7:1 ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have
defrauded no man. 3 I speak not this
to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die
and live with you. 4 Great is
my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am
filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
First, Paul, including himself and his coworkers, urges the
Corinthians to honor the promises of God to strive to keep themselves from sin,
both in the body and in the mind. For man’s spirit and mind being linked see;
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of
your mind;
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh
the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may
hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel;
They, and we, must seek to cleansed of our unrighteousness and
not, like some weak Christians say, just be glad there is grace. We will always
fall short but the command to stay as far away from sin as we can is always
there.
1John 1:9 If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Romans 6:1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in
sin, that grace may abound? 2 God
forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his
resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our
old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from
sin. 8 Now if
we be dead with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with him: 9
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath
no more dominion over him. 10 For in that
he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also
yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments
of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin
shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we
are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the
servants of righteousness. 19 I speak
after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have
yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity;
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were
free from righteousness. 21 What fruit
had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those
things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting
life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Paul pleads that he and his coworkers have been honest in their
portrayal of the gospel and in their ministry toward the Corinthians. We are to
honor those who serve the Lord in spiritual matters teaching us, edifying us,
exhorting us, and comforting us.
1Thessalonians 5:11 ¶ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and
edify one another, even as also ye do. 12
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and
are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
He has already asked the Corinthians to help those who work with
him.
1Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house
of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the
saints,)16 That ye submit yourselves
unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
As he did elsewhere.
Romans 16:1 ¶ I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is
a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist
her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer
of many, and of myself also.
Paul glories in the tribulation he has suffered for these
difficult and stubborn Christians.
No comments:
Post a Comment