Online-SUNDAY SCHOOL

When Immorality Comes To Church 14 MAR 10

1 COR 5:1-2 Why remove the saved person? Why not the call to massive intervention and reformative love toward the person? We saw the core reason last week. Sin, of which immorality is often a very visible sin to those inside and outside the church, breaks Unity. The restoration and keeping of the Unit Jesus prayed about in John 17:21-23 is critical to witnessing to the world. Because of Church Unity, every lost person would know for a fact that God exists, Jesus is His raised Son, and both love the lost. Such knowledge would not deprive the lost of their freewill nor would it force or guarantee their choosing of Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Matt 28:19 is founded upon Unity being an operative fact. It assumes that the lost know about God the Father, His Son, and their eternal love for all humans. ACTS 20:21 is also based upon this knowledge. If you look at all the scriptures, none have Christians proving God exists. You might argue that Paul had to prove God to the men on Mars Hill. He had to do so because the Church of the day was not united. It already had denominations as Paul discussed in 1 Cor 1. So Paul had to work a task that should have been unnecessary. That is even truer for us today. The Unity of the Church in the world can be directly assessed by world knowledge about the True God and His Son. Today’s Church Physical fails the lost miserably. Yet the Church Physical takes not blame for the lack of knowledge by the lost.

In Paul’s time, the Church was developing into the numerous variations of doctrine that we have today. Paul tried the best he could, within the limits of Christian freewill, to get the Church to be united as the Father is with the Son.

1 COR 5:9-10 Paul saw clearly that the saved had to interface with the lost in order to witness to the Gospel.

1 COR 5:11 But he was emphatic that the saved are not to live the lost lifestyle, as they are in the world. They are not to be of the world.

1 COR 5:12-13 Instead, the Church was to make every effort to create and retain the Unity. That said, this requires every Christian to do their part. Church Discipline use to be an important part of churches in the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century. Then it began to be moved back in priority. God certainly has not done this. See Hebrews 12. Disciple is necessary to establish and retain Unity. The most critical part is personal action to do self-discipline. Note again all the Put and Do statements Paul made.

1 COR 6:12 What is “lawful”? Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs made an important statement that is real for us this moment in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, January - March 1982, page 36 “More likely he was quoting what sexual libertines were saying in an effort to justify their loose sexual conduct (see Introd. 2). The Gnostics regarded the spirit as good and matter as evil. Thus they were divided into two groups: ascetics who withdrew from the world and all material things; and libertines who held that since spirit and body were separate, the deeds of the body did not affect the spirit. Evidently Paul was quoting from the latter. Though the apostle did not agree with them, for the sake of argument he identified with their statement. In effect he said, “Granted that all things are lawful to me, not all things are expedient.” “Expedient” renders a verb (sumphotei, bears together). It may also read “worthwhile” or fitting.”

Note Paul’s restatement in (1 Cor 10:23 RSV) ""All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful.”All things are lawful," but not all things build up." Often the believer is faced with a choice about which nothing has been explicitly stated in the Bible. In 1 Cor 10 the question facing the Corinthian Christians had to do with the availability of meat which had been sacrificed to idols. Should a Christian eat such meat? Paul views idols as "nothing" (v. 4). Nevertheless, the Christian has other considerations. In this verse, Paul provides a general guideline for a Christian's ethical decision making and supplements this with three tests in chapter 10: (1) Will a given action cause a brother to stumble (10:13)? (2) Will the action be edifying to the disciple himself (10:23)? (3) Will such action glorify God (10:31)? These simple tests provide a foundation for decision making which, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will consistently direct the earnest Christian. This is the answer to any kind of immorality. Paul is stating the same principles in both chapters. Dr. Hobbs quoted Moffatt as saying: “Paul would say: I may do as I please in anything, but I will not let anything do as it pleases with me. Christian freedom must be defined in terms of what I master, not in terms of what masters me.” Or in other words, a Christian is not made a robot when adopted by the Father. A sinner must use freewill to repent and have faith. A major factor that defines a human as human is humans were created in the “image of God” (see Genesis 1). A saved human is still a basic human with total freewill. But faith in Jesus includes a commitment to live the commands of Jesus. This is also a freewill choice. Paul says a Christian can sin if the Christian wants to do so. BUT a Christian is not to make such a lifestyle choice. Sin never builds up a Christian, it only destroys and breaks Unity..

1 COR 6:13 Then Paul gives an example from their real-life that was bothering these pagans turned Christians. This is an anti-Gnostic statement. Just as food is natural and the body is designed to use it, so sex is natural and the body made to use it. But there is a limitation of use for both. (Prov 23:21 RSV) "for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags." The wrong use of food is sinful. So is the wrong use of sex. Wrong use of food can cause death. Wrong use of sex can cause death by disease. Paul also stated a prime reason why God created humans, for holy fellowship with God. See Genesis 3. God did not need such, but God wanted such.

