1 Corinthians 4:6 (Do Not Go Beyond what is Written)

 

1 Corinthians 4:6

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.

In my most recent post I wrote about Jesus' view on adultery and how Jesus would treat a homosexual. One piece of feedback I received was that I should have also mentioned Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. The reason being because she too was in an adulterous relationship, or at least that is how it appears. The Biblical text does not necessarily clearly state that the woman was an adulteress. What the text says is that the woman at the well was not currently married (John 4:17), and that Jesus said she had "five husbands, and the man [she] now [has] is not [her] husband," (John 4:18). Is it possible that the Samaritan woman was a young woman who was having a promiscuous relationship with six different men? To insinuate that would seem to go beyond what is written in the text. The text clearly has Jesus referring to this woman's past five relationships as being "husbands," meaning that God, Himself, was saying that she was married to those past five people. Might Jesus be acting coy here, by referring to this woman's sinful relationships as being her husbands? Probably not, as this is something Jesus does not appear to do in other passages in the four gospels. He typically calls sin as it is, and does not ascribe false appealing labels to sin; erego referring to adultery by the terms used in marriage (husband and wife).

The point of this is to illustrate the meaning behind Paul's words to the Corinthians where he says, "Do not go beyond what is written," (1 Corinthians 4:6). Paul was writing to the Corinthians that he would be coming to them as a spiritual leader, however the Corinthians were wondering if Paul would be wiser than one of their other spiritual leaders, Apollos. In response to this Paul wrote that the Corinthians should not regard either him or Apollos as being anything higher than "servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed," (1 Corinthians 4:2). Paul wrote, "Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart," (1 Corinthians 4:5). Paul is saying that when it comes to judging someone's heart and their motivations a Christian should be slow in making this judgement; so slow that they make no definitive judgements on any unclear personal matters until even Jesus Christ returns. So, when it comes to interpreting Scripture, a Christian should take note of what is made explicitly clear about a person in the text. When it comes to what is unclear, a Christian should be very careful about what they claim about a person in the text.

It might seem like a harmless way of making the Bible more tantalizing,
but reading the Bible this way has lead to Christians believing some very
unbiblical things about Biblical people (see Sources below).

I'll add a personal example: I am very curious about the eternal fate of Judas Iscariot, yet Scripture does not provide a definitive answer. There is not a verse in the Bible that says "Judas is in hell" or "Judas is in heaven." On top of this, there are a few verses that seem to lean his final destination to one way over the other. In both Luke and John it is written that the devil entered into Judas (22:3 and 13:27 respectively). This in combination with how Judas killed himself seems to strongly imply that his eternity is in hell. There is, however, nothing in Scripture that clearly states that those whom the devil enters go to hell 100% of the time and that those who commit suicide cannot be forgiven (and concerning the ladder, there is Biblical evidence opposed). Moreso there is a prophecy that Jesus gives to His twelve disciples where He says to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel," (Matthew 19:28). This passage's context makes it clear Jesus is referring to all of His disciples, and there is nothing in this section of Scripture that directly states that any of the disciples could lose their place on one of these twelve thrones. The most exclusive part of this prophecy is that Jesus says it applies to the twelve disciples who "followed Him," but the twelve disciples including Judas are described many times as following Jesus. So, what is it? Is Judas in heaven or hell? I wonder about this from time to time, but the truth is it doesn't matter.

If something matters to us in Scripture, then it will be written clearly for us to understand or interpret based on all of the books of the Bible. There were indeed events transpired and words spoken during the time of Scripture that were not written down for us. This is because we do not need them. John once heard a voice from thunders, and he was told by heaven, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down," (Revelation 10:4). Does that make us wonder what the thunders said? It most likely does, but we should not concern ourselves with this, or try to imply in the text what the thunders said. We don't know, and we shouldn't care. Why? Because "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What is written in Scripture is there to equip us for every good work; every good thing God requires us to do is in our Bibles. If we spend our time focusing on what is not in Scripture but might be implied by it, we are devoting our time to useless rumors. The Scriptures say, "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down," (Proverbs 26:20). Let us be diligent to focus on what is written in the Bible and to not go beyond what is written.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• WWUTT: Did David Rape Bathsheba?
• Christianity Today: Some People think Jesus was Racist

How Would Jesus Treat a Homosexual?

