CH. 2 scattered thoughts...


Haha so I know that the blog thing is over but I am still chugging along… J Just finished chapter 2 and loving it. Here are some of my major reflections from Ch. 2:
2.1:

Some are arrogantly affirming total freedom in sexual practice and Paul commands us to mourn that sentiment. I found this incredibly interesting that it is so similar to our society today and not only outside of the church (as that is always as it has been and as it will be) but this plague is very much so alive within church walls. But there is hope if we are willing to give some tough love and be strong in truth (kicking the man out of the church) (AND LOVE (love is my own addition, I think Paul mostly discusses truth in this section, but obviously love for church brothers and sisters is always implied, and very important to remember when we are approaching our arrogant and prideful selves and societies in this society, to have that perceptive ministry so that we can have the most success when calling people out of sin and into a higher calling). He says that we will potentially redeem the sinner and restore the church body if we do as Paul says.

2.2

Sexual immorality is not a private matter (which is something we hear and think so much, as we are plagued by this individualistic culture). It impacts the entire community, like yeast in dough. And vice versa, a healthy sexual theology and practice will infect and spread like wildfire, imagine how beautiful that would be.

2.3

“Christian freedom must be limited by a regard for others: -Robertson & Plummer
“When one loves God, all things are permissible; but when one loves God, one loves what He loves. This means love for all others, for they are loved by God; and conduct will be regulated by this Love.” – Orr & Walther
CONDUCT WILL BE REGULATED BY CAPITAL L LOVE. WHEN IT IS REAL, CONDUCT WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW. PRODUCT. This reminds me of the passage in the Revelation 1:10: “On the Lord’s day, I was in the Spirit, and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…” When He was in worship that was when all visions happened, and that is when all conduct will happen for us. (thx DJ).

2.4

1 Corinth. 6: 13-20. Wow so good. All of this section was beautiful and enlightening.

Understanding the importance of why Paul said “one spirit” with the Lord that we may be able to better understand the extraordinary nature of one body makes the possibility of marriage such an act of worship, to be one body with one other.

Cameo             v.        
2                      13        “the body is… for the Lord and the Lord for the body
6                      16b      “ for it is writted, ‘the two shall become one flesh’ “
10                    19b      “you are not your own. So glorify God with your body.”

The beauty of these rhetorical structures allows us to see that the ability to worship God with our bodies and understand that the body and the Lord are for each other BY BECOMING ONE WITH ANOTHER IS LOVELY. It makes so much sense because in v. 13, it says in further depth that the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord… and an avenue of giving bodies to the Lord is one flesh with another person… so beautiful.

2.5

It is not “anything goes” nor is it “the body is evil”.
Equality between man and wife in the gifting of sex: “if it is coereced, it is not a gift”…. Not just a gift but also a right… hmm I want to understand the ‘right’ a bit better.

FORE GOD HAS CALLED US TO PEACE. Paul deals with some really complicated and painful issues in beautiful, simple, and Godly ways that really energized me.

Also whoa at Paul’s genius when he discusses the social theological divide between Christians and Jews and social economic segmentation between slave and free AT THE SAME TIME! And oh man how he discusses slavery and the freedom we are called to as believers. But also the oxymoronic and beautiful slavery of righteousness we are called to if considered free by society.

Also love Bailey’s conclusion of Paul’s personal appeal to imitate himself. It does not fit the discussion of sexual practice… good stuff.

Comments

  1. Steve MannJanuary 9, 2019 at 8:14 AM

    Hi Alyssa - thanks for sharing. So glad you're still plowing through the book and letting God speak to you and refine you through the book and blog!

    ReplyDelete

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