1 COR 6:14 This is a definitive statement and the Greek does not allow an alternative reading. “God raised the Lord…” The Father raised Jesus out of death; Jesus did not arise out of death by himself. The Father did it for him. In like manner, the Father will “raise us up by his power.” He will also take us out of death. Paul stated it again later in (2 Cor 4:14 RSV) "knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence." This connects with verse 13 with its “God will destroy both one and the other”, which means physical death and the destruction of the Cosmos.

1 COR 6:15-16 “Know” in the Greek means to really know with perceptive knowledge. As Dr. Hobbs put it in pages 38-39 “This refers to illicit sexual intercourse. “Take” means to snatch and carry off like the Latin rapio (rape). They were raping the body of Christ! Horrors! It is no wonder that Paul responded to his own question with the familiar “God forbid” (me genoito)…. Perish the thought…!... Illicit sex is wrong for any two consenting adults. But it is unthinkable where Christians are involved.” A person is to have sexual unification of the physical, emotional, and mental only with a marriage partner of the opposite sex.

1 COR 6:17 Dr. Hobbs, page 40 “”But” is adversative, contrasting the physical union with a harlot with the spiritual union with Christ. So in contrast with the former, the latter involves total commitment to Christ. Such a commitment to Christ makes unthinkable as act of illicit sex.”

1 COR 6:18 "Flee" in Greek is an imperative about an urgent matter. It should read "start and keep on fleeing." Thus any repentant person saved or newly saved, must actively seek to not do again the sins that have been forgiven. But it takes work on the person's part; (Eph 4:22-24 KJV) "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Homosexuality is one of the "deceitful lusts." Here again "fornication" means sexual immorality of any kind.

1 COR 6:19 "Temple" means just that. The only Temple of the Holy Spirit on earth is a Christian. God will never again send the Holy Spirit to stay in a physical building like he did in the Old Testament. Yet too many Christians think God is going to rebuild the physical temple in Jerusalem. Nothing is further from being true. God's Temple exists today. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?" Thus it is God who is the boss of how the temple is to be used. "You are not your own."

1 COR 6:20 The "price" is the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as Lord Messiah. Thus it is as we have already stated: Condemn the sin but love the sinner.

JAMES 4:1-2a Sin causes strife, whatever the type of immorality a Christian does by personal choice. In the Old Testament sin of any kind what immoral. Immorality is not confined to some physical act or lifestyle. Strife defeats Unity, which is vital and essential to effective witnessing. Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, July-September 1993, page 55 wrote “Keeping in mind that James was thinking of strife in churches, we might say that “wars” includes the whole of conflict, while “fightings” refers to what we call church fusses. James said that the source of these wars and fightings is our “lusts.” A good modern translation would be sensual pleasures. These pleasures may or may not involve immorality…. They could also refer to rule or ruin attitudes. These hedonistic pleasures certainly would include such spiritual sins as envy and jealousy.” A.T Robinson in his Word Pictures wrote “Of your pleasures (ek tōn hēdonōn humōn). Old word from hēdomai. Ablative case here after ek, “out of your sinful, sensual lusts,” the desire to get what one does not have and greatly desires.” Dr. Hobbs, page 55, “Such fighting between members will kill their spirit, even a church itself.” "Murder" here is probably to be understood metaphorically and not literally, according to the context. However, in JAMES 5:6, James is apparently condemning wealthy unbelieving Jewish landowners who had actually murdered just and nonresistant workers. Context is the key in both interpretations. All this is counter to the Great Prayer of Jesus in John 17. He called for every Christian to love as He loves the Father. (John 17:21-23 RSV) "that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. {22} The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, {23} I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me." People over and over talk about the Power of Prayer, James writes about it. There is power in prayer as James stated in (James 5:16 RSV) "Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." But the definition of “righteous” MUST BE as God defines it. Yet prayer cannot be made into a magical action as many Christians feel and almost teach. Here we have Jesus Himself praying that every Christian be as united: “that they may be one even as we are one.” But it has never happened and certainly is not the case today. If Jesus cannot get all his prayers “answered”, what about us? The answer is again context. Jesus was praying about what he wanted Christians in their freewill to do. A Prime Directive of God is He does not violate the Freewill of Humans. Jesus could not pray us united. Likewise in an equivalent major pray, we cannot pray anyone saved. We can ask that Christians around the lost person be moved and disciplined to do the witnessing necessary for the lost person to have the real salvation gospel and for the lost person to be placed into situations which will stimulate the lost person to think of spiritual issues. James is calling his readers to an honest and truthful look at the situation and themselves. So must we.

JAMES 4:2b-3 Dr. Hobbs, page 55 “Here is another source of strife and the reason why God could not grant their desires. Note the three negatives in this passage.” It starts with a strong negative and has the weaker as well. Dr. Hobbs, pages 55-56 ““Most assuredly you do not have because you do not ask,” or “make your desires a matter of prayer”. However, if they really prayed, their desires would be quite different than that which they were fighting. Their desires would be such that God could grant them. James noted that some pray without receiving because they ask “amiss” or “evilly” (kakos), with the wrong spirit and purpose that they might “consume” or “squander” God’s gift is not for satisfying their own lusts. Harold Songer (BBC, 128) said, “James is not accusing them of praying for sinful things, but with a selfish intent. They prayed to further their own interests and not deepen their relation to God or to accomplish His will in the world.”” With that said, we must read this in the context of the situation James is addressing. Is this to be taken as a generalist premise that we are not to pray for personal things? Certainly not! James is addressing a church situation, and it is not to be taken as the general rule. (Mat 7:11 RSV) "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

JAMES 4:4 "Adulterers and adulteresses" is a strong metaphor for those who have been spiritually unfaithful to God and who have engaged in an affair with the "world" (that evil organized system under the rule of the devil which opposes God and his will). This unfaithfulness results in: (1) experiencing hostility from God and (2) becoming God's enemy. Dr. Hobbs, page 56 “In the Old Testament God is pictured as the husband with Israel as His wife. Sinful and Idolatrous conduct was regarded as spiritual adultery. “Know ye not” translates ouk oidate, a strong negative with the verb to know perceptively or with certainty…. “World” refers to a social order that does not recognize God and is openly hostile to Him.”

JAMES 4:5-6 The precise Old Testament text James has in mind is unclear, as is the correct translation. NKJV translators understand "the Spirit" to be the Holy Spirit and not the human spirit (contra KJV). This judgment is probably correct, and it should be noted that if this is the proper translation/interpretation, it is the only reference to the Holy Spirit in this letter. The verse then is best understood as saying that the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, intensely desires their loyalty, love, and faithfulness. As for the Old Testament text James is citing, there are two possibilities: (1) he has in mind a text like Ex. 20:5, or (2) he has no particular scripture in view, so that rather this verse conveys a theme concerning God and His people which runs throughout the Old Testament. Dr. Hobbs, page 57 “…With His Holy Spirit indwelling them God desired zealously to have their undivided loyalty.” This is the true way to have good lusts and not evil ones. James ended the thought with (Prov 3:34 KJV) "Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly."

JAMES 4:7 Dr. Hobbs, page 58 ““Submit” was a military term for troops lined up in order under an officer awaiting his command.” This is the same word used in for “subject” in (Eph 5:21 RSV) "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ." We are to subject, i.e. submit ourselves to God. [i.e be filled (be fully influenced by) with the Holy Spirit: EPH 5:18b] “Resist” means to stand up against an attack. The truth is the DEVIL CANNOT MAKE ANYONE SIN! So by employing an active defense, the devil will flee! Therefore who is stronger? Satan or an indwelt Christian fully committed to God?

JAMES 4:8-10 As we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is no need for spiritual worry, particularly about our status after death. (Eph 1:13-14 RSV) "In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, {14} which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Verses 7-10 contain 10 of the 54 imperatives in James. Combining straightforward and picturesque terms, James describes the characteristics of genuine repentance in his call to Revival. They are: (1) submission to God, (2) resistance of the devil, (3) drawing near to God, (4) cleansing of hands, (5) purifying the heart, (6) lamentation, (7) mourning, (8) weeping, (9) turning, (10) humbling oneself in the sight of the Lord. This adds up to Revival Repentance. NOTE CAREFULLY who has the action and responsibility. Note also that God does not send a revival. That would violate the Freewill of people. Good meaning people, including ordained ministers, pray for God to do something great, to send a mighty revival, since we haven’t had one for years. NOT SEEING A REVIVAL IS NOT GOD’S FAULT! Only personal repentance causes a revival to happen. God neither withholds nor causes a revival. It happens only when the people want to repent. (James 1:13-15 RSV) "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; {14} but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. {15} Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death." repentance is strictly an individual action.

Until we are taught responsibility from pulpit and teacher chair, until we act in that responsibility, a church will not grow spiritually before God. A church may well grow in number with the feel-good message that Jesus wants to control and is in control of a person’s life. This is a popular feel-good message because we get to place the responsibility about living a righteous life upon action by Jesus. It is Jesus’ fault when we don’t do so. FALSE! The responsibility for spiritual growth and righteousness rests individually with us! Feel-good messages never urge us to accept responsibility. They urge us instead to transfer your responsibility to Jesus. THIS CANNOT BE DONE, THEREFORE ACCEPT YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO (2 Pet 3:18 RSV) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Dr. Hobbs, page 42 “So it all boils down to one thing. We should be so busy for the Lord that we will have no time for the devil.” This is the nature of the fellowship with our ABBA Father. So James has it right. It is not the devil’s fault.

Marvin Ganote, Hobbs Study Class, Adult Teacher. Lesson at: http://dma.dreamhosters.com/~ganotemd/lesson.htm or http://homepages.udayton.edu/~ganotem/bible/lesson.htm