractions will present itself more when married, it is the same as if you were single.
Either way it is still a blessing to be married.

Marriage established in a Godly principles can only make it stronger. It takes double the effort, but can produce double the results.

Sorry not much more today in this chapter other than the context of marriage.

To God be the Glory.

Settle

1 Corinthians 6

Being wise and humble in God's knowledge.

V2: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?"

V3: "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!"

We have the authority in God's kingdom. Ultimately, being humble towards one another.

V12: "'Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me'—but I will not be mastered by anything."

This chapter is pretty self explanatory, I think.

Judge within

1 Corinthians 5

We have to judge within.
For we are in God's Kingdom and God does not tolerate sin.
V11:
"...you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler..."

If we don't, the church will be contaminated.

To God be the Glory.

Stay humble

1 Corinthians 4

Paul is re-affirming his role as an apostle for God, and continues to address division in the church.
He is most concern with the Lord's affairs because he knows God is the ultimate judge.
His continues to be humble and lift up the brothers in the Corinthian church.
From what I see, the Gentile disciples struggles with being the adopted, and some are getting more arrogant towards the apostles.

Scary.

To God be the Glory.