We continue our study of First and Second Corinthians. Paul loved the Corinthian believers very much, for they had been saved through his preaching and he was their spiritual father. He had deep affection and concern for them and their spiritual welfare.
Worldliness (carnality) was a very serious problem in Corinth. In chapter five we will see the awful fruit of this worldliness in the way in which the consciences of the Corinthians were dulled to the terrible immorality which was happening among them. Though the believers there had much intelligence and gift, even in spiritual things they had become proud and were glorying in themselves and their abilities. This led to the allowance of many very serious sins which the beloved Apostle brings before them that they might repent of their ways.
We also want to remember the beautiful moral order of the placement of these epistles in our Bible. In Romans, the way a holy and righteous God can reach out in blessing to lost mankind is presented. Then, in First and Second Corinthians, the proper conduct of those who belong to the Lord and form His assembly here is given.
1. The awful immorality which was allowed to continue in the assembly was reported by local unbelievers to be the common (or normal) way of life of the Christians at Corinth. What would the unbeliever report about the assembly if, rather than showing off its public gifts such as speaking in tongues, the assembly gave itself to prophesying the Word of God as led by the Spirit?
1 Corinthians 14:___
2. What was the nature of the report that Joseph gave his father concerning his brethren? Genesis 37:___
3. What was the nature of the report that the majority of the Israelites gave of the land of Canaan that they had been sent to spy out for Moses?
Numbers 13:___
4. How did the Queen of Sheba characterize the report she had heard in her land of the glory and wisdom of King Solomon? 1 Kings 10:___
5. What kind of a report was required of those men (brethren) who were to be appointed to oversee the financial needs of the early assembly at Jerusalem? Acts 6:___