You may have at one time heard or said that Jesus never spoke about homosexuality. This statement is often used to argue, "Since Jesus did not condemn (let alone even talk about) homosexuality, we don't know how Jesus would respond to someoe who is gay." This reasoning from an absence of evidence is not entirely accurate. There is indeed a moment recorded in the gospels that illustrates how Jesus would have treated a homosexaul.

Firstly, we must look at homosexuality and its relation to Jesus' views on a God honoring marriage. When the Pharisees tested Jesus concerning His thoughts on divorce, Jesus says, "Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4-5). It is clear that Jesus says that marriage in accordance with how God established it is between one man and one woman. He also says that this doesn't just apply to certain marriages, but all marriages; past, present and future. This is shown in how Jesus says that a man will leave his father and mother, meaning that the man's parents were one man and one woman. Jesus affirms how God designed marriage to forever be between one man and one woman.

God considers the sexual activities in marriage to be something sacred, and He has a specific title for the sin of committing sexual activities outside of marriage. This sin is known as adultery, and God commands His people, "You shall not commit adultery," (Exodus 20:14). Anyone who engages in sexual activity outside of God's design for marriage (to be between one man and one woman as long as they live) is committing the sin of adultery. Therefore, Jesus would say that two men or two women who engage in sexual activities would be adulterers, because they can never be married according to God's design.

The world wants to define marriage (as well as all of God's perfect designs)
according to its own sinful desires, yet God is the only one who can determine
lawfully what marriage is (Deuteronomy 22:13-30, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13).

There is a recorded account in the gospel of John where Jesus encountered a woman who was caught in adultery. Though it is not written that she was herself a homosexual, the sin of adultery in which she was caught is an overarching sin and it can include homosexual behavior. The Pharisees brought the sinful woman before Jesus and told Him that according to the law of Moses she should be stoned to death for her sins. Indeed it is written in the books of Moses, "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death," (Leviticus 20:10). According to God's laws, that woman and the person with whom she engaged in adultery should be killed (though it should be noted the person with whom she was caught engaging in adulterous behavior is not brought before Jesus).

In response to this situation Jesus says to the Pharisees and the crowd ready to kill the adulteress, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," (John 8:7). At this the Pharisees and the crowd slowly drop their stones and leave (John 8:9). It's possible some of them had heard Jesus say earlier in His sermon on the mount, "I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart," (Matthew 5:28). Jesus' words not only demonstrate how seriously God considers the sin of adultery, but also how every man and woman struggles with this sin, whether inwardly or outwardly.

After the Pharisees and the crowd depart, Jesus and the woman are left alone. Jesus says to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:10). She responds that her accusers have left her, and Jesus says, "Then neither do I condemn you," (John 8:11). Jesus' declaration perfectly aligns with what John writes of Jesus' ministry, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son," (John 3:17-18). Lastly, Jesus says to the woman, "Go now and leave your life of sin," (John 8:11). Essentially with these words Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery that her sin has become a lifestyle to her, and she should never commit adultery again. It's not just that she shouldn't get caught in the act again, but that she shouldn't commit the sin of adultery in private or any place.

Don't let this image deceive you. Jesus does not follow sinful people
(such as adulterers, homosexuals, etc.) away from His Church, but rather comes alongside
sinners to call them to follow Him and abide in His Church (Matthew 10:39).

Those who commit adultery or glorify any sexual activities outside of marraige (including homosexuality) should be aware that Jesus calls such behavior sinful. He says that God will punish all those who are condemned by their sin (Matthew 25:41). The only way to be free from the just condemnation above all of our heads is to believe in Jesus Christ, turn away from our sins and follow His ways instead (Mark 1:15). Jesus can free anyone caught in their sins, no matter what they have done. We, as believers, must be wise about such things. It is written in first Corinthians chapter 6 from verses 9 to 11: 

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men [homosexuals] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

No matter what sin you have committed, God has caught you in the act, because nothing is hidden from Him. Yet, Jesus does not condemn you, because His desire is to save you from the condemnation you already face. Know that if you are an adulterer who revels in their adultery, then there is not a place for you in Heaven. You must be washed from your sins. If you confess your sins to Jesus, then God will forgive you (1 John 1:9). Jesus assures all who listen to Him that anyone He sets free from sin and condemnation "will be free indeed," (John 8:36). Leave your life of sin.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
—think about such things," (Philippians 4:8).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• WWUTT: Cast the First Stone
• PureFlix: Verses on Marriage

Proverbs 2:6 (Words of Wisdom)

 

Proverbs 2:6

For the Lord gives wisdom;

    from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

As human beings, we have a lot of wise words we say to each other; words that have been carried down from speakers of the past. Often times we use these old phrases without knowing their origins or their original context. It may be surprising, but most of the well known words of wisdom you and I have often said or heard from others are actually from the Bible. More so than just common phrases that originated in movies or songs, these phrases came from the mouth of God. The reason these old wise words of wisdom still ring true is because they were written to always be true. Take a look at just how many well known wise words and phrases have not been born in a human's mind but in the Lord's:

A Leopard can't change its Spots (Jeremiah 13:23)

Truthfully, these wise words are not an English proverb but are actually prophecy from God. In the book of Jeremiah God spoke to His children, "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil," (Jeremiah 13:23). It's sobering knowledge that this phrase about people being set in their ways and resistant to change is about how we all are prone to sin and commit evil. The only one who can change us is God Himself.

The Writing is on the Wall (Daniel 5:5-6)

In Daniel chapter 5 there is a wicked king who defiles God's instruments of worship. The hand of God appears before the king and writes an inscription on his wall. The king has Daniel interpret, and Daniel says that the inscription reads the wicked king has been weighed, measured and found wanting (there's another common phrase). God wrote that the wicked king's days had been numbered (one more bonus phrase). If anyone present wanted to doubt that the wicked king would indeed be removed by God's hand, they'd have to avoid looking at God's latest redecoration of the king's palace. The writing was on the wall, and the truth was clear to all who needed to know.

Pride goes before a Fall (Proverbs 16:18)

It's possible some of you thought this phrase came from Shakespeare, but it's actually from more than a thousand years before his time. It is God who said to the writer of this proverb, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18). Many of us likely know bedtime stories about people who wanted to put themselves above others only to have their lives come crashing down. That's how it also is in the Bible with anyone who ever wanted to put themselves, their ideals or their nation above God. You can bet that's how it still works today, because God never stopped opposing the proud, while showing favor to the humble and oppressed (Proverbs 3:34).

Go the Extra Mile (Matthew 5:41)

Maybe your schools or your boss have told you this to encourage you to do more than is expected, but it is Jesus Christ who coined this famous phrase in His most famous sermon. Interestingly, though, this phrase was not originally spoken to encourage academic or professional excellence. Jesus spoke to His audience, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you, do not resist an evil person," (Matthew 5:38-39). Jesus then said, "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles," (Matthew 5:41). Notice Jesus says the one going a mile was forced to do so. It is evil that has compelled this person to force another to walk a mile against their will, but God says that His children are not to resist this evil. Instead, to put evil to shame we are to not only suffer willingly but be willing to suffer even more, just as Jesus did for us.

