June 02, 2024

REPEATING HISTORY: A CALL TO UNITY

June 02, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

In Ecclesiastes 1:9 King Solomon wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun.” There are varying estimations for the population in his day, but now people number perhaps forty times what it was at that time. And yet today, as we’ll see in the new series, Repeating History, the sins that existed in Solomon’s day are still prevalent. People continue to disobey God’s instructions just as in early days of civilization and we must question if we have learned anything! In effect, where one person was engaging in a particular sin, now we have forty committing the same. How can civilized people, who have made considerable strides in everyday life, not have made progress loving God and loving each other? Paul was sickened over the sin that had seeped into the church from the world. Today, we have only to watch Christians to see that is still the case, and any who wishes to be different must discipline themselves to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and spirit, love others as themselves, but also, as James tell us, “keep oneself unspotted from the sins of the world.”

Focal Passages: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17.

The Starting Point:

• Read 1 Cor. 1:1-3. Where did Paul get his authority to write to the church at Corinth? Who had started this church? Why could he call himself an apostle? Are we called by God? What are we called to be? What is our responsibility?
• What is meant by sanctification? What are we to be called out from? What had been the condition of the city of Corinth when Paul established a church there?
• On any given Sunday, what would you suppose the percent is of those in the congregation who are living a sinful or immoral lifestyle? * How does this affect their walk with God? Does it take away their salvation? Then why not live as the world?

Strength for the journey:                                                                                                                         

• Read vv. 4-9. How had the Corinthians been blessed by God? Had God poured out blessings on this church? How do we receive our salvation (vs 4)? What is grace?
• In verse 7, what was the result? How does one become blameless (vs. 8)? Is this the same as sinless?
• How do we become corrupted? What happens when we sin? What should be the length of time between committing a sin and confessing it, receiving forgiveness?

A crippling condition:

• Read vv. 10-12. When you “plead” with someone, what is the normal reason such an act is necessary? Does this indicate that something bad has occurred?
• In verse 11, what is the problem? If there is division within a church, does this always cause a crippling condition? Why? What are some of the reasons a church is held to a higher standard than other organizations within the community or world?
• What are some repercussions that occur when a church has division in it?

Awareness of the call:

• Read vv. 13-17. Why did Paul get perturbed that people were putting themselves into groups, according to who had baptized them? What did he say he was placed there to do?
• What is the main focus of the church? Is it still our job as a church (to point men to Christ)?

TAKE AWAYS:

• Know what church you belong to. See vs. 2. Leave, if you are in any other church.
• Understand the value of following Christ! See vs. 3 & 5. What are the benefits?
• Recognize the importance of your call. See vv. 8b-9, 10b. How should we act?
• Always point to the cross. See vv. 17b. Who should see God in us? (Everyone!)

Close: 

                  How often do you think of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, where the angels who visited Lot were being attacked by the men of the city to be used for promiscuity; or the Levite who cut up his concubine and distributed her body pieces among the tribes of Israel (Judges 20:5-7)? These examples are not situations we (at least in America) know are happening in this day and age, but worse things certainly could be going on and we are unaware of it. Does that mean we still have a period in which life can become even more sinful? Second Timothy 3:13 tells us that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

We’re also told in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 that we will recognize the signs of the times for the last days, as they will be perilous. A description of those days follows, and as you read them, consider how often you are a witness to any of these actions: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with various lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” The Truth is Jesus Christ.

As we get ever closer to the end of time—whenever that will be—you will see these characteristics abound. Run from them into the arms of God, letting Him shield you as you take a stand against such worldly behaviors. Don’t let the pleasures of sin lead you into an eternity of hell.

By Sandy Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                June 02, 2024