2 Corinthians: Living in His house

Alright, so this entry was a little long.  I'm going to trim it from the original length a bit. If you'd like to see the rest (mostly historical setting because my professor likes us to include that) let me know and I can send it to you.

In the second letter we have of Paul to the Corinthians, I found a theme of “living in Christ’s house” – or, living as He would have us live: with Him.  Paul has just finished discussing many doctrinal discrepancies in the Church in Corinth.  Not only were the people of Corinth a corrupt people (we discussed in class how they were the Las Vegas or “sin city” of their time), but their views and practices in the Church were confusing; there were arguments between groups that each saw the gospel differently.

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After going through all of that business, I started noticing the aforementioned theme.  This theme is very appropriate, because Paul is now telling them the simple truths of living the gospel after going through all of the “hairy” stuff. (1 Corinthians 11 joke…)  The first place I noticed this was 2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  When I read this verse about eternal tabernacles, my first thought was “live in Christ’s house: stand in holy places.”  This dwelling is not something we build with our hands, but something we take with us – ourselves.  When we keep The Spirit with us, our very beings become eternal tabernacles where His spirit and His influence can dwell.

A kind of add-on to this thought is in 2 Cor. 5:17.  “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  When we live in such a way that Christ can dwell with us, he changes us, he makes us better – and what we were before becomes something new.

A little later, Paul tells us how to live in Christ’s house.  One verse that struck me was 2 Cor. 6:12.  “Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.”  In other words, you choose your behavior.  If you choose to live with The Spirit, it will become a possibility for you to live with His influence.  Another important part of living with His influence is repentance, and Paul mentions this in 2 Cor. 7:9-11.  Here he talks about godly sorrow, and how it brings repentance.  In verse 11, there are some words that stand out to me.  One is particular is “clearing.”  Like 5:17 talks about, utilizing Christ’s influence – and, with repentance especially, His Atonement – has a renewing effect; a clearing effect.

Skipping ahead a little, 2 Cor. 12:10 sums up these thoughts for us: “therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  Christ makes us better when we live for Him.

As a P.S. kind of thought, 2 Cor. 11:3 reminds us to not let our minds “be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  This is an interesting phrase, and it takes a second look to understand it.  What I took from it is that Paul is warning us not to seek more complex answers than we are given in the gospel.  His gospel is simple, it is meant to be so.  Seeking complicated answers will confuse and complicate our thoughts, just as it complicated the views of the Corinthians.  Learn from the simple truths we are given.  Live by them.  They are profound, and will change us for the better, helping us progress until we are completely back to Him.

Enchant(meant)

Surprisingly simple to reach

As if under a spell

Increased meaning in each

The pieces mesh so well

At the end

Wishing I could everything replay

Only to bend

The line of time to record all that you say

Enchant.

Meant with everything that exists.

Enchant.

Meant for both paths to twist

Just enough to cross between

Faces. Smile. Laughter. Scene.

A scene returned from the past

Real. Honest. Make it last.

A sunrise

Gradual the hue and suddenly a burst

Inside eyes

Attent, intent, and care which came first

Then continue through a passage

Which becomes a story of adventure

One reads to find the message

And once discovered, capture

Enchant.

Meant to color, brighten, glimmer

Enchant.

Meant like magic with its shimmer

The spells combine with meaning

Enchantment

Not only to enchant, but an enchanting

That is meant.

The conjurer cannot be fought

A connection in two hearts

To let enchantment pull I wonder if I ought

But I know this is where it starts

Paul's Example, A Type of Christ

In my reading in 1 Cor. today, I found a theme of “prophets.”  How they are great examples to us, and much more on how they teach.  1 Cor. 11-14 are the chapters where we find discussion on spiritual gifts, the responsibility from having those gifts, and prophesying.  There is a lot you could find in these chapters, but I took the angle of prophets: how they teach, act, and that we should strive to follow what they do.

The verse that introduces this theme is 1 Cor. 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.”  Paul is a great example of Christ-like living, as are all of the other prophets.  Paul’s reminder to Corinth, and to us as readers of his epistles, is to look to the prophets to learn how to be like Christ.

Later in my reading, the spiritual gifts are presented.  I’ve read scripture blocks very similar to these multiple times, but I found something new in it today.  (I Love it when this happens.)  At the end of the spiritual gifts discussion, the concept of the “body of Christ” is discussed.  I Cor 12:27: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”  The “body of Christ” is the church, or rather, its members.  When it says “members in particular,” it is referring to how each of us has a unique spiritual gift, and each serves a purpose in the church.  In fact, each person has a responsibility to use their gifts to benefit the other members.  1 Cor 13:2: states “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understanding all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Spiritual gifts and power are nothing without the Love of Christ.  We are to use our gifts to be charitable and benefit each other, fulfilling our part as a member of the body of Christ.

Paul goes on to discuss this, specifically in relation to prophesy.  1 Cor 14:4:” He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifyeth himself, but he that prophesieth edifyeth the church.”  Latter day prophets speak in our tongue – simply, in a way we can understand, so that we can be edified.  Paul presents this as an example of using our spiritual gifts to benefit the body of Christ.  Again, tying it back to how we should follow the example of prophets and live Christ-like lives.

To sum up all of these thoughts, 1 Cor 12:31+33 states: “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted… for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”  Paul wants us to follow the prophets, benefit each other with our gifts, and be comforted as we understand the Gospel.  This is what Christ wants for us as well.

I Love finding themes in my reading. J

Paul's Tips for Happiness

It is absolutely wonderful how easy it is to see principles and helpful scriptures when I am actually looking for answers.  In my reading of 1 Thessalonians yesterday, I found a theme of helpful and comforting reminders.  In this book, Paul is writing to Athens and teaching them.  The things he presents are very good advice.  One that caught my interest is 1 Thes 2:12: “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”  Paul is reminding his audience to be worthy of God’s presence.  When we are doing all we can and should in our lives, His help is more prevalent and recognizable.  This is an excellent concept to me, because it tells me that if I want to seek more of His help and influence than I can currently see – I need to make sure I am doing all I can to live worthily of His presence and influence.

A second little reminder I found is in verse 20 of the same chapter: “For ye are our glory and joy.”  The people Paul teaches are very important to him, and in reading this I thought “Prophets today feel this way about us, as do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”  Reading this and having that thought come to me was very comforting.  They care about us, and they will do all they can to look out for us.  All we need to do is seek that help.

The last scripture I want to mention is in 1 Thes 4:16-18: “for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven… then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together when them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the  Lord… comfort one another with these words.”  This is referring to the second coming, and how those who are worthy will be taken up to be with Christ.  (Fun Fact: We learned in class that this is intriguingly referred to as “The Rapture” – which has the Greek root “rapio” meaning abduction or kidnapping.)  However, we can also think of it in context of our own personal “coming to Christ” – I had a similar thought process when I was reading a scripture block in Acts.  The phrase that came to mind as I read these verses was “Be alive in Christ.”  When we come to Him, He will help us live as He would have us, and WE WILL BE HAPPIER.

I Love the scriptures.  I am amazed that He helps me find meaning in even the verses that are hardest to understand.