Then we start on Numbers. (We will come back to Leviticus later on) In the first 10 chapters of Numbers the Israelites are still at Mount Sinai, but in chapter 11 they continue their journey towards the Promised Land. We also have a couple of chapters from the Psalms.
In the New Testament we are continuing to read Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
I hope you are enjoying the readings and don't forget if you have questions put them as a comment here on the blog. I am sure someone will reply with some answers. That way we can all learn!
15 Exodus 36 1 Corinthians 3 Exodus 37
16 Exodus 38 1 Corinthians 4 Exodus 39
17 Exodus 40 1 Corinthians 5 Numbers 1 Psalm 5
18 Numbers 2 1 Corinthians 6 Numbers 3
19 Numbers 4 1 Corinthians 7 Numbers 5
20 Numbers 6 1 Corinthians 8 Numbers 7
21 Numbers 8 1 Corinthians 9 Numbers 9 Psalm 6
22 Numbers 10 1 Corinthians 10 Numbers 11
Another thing I was touched in reading Romans. It is said that Paul did not found the church of Rome. But at the end, Paul greeted more than 30 people he knew from that church. In none other letter he know and greeted so many people. Some were his former colleagues in the ministry as Presilia and Aquila, some his relatives, he said that one was as a mother to him, and even he gave advise to stay away from certain people. This makes me think!
ReplyDeleteFrançois
For me it shows how closely linked the churches were at that time with people travelling back and forwards between the churches bringing news, encouragement and teaching. From Paul's letters it is clear it was not just him moving between the churches but many others were also doing this. It must have been a very exciting time to be involved in the spread of the gospel and the growth of the churches. This interrelationship between churches is perhaps something we should foster in our day here in Washington County. It would encourage us as individual churches and also help us to remember we are part of the wider church.
ReplyDeleteWe do not know who founded the church of Rome. I like to think it was an ordinary traveler, perhaps a merchant or even someone taken as a slave to Rome. We do not need 'big names' to spread the good news but just willing hearts - and that encourages me!
Yes, and doesn't it demonstrate so beautifully that God is no respecter of persons, and 'loves us each one as thought there but one of us to love.'?
ReplyDeletePaul's concept of the community of the believers is a group of people who is dead in sin and alive in Christ. Therefore, any who is not dead in sin and alive in Christ should not be a part of them. Paul is not asking Christians to guess where others stand, but if the other or others are not what they say they are in Christ, any association with such people should not take place. That is what he says in I Corinthians 5:1-12.
ReplyDeleteMy wife asked me last night, "Is Paul too rough? Jesus was eating with sinners, why Paul doesn't show sympathy to sinners?" And this was my answer to her. Jesus was eating to sinners because his goal was to bring them to the light so that they will leave sin. But here is Corinthi, these people mentioned in chapter 1 of I Corinthians have received Christ. They have become a part of the body of Christ in that community, but still LIVE IN SIN. In order to (1) prevent others to do the same, (2) in order to purify the Church of Christ, these people shouldn't be a part of that holy group. The third purpose of this separation is to bring that person or those people to repentance, then they would rejoin the group of the saint.
Kathy agreed with me. That is why I love Paul.
Paul keeps repeating all over his writing about (1) the person a person was before becoming Christian, (2) the person he or she has become after receiving Christ, (3) the way he can become the person God is expecting from him/her.
The image, the new identity he/she is aiming at is clear before him./her: BE HOLY AS YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN IS HOLY. This is the framework of reference for anyone who has received Christ.
In order to be holy as our Father is Holy, Christ MUST live in us, and we MUST ALSO live in Christ; this is the first thing after becoming Christian; (2) We must let the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit WALK with us. He stalks about WALKING IN THE SPIRIT. The believer is not doing it, it is the Spirit who does it; (3) We MUST CONTINUELLY KILL this body which is still a part of who we are; keep denying ourselfm keep keep who we ARE UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE SPIRIT. This becomes a war, a fight, a state of being we will be in UNTIL the day we leave this world.
The question is, can a person who has died in sin and alive in Christ sin again?
Paul gives and an answer: he WILL NEVER! NEVER! NEVER LIVE IN SIN. He will stand up ( the image here is as if the fall down by accident, and you don't stay there. This is not where you enjoy being. You leave that place as soon as possible, repent and go back to where you BELONG. Paul says that we have an advocate, Jesus who does intersessions for us. Here is where the sanctification and the regeneration are active in the life of the believers because they are still in this world. I love washing my white shirts. Once they are washed, I put them on again and love them as before because they are clean. Should a believer who has repented from his sin, who hates what he did and who knows the power of the blood of Christ continue carry the burden, the guilt of what he has given to Christ? Is he/she still a sinner? NOT AT ALL! He/she is a saint, not as before, but SAINT AS HE NEVER SIN IN HIS LIVE!
I love you God for making me a holy person because of the blood of Christ, our Savior!
François, your slave