joy E.’s Journal

The warfare in which he was engaged was with sin, idolatry, and all forms of evil. He means that in conducting this he was not actuated by worldly views or policy, or by such ambitious and interested aims as controlled the people of this world. This refers primarily to the warfare in which Paul was himself engaged as an apostle; and the idea is, that he went forth as a soldier under the great Captain of his salvation to fight his battles and to make conquests for him. Every day we as Christians fight a battle with evil, and things that are not of Jesus world and would never be. Our Armor for this fight is Jesus Christ. The Gospel is our sword. Lets fight the good fight with God's word's as our ammo. Let's walk in God's Glory so no evil can not penterate our Armor of the Lord. The Christian looks for his conquests only by the force and the power of truth, and by the agency of the Spirit of God. Amen

1. The sense is, they were willing to give more than they were well able. It shows the strong interest which they had in the subject, and the anxious desire which they had to relieve the needs of others. 2.Acting from choice, self-moved, voluntarily, of their own accord. They did not wait to be urged and pressed to do it. They rejoiced in the opportunity of doing it. They came forward of their own accord and made the contribution. "God loveth a cheerful giver" We are asked by our Lord Jesus Christ to help the less fortunate then us. And he does not look at what we have as long as we give so others are as equal as us. I give because it makes me happy. I give because I know there is people out there less fortunate then me. I give because God asks me to. I give because I know God is smiling. Can you make God smile. Amen

The idea is, that as we have a promise that God would dwell in us, that he would be our God, that he would be to us a Father, we should remove from us whatever is offensive in his sight, and become perfectly holy. The unceasing and steady aim of every Christian should be perfection - perfection in all things - in the love of God, of Christ, of man; perfection of heart, and feeling, and emotion; perfection in his words, and plans, and dealings with people; perfection in his prayers, and in his submission to the will of God. No man can be a Christian who does not sincerely desire it. and who does not constantly aim at it. No man is a friend of God who can acquiesce in a state of sin, and who is satisfied and contented that he is not as holy as God is holy. And any man who has no desire to be perfect as God is, and who does not make it his daily and constant aim to be as perfect as God, may set it down as demonstrably certain that he has no true religion, How can a man be a Christian who is willing to acquiesce in a state of sin, and who does not desire to be just like his Master and Lord? From a regard to his commands, and a reverence for his name. We as Christians should strive to be a image that our fellow man can follow to the Lord. If we are sinful and continue in that path, then the people we are trying to bring to Jesus, will say "Your no different then me, what is so special." We always need to shine for the Lord, so his coming believers will see that shine and know that Jesus world is different. Amen

Christians are not to mingle with the people of the world in these things; and are not to partake of them. This prohibition, it is supposed, extends to the following, among other things: 1. To idolatry. 2.sin, vice, licentiousness. This is also plain. Christians are in no way to patronise them, or to lend their influence to them, or to promote them by their name, their presence, or their property. "Neither be partakers of other people's sins;" 3.arts and acts of dishonesty, deception, and fraud in traffic and trade. Here the prohibition also must be absolute. No Christian can have a right to enter into partnership with another where the business is to be conducted on dishonest and unchristian principles, or where it shall lead to the violation of any of the laws of God. 4. the amusements and pleasures that are entirely worldly, and sinful in their nature; that are wholly under worldly influence, and which cannot be brought under Christian principles. This verse once was stated for marriage only, but after investigation it can be used for our daily lives. Amen

Paul says that Christians are enabled to look upon the glory of the Lord in the gospel without a veil - without any obscure intervening medium. We had no obscurity, no veil, as in the case of Moses. In the gospel they were permitted to look on the full splendor of the divine perfections - the justice, goodness, mercy, and benevolence of God - to see him as he is with undimmed and unveiled glory. The idea is, that the perfections of God shine forth with splendor and beauty in the gospel, and that we are permitted to look on them clearly and openly.

Here, a part of them had given him cause of grief; and therefore he immediately adds, that I may not overcharge you all; as only a part of you has put me to pain, (viz. the transgressor, and those who had taken his part), it would be unreasonable that I should load you all, with the blame which attaches to that party alone.

It was not to be confined to the rich only, but was the common duty of all. The poor, as well as the rich, were expected to contribute according to their ability. At the first day of the week "ALL" were to give a portion of what they had stored up. God is telling us that know matter how poor or wealthy we are, their should be a portion of what we have be given. So many times we say well we just don't have it. But what about that wonderful women in the Bible that gave her last coin to Jesus, to help him. Her faith in Jesus was so strong, she knew even if her last coin was used Jesus would take care of her. Such great Faith. Amen

We should not be judged - We should not be exposed to the expression of God's disapprobation. He refers here to the punishment which had come upon the Corinthians for their improper manner of observing the ordinance; and he says that if they had properly examined themselves, and had understood the nature of the ordinance, that they would have escaped the judgments that had come upon them. This is as true now as it was then. If we wish to escape the divine displeasure; if we wish the communion to be followed with joy, and peace, and growth in grace, and not with blighting and spiritual barrenness, we should exercise a severe judgment on our character, and feelings, and motives; and should come to it with a sincere desire to honor Christ, and to advance in the divine life.

We as Christians need to stand firm in our beliefs, the love of our God Jesus Christ. Show our non-believers how Christians are to live and speak. If we falter, and our non-believers see us, what shall then say about how we are different them them in our lives. So lets be strong, read our Bible daily so we know what God wants us to do and how to live our lives.

Believers are not their own. They have been bought with a costly price—the precious blood of the Son of God who sacrificed his life for them. As persons purchased, they belong to God and should rightly glorify or magnify him in their owned body, using their whole physical being in a manner that reflects the highest regard for his requirements in matters of conduct.