EVERYTHING YOU CAN SEE IS TEMPORARY

Newsletter 117 December 7, 2008

Corinth was a beautiful, but wicked city. Because of this, the church at Corinth had many problems to be overcome. Many Christians had formerly worshipped in the pagan temple there; some had lived in luxury. Now they were confused by messengers from the Jerusalem church who were trying to teach them that they had to become Jews before thy could become Christians. It is no wonder that they were confused. They were looking at the church from the viewpoint of the world. Not being physical, spiritual things were not easy to understand.

Paul had written them before, but here again he writes with the hope of visiting them to give them a �refresher course� on the basics that they had forgotten when false teachers were put into the mix. They needed help, and they needed it now.

2 Corinthians 4: 14

14. Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you..

Paul came straight to the point that God who resurrected Jesus from the tomb, is also his own witness. It is by His power that Paul and his companions work day by day. They saw how he suffered, but that he was preserved for their sake. Even his body might be destroyed, but he, himself, is eternal. They had prided themselves in their beautiful city, with his magnificent, though pagan, temple. They, themselves, had lived lives based on material things. All those things are but temporary. What is eternal is spiritual. The physical rite that those from Jerusalem were teaching was physical.

16. For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17. For our light affliction , which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

18. While we look not at the things which are seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal..

They were being hindered by the things which they see, but it is that which is not seen that is eternal.

Paul was happy to endure poverty, trials, persecution, prison, and eventually even death for his faith. He was taking the long view of matters, knowing what lay ahead, both for himself and for them. Christianity was under attack both from paganism, but also from false teachers from within.

Christianity today, is not all that different. It is still under attack by non-believers, in many parts of the world violently so. It is ridiculed by pseudo-scholars. It is under pressure by the materialism, both from within and the surrounding community. False teachers still thrive within. The letters to the Corinthians, are still very relevant today. What Paul wrote to them, he also encourages us to remember that �the things that are not seen are eternal.� What we do see, are only temporary for this world only. Even our own bodies will be replaced with eternal new bodies. Take heart.

By Bob.

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CONSIDER THESE

People are like tea bags. You have to put them into hot water before you know how strong they are.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I PLEDGE TO READ MY BIBLE THROUGH IN 2009

DECEMBER
7th. Sunday - Ezra 1:2-42, Revelation 5, Psalm 139:9-16
8th. Monday - Ezra 2:43-3:13, Revelation 6, Psalm 139:17-24
9th. Tuesday - Ezra 4,5, Revelation 7, Psalm 140:1-5
10th.Wednesday - Ezra 6,7, Revelation 8, Proverbs 30:1-10
11th. Thursday - Ezra 8,9, Revelation 9:1-11, Psalm 140:6-13
12th. Friday - Ezra 10, Revelation 9:12-21, Psalm 141
13th. Saturday - Nehemiah 1,2, Revelation 10, Psalm 142
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

"Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." - 2 Corinthians 13:11
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