RESOLVE TO FOLLOW CHRIST

#1 · January 3, 2005, 12:34 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on January 3, 2005, 12:34 pm
Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

RESOLVE TO FOLLOW CHRIST
January 2, 2005

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

The $10,000 Pyramid is a long-running game show that I enjoyed watching
years ago. I think it is called just The Pyramid now. The premise is
that one member of a two-person team is shown a category, and by giving
clues pertaining to the category, the other player guesses it. I have a
category in mind; lets try it. Tractor. Combine. Hogs. Cattle. Seed.
Yep, things used on a farm. One more. Spend less. Lose weight. Exercise
more. Eat less. Watch less TV. Be nicer. Ok, New Years Resolutions.

Of course, this is the time of the year in which those famous resolutions
have been made. Every year, that is the question that makes the rounds:
Have you made any New Years resolutions? If one can go by the volume
of commercials about gym memberships this time of the year, exercise and
weight loss still rank among the top resolutions. And probably rank among
the top resolutions that are broken.

Even though New Years resolutions have become the topic of jokes and
ridicule, they are not such a bad idea. After all, to resolve to do
something to better oneself and/or to better other people is a good
thing. Whether the resolution is to lose weight or learn a new skill or
help others in need or any number of other ideas that are worthy of human
endeavor, is it not a good thing to seek to improve oneself? And if we
happen to fail to fulfill a resolution, is it still not worthy to try it
again? I think so.

Paul thought so, too. His first letter to the Corinthian Church is
directed to Christians who broke resolutions and promises. From the
outset of the letter, Paul addressed numerous problems that had arisen in
the church as believers failed to follow through on their resolution to
be Christ-like. In 11:17, he writes, In the following directives I have
no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. Thats not
the kind of evaluation Christians should be receiving. Paul did not
believe in showing off his Christian faith. In other words, Pauls
entire purpose in life as a Christian is to glorify God. It has nothing
to do with making himself an honored, revered member of a community. Paul
makes this clear in several places, such as Philippians 3:7-9. But
whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all
things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in
him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but
that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from
God and is by faith. Having been saved by grace through the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ, Paul centers his life around him, not the other way around.
Pauls faith is not for show or gain, it is for living and showing the
glory of God.

But Paul knows that Christians do not live in a vacuum, as if they are
isolated and insulated from the outside world. The Christian faith is not
for show, but he is very much aware that unbelievers and skeptics and
scoffers and enemies of the cross are watching the Christian faithful.
Therefore, the behavior of Christians then and now is open for public
view and comment. Spiritual seekers are looking for confirmation that the
Christian faith is the answer to their seeking. Scoffers are looking for
confirmation that the Christian faith is nothing but a phony scam. Does
this not magnify Pauls chastisement of the Corinthian Christians? In
the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do
more harm than good.

The Corinthians were failing in their resolve to act like Christ. They
were neither being considerate of one another nor were they honoring
Christ during the Lords Supper. At this time in the life of the
Corinthian Church, communion, or the Lords Supper, was not a separate
part of a worship service like we practice it today. It was part of a
community meal that the believers shared. The trouble started there, as
is pointed out in verses 20-21. When you come together, it is not the
Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without
waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. This
would definitely have an impact on the believers testimonies in their
communities. Spiritual seekers would keep on seeking, and scoffers would
delight in the failure of believers to live up to their resolutions.

Of course, this also impacted the act of the Lords Supper as well,
leading Paul to write in verses 27-28, Therefore, whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine
himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

God wants us to be promise keepers, not promise breakers. Gods gift of
salvation is a gift given freely from Him. It is not derived from our own
efforts or works. Spiritually speaking, we cannot save ourselves. That is
the work of Christ, which is everlasting.

But accepting Gods free gift of grace does bring with it our
responsibility to be Christ-like. Like Paul, we no longer go on living
just for ourselves. We live for Christ. Our attitudes and behavior change
because we want them to for Gods sake, and God strengthens us in our
resolve as long as we continue to walk with Him. In verses 29-30, Paul
continues his chastisement, For anyone who eats and drinks without
recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have
fallen asleep.

There are those who think that Paul is wrong on this point. They think
that his connection of an improper attitude toward the Lords Supper and
illness or death is inaccurate. We should ask ourselves, though, why Paul
should be considered mistaken? It is certainly within the realm of
believability that any person or group showing contempt to God could be
punished by God in various ways. No one argues, for instance, that a mud
slide is a logical result of clearing a hillside. Or that massive
destruction of property and life can result from carelessness with a
match. Or that refusing to take insulin will result in death to a
diabetic. Why should we find it so difficult to believe, then, that
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord cannot result in many
who are weak and sick, and have fallen asleep?

For all of this, there is a simple solution. Remember our resolution to
follow Christ. Be Christ-like in what we do. For whenever you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Let us prepare ourselves, then, to partake of the Lords Supper in this
New Year. It is a reminder of the body and blood of Christ - his
sacrifice for us. May it also be a reminder of our resolve to follow
Christ.

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

RESOLVE TO FOLLOW CHRIST
January 2, 2005

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

The $10,000 Pyramid is a long-running game show that I enjoyed watching
years ago. I think it is called just The Pyramid now. The premise is
that one member of a two-person team is shown a category, and by giving
clues pertaining to the category, the other player guesses it. I have a
category in mind; lets try it. Tractor. Combine. Hogs. Cattle. Seed.
Yep, things used on a farm. One more. Spend less. Lose weight. Exercise
more. Eat less. Watch less TV. Be nicer. Ok, New Years Resolutions.

Of course, this is the time of the year in which those famous resolutions
have been made. Every year, that is the question that makes the rounds:
Have you made any New Years resolutions? If one can go by the volume
of commercials about gym memberships this time of the year, exercise and
weight loss still rank among the top resolutions. And probably rank among
the top resolutions that are broken.

Even though New Years resolutions have become the topic of jokes and
ridicule, they are not such a bad idea. After all, to resolve to do
something to better oneself and/or to better other people is a good
thing. Whether the resolution is to lose weight or learn a new skill or
help others in need or any number of other ideas that are worthy of human
endeavor, is it not a good thing to seek to improve oneself? And if we
happen to fail to fulfill a resolution, is it still not worthy to try it
again? I think so.

Paul thought so, too. His first letter to the Corinthian Church is
directed to Christians who broke resolutions and promises. From the
outset of the letter, Paul addressed numerous problems that had arisen in
the church as believers failed to follow through on their resolution to
be Christ-like. In 11:17, he writes, In the following directives I have
no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. Thats not
the kind of evaluation Christians should be receiving. Paul did not
believe in showing off his Christian faith. In other words, Pauls
entire purpose in life as a Christian is to glorify God. It has nothing
to do with making himself an honored, revered member of a community. Paul
makes this clear in several places, such as Philippians 3:7-9. But
whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all
things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in
him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but
that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from
God and is by faith. Having been saved by grace through the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ, Paul centers his life around him, not the other way around.
Pauls faith is not for show or gain, it is for living and showing the
glory of God.

But Paul knows that Christians do not live in a vacuum, as if they are
isolated and insulated from the outside world. The Christian faith is not
for show, but he is very much aware that unbelievers and skeptics and
scoffers and enemies of the cross are watching the Christian faithful.
Therefore, the behavior of Christians then and now is open for public
view and comment. Spiritual seekers are looking for confirmation that the
Christian faith is the answer to their seeking. Scoffers are looking for
confirmation that the Christian faith is nothing but a phony scam. Does
this not magnify Pauls chastisement of the Corinthian Christians? In
the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do
more harm than good.

The Corinthians were failing in their resolve to act like Christ. They
were neither being considerate of one another nor were they honoring
Christ during the Lords Supper. At this time in the life of the
Corinthian Church, communion, or the Lords Supper, was not a separate
part of a worship service like we practice it today. It was part of a
community meal that the believers shared. The trouble started there, as
is pointed out in verses 20-21. When you come together, it is not the
Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without
waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. This
would definitely have an impact on the believers testimonies in their
communities. Spiritual seekers would keep on seeking, and scoffers would
delight in the failure of believers to live up to their resolutions.

Of course, this also impacted the act of the Lords Supper as well,
leading Paul to write in verses 27-28, Therefore, whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine
himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

God wants us to be promise keepers, not promise breakers. Gods gift of
salvation is a gift given freely from Him. It is not derived from our own
efforts or works. Spiritually speaking, we cannot save ourselves. That is
the work of Christ, which is everlasting.

But accepting Gods free gift of grace does bring with it our
responsibility to be Christ-like. Like Paul, we no longer go on living
just for ourselves. We live for Christ. Our attitudes and behavior change
because we want them to for Gods sake, and God strengthens us in our
resolve as long as we continue to walk with Him. In verses 29-30, Paul
continues his chastisement, For anyone who eats and drinks without
recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have
fallen asleep.

There are those who think that Paul is wrong on this point. They think
that his connection of an improper attitude toward the Lords Supper and
illness or death is inaccurate. We should ask ourselves, though, why Paul
should be considered mistaken? It is certainly within the realm of
believability that any person or group showing contempt to God could be
punished by God in various ways. No one argues, for instance, that a mud
slide is a logical result of clearing a hillside. Or that massive
destruction of property and life can result from carelessness with a
match. Or that refusing to take insulin will result in death to a
diabetic. Why should we find it so difficult to believe, then, that
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord cannot result in many
who are weak and sick, and have fallen asleep?

For all of this, there is a simple solution. Remember our resolution to
follow Christ. Be Christ-like in what we do. For whenever you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Let us prepare ourselves, then, to partake of the Lords Supper in this
New Year. It is a reminder of the body and blood of Christ - his
sacrifice for us. May it also be a reminder of our resolve to follow
Christ.

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN