4 posts tagged “1 corinthians”
"Just as he (Moses) finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath
them split open. The earth opened it mouth and swallowed them and their
households, all of Korah's people and their possessions. They went down
alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them
and they vanished from the assembly." Num 16: 31-33
There is much said about God's love. It is true that He is love, and that
He sent His Son Jesus, that sinners might be saved. Jn 3:16 But in no way
does God's love negate the fact that God is Just. He will by no means clear
the guilty. Num 14: 18, Exodus 34:7, Nahum 1:3
Often times, "love" is confused with "long suffering". That is, the fact
that God may be slow to wrath doesn't mean that He won't eventually display
His wrath.
In the Tanakh (Old Testament), there are two occasions when men entered
Heaven, alive. The first was Enoch, and the second, Elijah. Enoch and
Elijah are often thought of as examples of the church being raptured,
caught-up into Heaven, without having died.
"Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom;
nor the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and
the dead shall be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor
15:50-52
Also, "The dead will be changed and rise, followed by those who are alive at
Messiah's coming." 1 Thes 4: 17
The resurrection of the dead is described in the Tanakh, but what of the
modern Jewish notion that Hell is not mentioned on the Torah?
I believe Hell is clearly indicated in Numbers 16. Notice the scripture
reads that Korah's and his allies' families went down ALIVE into Sheol. It
wasn't that they died and were committed to Sheol. They went down, alive.
There is urgency in the gospel, because there is a literal Heaven and Hell.
Neither is inherited by birth, but: Heaven by grace, through faith…or Hell
by judgment, through faithlessness.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
"And these are the commands the Lord gave Moses for the Israelites on Mount
Sinai" Lev 27: 34
Many years ago, when I read the Torah for the 1st time, I was shocked to
learn that God gave Moses more than 10 commandments! He gave 613, to be
exact. These are not the commands of men, but from God, Himself.
To be certain, the "10 Commandments" act as overriding principles, while the
remaining 603 commands act as practical situational guides, teaching Israel
how to honor God by living-out the 10 Commandments in day-to-day life.
In religious Judaism, several literary sources are drawn from. First, there
are the Torah and Haftarah. (The Law and the Prophets) aka: the Tanakh, or
"Old Testament". These are the Divinely-inspired scriptures.
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "Don't assume that I came to destroy
the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For I
assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter will
pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, everyone
who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do
so will be called 'least' in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices
and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven." Matt 5: 17-19
In addition to the Tanakh, there are other Jewish literary sources: Talmud,
Mishna, Kabbala. These are volumes of rabbinical teachings and
interpretations of the Tanakh. Imagine all the great Christian teachers,
Moody, Spurgeon, Piper, Laurie & Lasseigne… Imagine, all the greats, every
sermon, compiled throughout the ages. Well, that's basically what these
extra-biblical volumes are: commentaries.
The problem rabbinical Judaism faces is that so much of its religious
practice is based on the teachings of men. Most rabbis spend the majority
of their studies buried in the commentaries.
The reason I have challenged you (and myself) to aggressively read the
bible, is because the "Church" tends to have the same problem. It tends to
study teachers above the scriptures. Paul addressed this problem, even in
the early church. 1 Corinthians 1: 10-17
We should study the bible so we can weigh bible teachers, not the other way
around.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
Exodus 26
“You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain.” Exodus 26: 30
A tabernacle is a tent. In biblical imagery, “tabernacle” describes several things.
The tabernacle was a portable tent used as a sanctuary for the Ark of the Covenant by the Israelites during the Exodus. This is where Moses would go to meet with the Lord. After Moses’ death, only the high priest could enter the inner most “Holy of Holies”.
Another tabernacle is the “sukkah”, a temporary light shelter with a roof of branches built in Jewish homes, yards, or temples for the “festival of Tabernacles”. AKA, “booth”, God commands every Jew to build a sukkah and live in it for 7 days each year. This is to remember God’s provision and guidance during their 40 years of wandering in the Desert. In fact, the Lord desires that all nations celebrate “Sukkoth” Zech 14: 16-19
Another “tabernacle” is your own body. “I consider it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to wake you up with this reminder, knowing I will soon lay aside my tent, as the Lord Jesus, Messiah has shown me. 2nd Peter 1: 13-14
Three things come to mind when I consider the tabernacle.
The first is the transient nature of tent dwelling. One who lives in a tent should not become too attached to one location. We should be willing to follow wherever Adonai leads. Our love should be only for the Lord, and our desire consumed with wherever He is.
Second, God’s standard and directions for setting up a tabernacle are very specific. Those who say they are the Lord’s, yet build their lives by their own design, are fooling themselves. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14: 15 That is to say, we should set up our lives by His plan.
Lastly, God’s presence dwells in the midst of His tabernacle. “Do you not know that your bodies are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, Whom you have from God?” 1 Cor 6: 19
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
“There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there He tested them. He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, If you pay attention to His commandments, and keep His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15: 25b-26)
I remember being in college, towards the end of the spring semester. It was so hard to stay awake during those late afternoon classes. The more the professor lectured, the more my mind drifted…then, as if called from a great distance, I heard my name, “MR WIGGINS!”.
It was the voice of my professor. Noticing I was drifting away, he had asked me a question…several times. Everyone laughed and I was embarrassed to, 1) not know the answer, and 2) not even know the question!
The Lord wants our full attention. As he directed the Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, so He directs us to listen carefully to His voice. What does that look like?
The apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth, “Pursue Love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Cor 14: 1)
Teaching is to recite tradition. Preaching has an urgent or evangelical bent. Prophecy is a personal revelation from the Lord. For example, as you read the bible, the Lord may open your eyes to understand the scriptures on a whole new level. Paul said we should desire prophecy, and we should share God’s revelation with others.
It has been my experience the when the Lord starts moving among His people, He doesn’t just tell one guy. He tells a bunch of people. Then He brings them together so there can be agreement and focus to their efforts. That’s when powerful stuff starts happening!
We should listen for God’s voice as we meditate on His scripture. Ask for His revelation. When His people obey this command, the Lord reveals deep healing knowledge. He heals our theology, our personal relationships, and our emotional & physical conditions as well.
Blessings.
