Father God, thank you for this time that we have to read and study your word rightly divided. Father God I pray that as we learn about your goal for us in studying this epistle that we will really take it by heart, believe it and live it out. Thank you Lord. In Jesus's name we pray amen.
1st Corinthians 1:8-9 | God's goal for us (and the Corinthians) in reading/studying this epistle (1st Corinthians).
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All believers in the dispensation of grace are righteous and blameless in God's eyes because of Christ's righteousness imputed to us from the moment that we believed the Gospel. This verse is also in reference to our being established, matured and properly edified in sound grace doctrine. We are sanctified from the very moment that we believe the gospel, but we also have a "progressive sanctification as sound grace doctrine is built up in our inner man."
8 Who shall also confirm you [being properly edified in sound grace doctrine] unto the end [the rapture], that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a choice in whether or not to allow Christ to build this sound grace doctrine in our inner man. Are we daily reading, studying, meditating upon, believing and then obeying God's word rightly divided? Or are we more caught up in vain religion, philosophies and other forms of worldly wisdom? Or maybe we are just wasting time in other ways by constantly satisfying the flesh with carnal things (worldly TV, movies, music, books, social media, other forms of entertainment, hobbies, shopping, vacations, etc). Time is precious, we ought not to waste it!
I was saved as a little girl but even after some attempts to study the Bible on my own, I was never taught by anyone about sound grace doctrine. Eventually I became a newager and spent many years caught up in religious, newage teachings and carnal living. But, thank the Lord I eventually came back to the Bible and within a year of that, I learned about rightly divided bible study (which saved me from false teachings within Christendom as well!). But all of my years as a newager were wasted years! Now I don't want to waste any time! Some people might think I'm fanatical or even "boring" because I spend a lot of time in Bible study and ministry, but I know the value of it! Of course, I still enjoy some TV, movies and books (though I choose things that are more family and Christian friendly) as well as some simple hobbies etc but I'm not wasting all or nearly all of my time anymore with these things (the same could be said about fashion, beauty, decor, politics, the news, etc, I try to not spend so much time on these worldly things). Hopefully unbelievers and ignorant brethren at least see Christ living in and through me and will themselves believe the gospel if they are not saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth- so that they can have something of value that lasts for eternity as well!
Homework: Read over 1st Corinthians again and think over "how can I apply this to my life?"
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