I Corinthians 3:6-23

• I Corinthians 3:6-8 – Figure 1: Plants
  • See Acts 18:11; 19:1. Paul and Apollos did their part, but the emphasis should be on God and His word. We should be disciples of Jesus – not of men.
• I Corinthians 3:9-15 – Figure 2: Building
  • Do good work for God! See Philippians 2:15-16. This work is bringing others to Christ.
• I Corinthians 3:16-17 – Figure 3: Temple of God
  • Do not destroy people’s faith! God’s spirit dwells in us through the word of God. See Matthew 18:6. It is a terrible thing to destroy someone’s faith.
• I Corinthians 3:18-23 – Wisdom vs. foolishness

Introduction

• Matthew 13:40-43

Hell

Jesus uses the word “Gehenna.”

• Matthew 23:15 – This word is used twelve times in the New Testament and eleven of those times are by Jesus Himself!
• Matthew 23:33
• “Gehenna” is a transliteration of “Valley of Hinnom,” which was a place to dump refuse and burn it. It was a physical place outside Jerusalem.
• Mark 9:43-48

Hell is a place of horrors!

• Matthew 5:22, 29-30 – Whatever it takes, avoid hell!
• This was repeated three times in the gospels, so we need to pay attention.
• Matthew 8:11
• If we end up in hell, it is too late to change. There is no hope.
• Luke 12:4-5

Heaven

We’ll enjoy the presence of God!

• Hebrews 9:24
• Matthew 25:34, 41, 46
• I John 3:1-3
• I Thessalonians 4:17

We’ll have fellowship with other saints.

• I Thessalonians 4:15-17
• Revelation 6:9-11 – They could remember their previous life.

There’ll be no more trouble.

• Hebrews 4:8-11 – God’s people have a rest in store.
• Matthew 5:11-12
• Philippians 3:20-21
• I Corinthians 15:51
• Romans 8:31

Conclusion

• John 5:28-29

Galatians 2

Chapter 2 starts

• Paul has been stressing:
  • No consultations
  • Speaking from revelation
  • Gospel of Jesus
  • His apostleship was genuine

Galatians 2:1-10

• Paul begins to make his second point
  • First:
    • Direct appointment to apostleship
    • Preaching by revelation of Jesus
  • Second:
    • Fellowship with other apostles
    • Others endorsed his message
• After 14 years (Galatians 2:1) – a time during which:
  • Galatians heard the gospel and believed
  • Paul established churches
  • No change in message over time
  • He went “up” to Jerusalem
    • Not north/south
    • To Jerusalem – “up”
    • Compare:
      • II Samuel 19:34
      • I Kings 12:28 – Jeroboam, calves
      • II Kings 24:10
      • Ezra 1:3
      • Isaiah 7:1
      • Zechariah 14:17
      • Matthew 20:17
      • Acts – 9 times
• Which trip was this? The same as Acts 15?
  • Arguments for this being the same trip as mentioned in Acts 15:
    • Together with Barnabas – Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:1
    • From Syria – Acts 14:26-28; Galatians 1:21
    • To Jerusalem – Ats 15:2-4; Galatians 2:1
    • Opposition of Judaizing Christians – Acts 15:5; Galatians 2:3-5
    • Involvement of Peter and James
      • Peter – Acts 15:7-11; Galatians 2:7-9
      • James – Acts 15:13-21; Galatians 2:9
    • All agreed on a conclusion – Acts 15:19-29; Galatians 2:7-10
• Why take Titus along?
  • Ideas: Challenge to Judaizing Christians:
    • Show of force?
    • See if apostles objected or commanded he be circumcised?
• Paul says he went up because of a revelation in Galatians 2:2.
  • Acts 15:2 says they were sent by brethren.
  • Discrepancy? No!
  • Look at Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10
    • Cornelius – vision – sent messengers
    • Peter – vision – received messengers – went
    • What he sent or was he summoned?
    • By vision or by human request?
    • Both, of course, just as in Acts 15 and Galatians 2
• What are these false brethren in Galatians 2:4 – pseudadelphos
  • Two references: Galatians 2:4 and II Corinthians 11:26
  • Pretending, but not brethren
  • Planted by others to spy – motivation
    • Bring Gentile Christians into the bondage of the Law of Moses
    • Why?
    • Jealousy? (Acts 13:45; 17:5)
  • Paul and his group did not give in to them – kept gospel pure for them (Galatians 2:5)
• Key apostles (those of high reputation, pillars) added nothing to Paul’s message
  • Instead, they granted the right hand of fellowship
  • Agreed to continue the two paths:
    • The twelve to the Jews
    • Paul to the Gentiles
    • Strictly? Who first preached to the Gentiles?
    • How about the men of Cyprus and Cyrene? Barnabas? Acts 11:19-26
    • Who did Paul always go to first? Jews
    • Who had Peter already gone to? Jews AND Gentiles
• The two-gospel heresy
  • Central reference is Galatians 2:7
    • Gospel “of,”, “for,” or “to” the circumcision/uncircumcision implies separate gospels.
    • Gospel for the Jews, different gospel for the Gentiles.
    • Repentance and baptism for the Jews.
    • Faith and grace for the Gentiles.
  • Problems with this two-gospel idea:
    • Paul in Galatians 1:8-9 (sent to a mixed audience)
    • How did this message change when leaving the synagogue for the Gentiles?
  • Conclusion
    • This is a heresy
    • Perpetrators are to be “anathema”
• At the conference’s end:
  • The pillars of Jerusalem extend the right hand of fellowship to Paul’s group
  • Only ask to remember the poor
  • What about Acts 15
    • Things polluted by idols
    • Fornication
    • Things strangled
    • Blood
    • These were directed, required, “only burdens” from Old Law
  • “Remember the poor” was a request – Don’t neglect to preach to the poor.
  • Possibly reminiscent of references in Acts 7 and 11 to famines, both actual and prophesied.