Better Late than Never (Matthew 20:1-16)

Not just for keeping deadlines, these words of wisdom are above all for your spiritual well being. The principle of this matter comes straight from Jesus. He told a story about a man who needed work done in his field, so he hired some men. As the day progressed, he realized he didn't have enough men to get the job done, so throughout the day all the way into the evening he continued to hire men to work for him. At the end of the day the man who owned the field paid all of the workers the exact same amount, no matter when they started. When it comes to following God, it's better to start late than never at all.

A House Divided against itself cannot Stand (Mark 3:25)

Raie your hand, if you thought it was Abraham Lincoln who said this. It makes sense why you might have believed that, as it's his name that constantly follows this quote on billboards, museum walls and in textbooks. Well, honest Abe was no fool on this phrase's origins, as he studied God's Word from his youth and throughout his life. This phrase in particular shows up in three of the gospels, where the Pharisees accuse Jesus of having powers from satan. Jesus responds, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come," (Mark 3:24-26). It was very wise for Lincoln to remind the citizens of the United States of this wisdom from God, as any well written human speech will eventually fade "but the word of our God endures forever," (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Fight the Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:12)

Many political movements and activist groups like to say that their cause is noble and they rally up their followers to keep fighting their good fight. It was Jesus who said only He and His ways are good (Mark 10:18), so there is really only one true good fight. It's the one Paul urges his servant Timothy to fight. He writes to Timothy to flee from the causes and desires of the world, and to instead "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called," (1 Timothy 6:11-12). We, as believers, have been called to fight this same fight for the sake of eternal life. We fight against the lofty opinions and ideas of the world, and "we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Sure is interesting to see that all these familiar words of wisdom are from God Himself, and there are plenty more like them. There are also plenty of well known words of wisdom that are not from God and are ultimately not wise words at all. It can be hard to tell whether what someone is saying truly is wise or foolish, which is why a Christian's primary source for wisdom should be God's Word. It is written, "the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding," so everything spoken from God is trustworthy, useful and wise (Proverbs 2:6).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Wisdom
• Wide Open Country: Common Phrases in the Bible
• Lifeway Research: Common Phrases in the Bible

Am I a Hypocrite? (In the Eyes of God?)

Whether someone has labeled you as one or you've thought about calling others one, it is likely that all of us have at one time asked ourselves, "Am I a hypocrite?" It's not the kind of question that we can easily shrug off, because shrugging it off seems to cement the label's application. So, let's you and I take this time now to get to the bottom of this question from a Biblical perspective: Am I a hypocrite?

In our modern times most people apply the term hypocrite to those who say one thing and do another, or those who proudly support a belief but not all of the facets associated with that belief. This understanding of what it means to be a hypocrite is not entirely Biblical. In the Bible it is Jesus, Himself, who ascribes the term "hypocrite" to many different people, so it would be right to consult who He labels a hypocrite, and determine from what He says whether the label should also apply to us or not. 

One of the first times Jesus directly referred to a group of people as "hypocrites" is in the book of Matthew in chapter 7 from verses 3 to 5 where Jesus preached the following:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

So, who are the hypocrites to whom Jesus is referring? The hypocrites are the ones who seek to correct others, without first examining the correction they need. If you have a log in your own eye, you can't help someone get a small speck out of their own eye. You can't rightly judge what other people need in order to live better, when you have failed to judge (let alone even examine) what you need to live better. This is what Jesus means, when He says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you," (Matthew 7:1-2). There are plenty more examples throughout the gospels wherein Jesus encounters a group of people who judge others but not themselves and He calls them hypocrites (Mattew 6:4-6, 15:1-7, 22:17-21, and Luke 13:14-16 to name a few). If you are going to judge others (which according to John 7:24 you should absolutely do with right judgement), you should apply that same judgement to yourself. If you don't, then Jesus would call you a hypocrite.

Paul Watson, an activist and environmentalist, along with many others in the world
claims that everybody is a hypocrite, but this is not a Biblical truth.

