Galatians 5, continued

• I Corinthians 5:16-18 – This chapter talks about many contrasts between flesh and spirit (Philippians 2:5). See I Corinthians 2:14. We need to have the mind of Christ.
• I Corinthians 5:19-21
  • Jealousy is a negative form of zeal.
  • Outbursts of wrath are not the same as righteous indignation, such as what Jesus showed. He was also notable in that He was also in control and did not have outbursts, even though He showed anger at times.
• I Corinthians 5:22-26 – the fruits of the spirit

How are we saved from our sins?

• Ephesians 1:3-8; 2:1-10
• Romans 3-4
  • Through the blood of Jesus
  • By God’s grace, through our faith
  • Not by anything we do to earn it
• I Peter 1:9
  • Through our faith
• I Peter 3:18-21
  • Baptism saves you
• Acts 22:16
  • Baptism washes away sins
• Mark 16:16
  • Believe and be baptized and be saved
• So which is it? Is the Bible contradicting itself?

I Peter 3:20-21

• Grace + faith = saved

What about you?

• Romans 6:3; 3:23
• Romans 10:14-17
• Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10
• I John 1; Romans 10:9-10
• Acts 2:38; 22:16
• I John 1; Revelation 2:10

I Corinthians 7, continued

I Corinthians 7:15-16

• Some argue that this passage provides another valid reason for divorce (the “Pauline Privilege”), but that is not the case. It is simply saying that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the faithful spouse is not required to fulfill marital duties to them. It does not say that the faithful spouse can lawfully remarry.

I Corinthians 7:17-24

• I Corinthians 7:17 – If your situation is not sinful, don’t change it when you are converted.
• I Corinthians 7:18-24 – It is not sinful to be slave or free, circumcised or not. Serve God in whatever condition you are in, but correct any sin you have in your life.

I Corinthians 7:25-28

• I Corinthians 7:25 – Paul is providing inspired judgment from the Lord on the particular situation they were in. The current “distress” might have been persecution but is not explicitly stated.
• I Corinthians 7:26-28 – Again, this is not stating an additional reason for divorce and remarriage. It is only saying it is probably better not to become married at that particular time.

I Corinthians 7:36-38

• The point continues here in that marriage is not wrong, but Paul was advising against it at that time. This was written in the first few years of Nero’s reign, so it’s possible that persecution was extreme for the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 7:39-40

• I Corinthians 7:39 – If you do get married, it is still a permanent marriage. The law does not change because of persecution.
• I Corinthians 7:40 – Compare I Corinthians 2:12-13; 14:37. This is worded as an understatement.

“Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)

It is commonly thought that Abraham’s seed here is Christ. I do not believe the context will allow that. The promises were made to Abraham’s seed. The promises were not made to Christ, but about Christ. Failing to recognize the metonymy “which is Christ” has led to this false conclusion. Again, in verse 19, it says “till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made.” Again, verse 22 says the promise was to them that believe. Then verse 29 concludes by saying “if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Abraham’s seed all through verses 16-29 are those who are Christ’s.

If the verse had not said “which is Christ” all would have easily seen this.

When verse 16 says, “He saith not, to seeds, as of many, but as of one” it has reference to the seed coming through Isaac and not Ishmael. See Genesis 17: 18-21.

It also shows that there is one seed, i.e., one people of God. Seed produces after its kind. The one seed cannot produce many kinds of religious bodies. This is a death blow to denominationalism.

Now let us consider the trouble spot “which is Christ.” As mentioned earlier, this a Metonymy. Acts 15:21 says: “For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.” Just as Moses was put for being read, Christ is put for His people – Abraham’s seed. A statement is to be taken literally unless there is something that makes a literal meaning make no sense. They could not read Moses; thus, we know that statement is not to be taken literally, but by metonymy means what he wrote. Just so, the promise to Abraham’s seed cannot refer to Christ. The promise was not made to Christ, but to Abraham’s descendants in Christ. Thus, by metonymy “Christ” in this passage is put for those who are His. How do we know that? Because the promise was not made to Christ, but to Abraham’s seed in Christ.

Verse one says the promises were made to Abraham’s seed. Verse 29 says those who are Christ’s are Abraham’s seed. That should settle who Abraham’s seed in this passage is. The promises were made to Abraham’s seed and those in Christ are Abraham’s seed.

Jesse Jenkins