Men of Honor
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Context
In the first 12 verses of this chapter, Paul prepared the Corinthians for his own coming to them
For Timothy’s arrival
And informing them that Apollos would not be coming to them.
He’s about to commend some of the Corinthians for had served their church by coming to Paul and ministering to him
But in our text, Paul issues words of exhortation, which really summarize much of the rest of the letter.
The Exhortations
The Exhortations
Military language
What a general might say to his troops as they prepare to enter battle
Be watchful: be alert, be on guard. What did the Corinthians need to be on guard about?
The influence of the culture. The influence of Roman and Corinthian values.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
stand firm in the faith: hold your ground in a battle as opposed to running away in the face of fearful opposition
Question: What does Paul mean to stand firm in the faith? What does that look like?
To stand firm in the faith is not only to hold to biblical doctrinal convictions but also to behave in a way that is consistent with faith in Christ
The Corinthians had showed some weakness in this area, often adopting the moral standards of the culture rather than remaining firm in their commitment to honor Christ.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
standing firm can also result in fleeing
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
act like men, be strong: be courageous under extremely challenging circumstances
The exhortation here is to carry out one’s responsibilities even in the face of extreme danger
To call to be strong and courageous is a theme we see in the OT
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.
Question: “Following Christ is not for cowards”. This is a quote from a commentary on this passage. If you agree with this, why is that true? What can cowardice look like in our typical experience?
Let all that you do be done in love
Undergirds much of Paul’s teaching in this letter
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Question: Love here is a qualifier of sorts. How does love as a qualifier impact our understanding of our behavior?