So now with a Biblical understanding, we bring the question back to ourselves, "Am I a hypocrite?" Do you say that people who love God will follow His commandments (John 14:15)? Do you as someone who loves God struggle to follow God's commandments and often fall into the temptations of sin (Romans 7:18)? Does doing that make you a hypocrite? The answer is: No. Following God and striving to imitate Jesus, while constantly failing to meet this standard and sinning daily does not make you a hypocrite. You are not a hypocrite because of your sin. In fact, claiming that you, as a Christian, do sin and yet continue to strive to follow Christ is one of the most non-hypocritical things you can do. For it is written, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," (1 John 1:8). So, if you say you follow Christ and yet also admit that you sin and need forgiveness for your sins, you are not being a hypocrite. You are being a true follower of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5).

Every day I wrestle with the voices

That keep telling me I'm not right

But that's alright

'Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed

When others say I'll never be enough

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world

In the world

- MercyMe

Remember that you do not have to be a perfect example for Christ. You are supposed to point others to Him through your good deeds and your weaknesses. You should do the good that God has given you to do, so that you will "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:16). You should also confess your sins to other Christians to let them know where you struggle and also that they may pray for you (James 5:16). When we admit our weaknesses to God and other believers, knowing that only God can keep us from sin, we will truly hear our Lord say, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Remember, Christian, that you should judge yourself
according to God's judgement,and God judges you to be
righteous and redeemed, because you have believed in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Sinful Nature
• Got Questions: Do We Sin Daily?
• MercyMe: Greater

1 Corinthians 3:19 (The World's Wisdom is Foolishness)

1 Corinthians 3:19 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"

The apostle Paul once wrote a letter to a church in Corinth, and in that letter he addressed a group of believers who thought too highly of their human leaders. They were proclaiming that their sources for wisdom were the various preachers who had ministered to them. The believers in Corinth would say “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” rather than rightly proclaim that God was their ultimate teacher (1 Corinthians 3:4). Paul wrote to these believers, "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task," (1 Corinthians 3:5). Paul made it clear that the believers in Corinth needed to attribute the teachings and wisdom they received not to any human leaders, but to the one who appointed their spiritual leaders to teach.

Paul wrote the following from 1 Corinthians chapter 3 from verses 18 to 21 on the matter of following human leaders:

Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders!

There are two verses Paul quotes in this passage. The first comes from Job 5:13, where it is written the Lord "catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away." The second verse Paul quotes is Psalm 94:11 where it reads, "The Lord knows all human plans; He knows that they are futile." These two verses strongly convey the Biblical truth that even the wisest of human leaders are fools compared to the wisdom of God. This does not mean humans cannot become wise, but to be wise one must first respect and honor the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). Any wise human leader who teaches someone in the ways of the Lord should rightly give God the credit for their wisdom. God is the ultimate teacher, and only those who listen to His words and put them into practice are truly wise people (Matthew 7:24).

Build your life on God's wisdom,
which has been given to you through the Holy Scriptures.

One final word of caution from Paul's letter: Worldly wisdom is simply foolishness. If you want to hear wisdom from those in the world who have no care for the one who created them, then you are bound to hear some foolish things. In James' sermon recorded in the Scriptures he wrote in chapter 3 from verses 13 to 16 this about those who call themselves wise and live by the desires of the world:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

None of us, as believers, should seek after wisdom from the world; wisdom that is ultimately foolishness and is earthly, unspiritual and demonic (James 3:15). We should be very careful who we allow to teach us how to live our lives, making sure that we do our best to receive wisdom and life advice from those who know the Truth, rather than deny the Truth. In this way we will "be very careful, then, how [we] live - not as unwise but as wise," (Ephesians 5:15). We must seek after wisdom that we know comes from our Father in heaven. This wisdom comes from God, but we can be given it through pastors and preachers, such as James who wrote this of true wisdom in the book of James in chapter 3 from verses 17 to 18:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Knowing Jesus: 35 Verses on Worldly Wisdom