Introduction

• II Samuel 14:25-26

Seek justice, not revenge.

• II Samuel 13:1, 14-15, 19-21 – Amnon’s sin against Tamar. David never punished Amnon for this.
• II Samuel 13:23-24, 37-39 – Absalom murders Amnon and then exiles himself.
• Romans 12:17-21 – God is the final arbiter of justice and He will set things right.

Conquer your pride before you make a mess.

• II Samuel 15:1-17; 16:20-23
• Psalm 3 was written while David was fleeing from Absalom.
• II Samuel 18:7-15 – The death of Absalom.
• II Samuel 18:18 – Absalom set up a monument to himself!
• Proverbs 16:5
• I Peter 5:5-7
• Romans 12:3-8

Strengthen your relationships whenever possible.

• II Samuel 13:37-39 – David longed to go out to Absalom.
• II Samuel 14:21-24, 28-33 – Absalom returned, but David refused to see him.
• II Samuel 18:5 – David still had a soft spot for Absalom.
• II Samuel 18:31-33 – David’s grief at Absalom’s death
• Matthew 5:23-26

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalms 84:10) This statement demands at least four characteristics of the person sincerely making it. Ask self – can I sincerely and objectively make this statement?

It demands knowledge.

One could not know if he had rather be a door keeper in the house of God if he did not know what it is. So, let us identify the house of God: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (I Timothy 3:15) The statement modified is I had rather be a doorkeeper in the church of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Thus, those who obey the gospel and live godly lives compose the church of my God. Door keeping necessitates service.

Now let us take a look at the tents of wickedness to see if we want to give them up or be a doorkeeper. Tents of wickedness refer to anything that comes from a carnal mind. Let us look at the results to see if we want to make that choice. The carnal mind leads to death (hell). The spiritual mind leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6). What choice do you make?

It demands discernment – good judgment.

Even the man in the world who has good judgment in business matters usually acts foolish relative to the soul. Good judgment is attained by application and exercise, “…who by reason of use have their senses to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:8). The person who does not see wrong in drinking and dancing and missing Bible class and Wednesday night service, cannot correctly make this statement.

It demands a positive choice.

One can have knowledge and be able to discern good and evil yet make the wrong choice. Moses not only refused to remain in the king’s house, he chose to suffer with God’s people (Hebrews 11:24-26). Those who have “respect to the recompense of reward” will make the right choice also. When one makes a positive choice to serve in the house of God, he will not only refrain from evil, he will actively do the right. When one makes the positive choice to be a doorkeeper in the house of God, he will have the reward.

It demands humility.

Keeping doors is a position of low esteem. The high look down on door keeping. They want to do something big. If some cannot do something big, they will do nothing at all. Naaman (2 Kings 5:13) is a good example of this. One may say if I was a preacher or had much money, I would do great things for the Lord. The truth is one would do with would much exactly what he does with the little he does have. The humble realize their dependence on God. A congregation could not be divided if it was composed of truly humble people. Humble people depend upon God for direction, and they think of the welfare of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Being a doorkeeper in the house of God takes much faith and much effort. Is it worth it? Psalms 84:11 gives the answer. “For the Lord is a sun and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” I repeat “no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly.”

Jesse Jenkins