Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of 1 Corinthians

Chapter 10

1Cor.10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 10:2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

It is interesting the Corinthians congregation were fleshly minded following men, setting up teachers as mediators between themselves and God wanting to judge the by the righteousness of the law, and sadly enough acting like most modern day religion do. Having division and sect, not understanding the power of Christ, and his righteousness enslaving themselves to some form of the flesh to walk by sight instead of faith.

1Cor.3:1 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. 3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men? 3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly? 3:5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?

Hence, we now have the context of Paul's letter here, he is not starting a whole new letter/book as our legal mind my thinks, but rather continuing his thought to the Corinthians brothers and sister. The apostles Paul makes his strongest point yet, who was the physical nation of Israel baptized into since you want to be under law?

Moses the lawgiver and here was the baptism of Israel while going through the red sea into Moses the lawgiver of God for that nation. Don't be fooled here brothers and sisters not many baptism, but one for a fleshly nations, not many competing teacher(s), or religion just one mediator of that great nation a man called Moses whom picture the Christ for the greater spiritual nation of God whom he leads as our head and law giver.

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

In other words, one leader, one feeder, and one director of our spiritual lives why than are you looking to men and religious organization to direct your lives when they cannot mediate between you and God, like Moses did, and Christ does? The very thing dividing the physical nation of Israel was happening in the Corinthian congregation freedom from sin in Christ, and the laws judging their sins. Israel had just been freed from the corrupt enslavement of Egypt false gods into Moses their head and law giver, and immediately went into setting up competing headship under men in Israel and false gods!

How can a person be freed from the great world power watching it being plagued by God and not even stay faithful a few days before rebelling? How can a Christian's anointed with Holy Spirit freed from the corruption of this world into the wonderful light and not even know whom the head of the congregation is and instead set up men in earthly organization?

Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Let us soberly look at what Paul's saying many of God's people cannot do the works of God without a visible organization directing each step of their faith, they fight the headship of Christ rebel against the Spirit insistent upon walking by flesh instead of Spirit, but yet claiming to drink of the same spiritual waters of Christ. While having their spiritual lives plagued with fears and hates from within and without. Their very conduct is no different than any worldly organization, but still boasting of good works, while denying the very power of God.

James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1Cor.10:5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
10:7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."{Exodus 32:6}
10:8 Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.
10:9 Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10:10 Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 10:11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. 10:13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

The apostle Paul speak of a list of evils the nation of Israel did in displeasing God, once out of Egypt under Moses leadership. Then in tells us that these are examples for us the spiritual body of Christ the congregation of the living God, but Paul states afterwords, he speak to the wise, who are the wise? It is important the contexts of Paul's letter to the Corinthian's so we don't run with a thought doing more damage to others person faith.

1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?"{Isaiah 40:13} But we have Christ's mind.

The wise have the mind of the body of Christ, which is, the mind of God given to Christ and us, if we walk in Spirit and truth. Wisdom is a gift of God's Holy Spirit generously given if we ask for it. The nation of Israel as a whole became self-righteous, but how could that happen when each person under the law had to atone for their sins, which should of told them there was no self-righteousness before God? Righteousness came from the innocent blood of animals paying for their unrighteousness. However, such thinking alluded most of them making them a practicers of sin unwittingly. It was just that simple, but profoundly the biggest blunder a person could have made as a Jew, and what was that?

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Thinking the law declared a person a non-sinner by personal efforts, that is, good works instead of the blood. In other words, if one cannot stop sinning, and the law only proves that further, and blood is not provided from God to pay for your sins, than you are a practicers of sin wittingly or unwittingly. Here than is the context Paul speaks to as to the wise among the body of Christ, recalling Israels failures in lack of faith in the blood of atonement while putting faith in works of law.

Galatians 3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}

1 Timothy 1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Christian's had been freed from the judgment of the Old Law, but did this give them an excuse to practice sin again, isn't that the real question? If you have no sin accounted against you does that mean a person can just sin without consequences? Here is the context, not bring the law back, and judging and condemning one another. Hence, producing a religious organization like history shows in destroying those practicing evil, by the sword, or in torture chambers under a church!

1 John 2:1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor{Greek Parakleton: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comfortor.} with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.

Wises person knows having God's Spirit, the issue is Christ righteousness obtain from faith, not works of law, not one person can put away the filth of their flesh, not one person can become a non-sinner without being grafted into the body of Christ; God's righteous for us. Those declaring themselves righteous by self-efforts find themselves in truly an unobtainable circumstance which Christ shocked the self-righteous Jews in saying this:

Matt. 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, {TR adds "to the ancients,"} 'You shall not commit adultery;'{Exodus 20:14}
5:28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.{or, Hell}

Christ went too the heart, its lust as evil, not waiting until it acted in adultery proving no one was righteous as a sinner at our core, our hearts. Christ words here should sober up a wise person into real humility to understand the context of Paul's words here. Let us not delude ourselves like Israel, we are not righteous, nor can any of us stop practicing sin on our own. We have been given a gift of undeserved kindness by God in the name of Christ Jesus whom never sinned or lusted for the opposite sex in his heart. With all humility then let us thank God for substituting Christ righteousness for our own unrighteousness, and not be foolishly thinking we can mock God for having our sins removed.

Galatians 6:7 Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

1Cor.3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. 3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 3:13 each man's work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is.
3:14 If any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1Cor.10:15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.
10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a sharing of the body of Christ?

Are we wise, and do we have any human wisdom from our fallen fleshly mind which adds to Christ? Can we judge matters of righteousness from a mind dead in the Christ, crucified as it were by the impaling of our sins from our flesh mind by Christ own tortuous death upon a cursed instrument?

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me,{TR adds " Thomas,"} you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."

How profound is the apostles Paul's words here, does God mix holy things with sinful flesh making it clean, or does he kill our sinful flesh in Christ? Can we ourselves separate sinful flesh from our spirit or does this require a miracle of God?

James 3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

Galatians 3:15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

Miracle: “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.”

Who are these wise men? How had they made themselves righteous by special knowledge of God, had they tried harder than others to be supremely righteous and holy?

No! These wise among God's children are those with the mind of the one proven faithful slave, Christ Jesus. Yes, Christ loved, and cherished his body members living under the headship of Christ, by listening to the one mind, and will of the body of Christ Jesus, God's righteous spokesman for His children upon earth. Godly wisdom was their defining the only separation from sin on earth comes through the one righteous life of Christ Jesus, nothing else separates us from our sins, nothing we can do, provides us freedom from our rightful conviction of sin by God righteous laws.

Hebrews 2:7 You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.{TR adds "and set him over the works of your hands"}

1 Peter 2:22 who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth."{Isaiah 53:9}

But these fleshly members were preaching men and their teaching as separating them from sin, but it was a lie of their fleshly mind, which was put to death by God's own inexplicable righteous mind through the one righteous man, Christ Jesus in God's love. None other would saved them, sanctifying them, justifying them from sin and corruption passed on from Adam.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If Christ hadn't been raised, than human wisdom is what these brothers and sisters had, proving nothing better than the wisest of all men, in death. Humbly they must maintain faith in the invisible, walking by the Spirit, which separated them from the table of demons.

Revelation 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

1Cor.10:17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
10:18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

When a person is told to look at the flesh to understand the Spirit it not a compliment here the apostle Paul does just that reminding his brothers and sisters they are one person in God sight though they be many members. What divides the Christ? Well, it certainly not Christ mind, but our own fleshly mind thinking outside the will of God. These brothers and sister were fleshly mind, they had been freed from what? Judgment in Christ from of all laws of the flesh, but was this an excuses to become selfish, doing things that even pangs consider unholy acts?

Rom.13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

How does Paul tell the truth and the fleshly mind not make it into a law and than enforce it upon others turning the suggestion into a commandment? This is the question, because those with fleshly thinking swing from two extremes into who cares, love covers it all! Than into hateful judgments. But here what the fleshly minded person fails to realize their actions affect the whole body of Christ. What the hand does on our own body effect each member of our body. A person cannot be in the body of Christ judging for themselves what is good and evil, they must think of their fellow member of the body, how such conduct will affect all of the body spiritually?

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

The issue at hand was eating meat sacrificed to false gods, hence, than the demons. Was it legally unlawful for a Christian's to eat such meat, no! Does the truth stumble others? Ultimately, that was the question, if the truth stumbles brothers and sister do we fail in telling them the truth? Do we let a fleshly weak conscience think a new law or rule should be made by a group of men binding the whole body of Christ too it?

1Cor. 10:19 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

What balance can a person have as a Christian's, what rule of law will not bring them into bondage of the world, so where a simply rule with the best intention of holiness will not bring yeast of leaven into the body of Christ? Love, the law of love, here Paul uses the law of love written into each of God's children hearts, if they are of Christ each one would have to grapple individually with the question what is best not for me, but my neighbor, in this case our brothers and sisters in Christ?

1Cor.10:23 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up.
10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good.

In other words, what would a mature spiritual minded conscience suggest? If Paul lets himself be penned down with fear of stumbling others he himself has gone to far. On the other hand, if he does not tell the truth of the sacred position each body member in Christ share in with each other, he mocks God. So Paul does what each member of the body of Christ often fail to do, trust in the head of the body, in Christ in correcting in love. He did not do as so often is done in religion make a rule of law here, he put the truth exactly upon the law of love before each member allowing them to make the choice for their brothers conscience.

Rom. 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

1Cor.10:19 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

Many Christian's live in fear of demons, the power of demons become so consuming it occupies their entire life and ministry. The fear of things, and objects, trying to keep oneself clean so demon will not harass them. Yet, the apostle Paul gives little or no consideration their power over those of the body of Christ, accept to say, he does not want body members of Christ to become so lacks in their conduct that they have fellowship with the demons.

1 Peter 1:5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hebrews 1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

In fact, not the demons he lived in fear of but brothers and sister provoking YHWH to jealousy! Does this shock you? Well, actually it should not. Christ was given supreme power over all the heavens and earth, the question here than is not about Christ authority, but fellowship i.e., communion with the demons? None of Paul's words would make any sense if a person did not understand these basic teachings of Christ, and the early church, and what is that?

1Cor.4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Each anointed Christian is given the life of Christ, his righteousness, declaring them sinless before God. They are indwelt with Holy Spirit and the life of Christ as part of his spiritual body. In this condition they have no laws of the fleshly over them, that is, judging them. Hence, they are factually set free from judgment of their flesh in the power of Christ. Which means from guilty of judgment by God's law. They are lawful in Christ, for the law is not for sinless righteous people, but for the sinner, and the unrighteous. So the meat of idols at this meat market was sacrifice to demons, but its was nothing, of no judgment accept to fleshly sight, the flesh is dead in Christ. Their eating, or not eating, was lawful for those without judgment.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

1Cor.10:20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 10:21 You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Without this context Paul's words here will not make any sense, they will be construed into morbid fear of demon possession instead of what Paul warned the brothers about, provoking their Heavenly Father to jealousy. God does not share his glory with any god, man or demon, he is a jealousy God not letting Himself or those maintaining his Holiness be corrupted by that which brings only death and sin.

1Cor.10:23 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up.

1Cor.3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? 3:17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.

1Cor.10:20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 10:21 You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1Cor.10:23 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. 10:25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience.

Often a Christian's has no idea what the apostle Paul is talking about here they come up with some legal measurement of do's and don't and move on to conscience which is applied on a organizational level in some religion or community the person belongs too. First, let it be noted societal norms are consider by Paul here. Few Christian's know that it was not uncommon during the apostles times for a person to have more than one wife, and it was not thought evil of the person.

1Tim.3:2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching.

Having said that societal conscience change, which Paul speaks too here. Moreover, society declares it self-righteous by what laws it obeys and does not obey. However, the conscience of society does not make one of God's anointed lawful or unlawful by what they practice or don't practice, we are not superstitious. God's anointed are lawful by Christ Jesus righteousness, not the righteousness of societal laws.

Romans 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Romans 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

We understand there are actually only two minds for human the mind of Christ and the mind of our flesh under the laws of death. The mind of our flesh is under darkness of Satan the Devils world, and the mind of Christ has been set free into the freedom of Spirit and truth with no laws of the flesh judging it. Christ mind has no laws of our sinful flesh against it, it does not sin, nor does it have the desire too sin. Hence, there is no laws against the mind of Christ or his life.

Gal.5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

So all things are lawful for Christ, nothing in this world judgment of sin has anything to do with the life of Christ. But we as human even-though born of God still live in our fleshly vessels upon earth until God calls us home. The highest moral level we can possess as God's children is love, that is, what is best for another person conscience. This is Paul's meaning here, but there is more. What is the more? These brothers and sisters must understand their position in Christ as his body members, and the temple of God. A simple legal answer as the mind of flesh understand would not satisfy the holiness of the truth and Spirit indwelling them as in Christ life upon earth. We must understand where faith is found and how we obtain it, not by works of laws on this earth, but works of Spirit found in the life of Christ Jesus.

1Cor.10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."
10:29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

Rom.12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

We are not under the laws of the flesh, but the law of Spirit, and if we are walking in Spirit there are no laws of our flesh against us, but with this freedom comes the responsibility of love in all we do, so we don't appear to be lawless to the world. However, an act of faith may cause us to appear lawless to please God. Each of us may will be tested in this manner as Abraham whom broke man's laws and God's law to offer up his son upon the altar of God.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

1Cor.10:26 for "the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness."{Psalm 24:1} 10:27 But if one of those who don't believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."

It is truly sad when Christian's plant seeds of law, and a field is grown that posses the whole world into weeds, and such darkness blinds them into believing it is God's wisdom for a good motive. How much stronger of motive could their be in building a massive world wide weed field based upon the weak conscience of a fleshly minded
person. But that was not the apostle Paul meaning here at all. Twice Paul says “the earth is the Lord's and its fullness” meaning all freedom from judgment belongs to Christ.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Meaning simply these brothers and sisters were set free if not, they would have been killed by the law for partaking of idol sacrificial meat! The argument was not to loose our freedom in Christ by making a rules. Some today don't understand the freedom they have in Christ so they put all the emphasis on the rule of law by someone else weak conscience. There is no judgment for the flesh of those in Christ because their flesh is dead in Christ they are under the laws for the spirit, not the flesh judged by fleshly actions of sins laws. The only law God's children are under is love. Paul is saying love considers a person conscience, and not just our own needs for food, drink, or any other matter, but fleshly judgments makes no difference to Christ because Christ conquered this world sin through death and the laws judging sins.

Rev.1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades{or, Hell}.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

In other words, the laws of the flesh judging sin and death could not judged again Christ because he was a sinless man. Hence, he has paid the price of our lives this is why we are dead in Christ because we have been given a new life, not our own, but Christ life indwelling us. There are no other laws a Christian's can be bound by and be in Christ, but love, which considers a weak person conscience of the same body, or one that is becoming part of the same body. But such laws cannot once again be placed upon Christian's without bring judgments of sins laws into the Christ, and corrupting the unleavened bread by which they commune with God's Spirit in eating.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

Empires have been parlayed into controlling religions by good motives of the weak person conscience dummying down members of the body of Christ into works of laws to please men, but this is not Paul's point here nor his Spirit led motives.

James 2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

1Cor.10:29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?
10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks? 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 10:32 Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 10:33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Unfortunately, a fleshly minded person reads Paul's words here and thinks that they can say and do what is necessary to get a person to come to Christ. We have every conceivable group from prostitute to heavy metal bands for Christ. There nothing that cannot be justified behind the Christ. Subsequently, we have the opposite extreme of letting the weak consciences of the fleshly minded person become come an enslavement to those freed in Christ of such judgments.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

The apostles Paul was not weak nor did he let himself become enslaved by any human, on the other hand, he did not fear the association necessary to bring some to Christ. Christ himself ate and drank with sinners which was highly offensive to the self-righteous Jews whom washed their hands many time before taking a meal an would not let a sinner even touch them for fear of becoming unclean. This is the problem, because the fleshly mind sees only the flesh, no matter what it takes from God's word it digest it into some fleshly application/rule, laws, because that is its natures. Just as an leopard cannot changes its spots, neither can the fleshly mind without being put do death and recreated into the mind of Christ. Each brother and sister in Christ should understand this basic truth before venturing into unraveling symbolic truths that may or may not help one to become mature in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Galatians 4:13 but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

There is only one spiritual law for the body of Christ, and it is not the laws condemning sin in our flesh, it is love. Now when we are seen before God as one of his anointed we must ask him or herself does God see me as a fleshly minded person trying to restore my fleshly mind into perfection from sin? Or rather as dead in my flesh and its mind and renewed in the mind of Christ? If we can grasp this simple truth than we can handle each circumstances of a weak conscience without enslaving ourselves and ourselves back into the lie of God reforming the fleshly and its sinful mind by a rule book or laws for sin in does and don't.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

Completed on: December 17, 2013

By: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus