Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of 1 Corinthians

Chapter 11

1Cor. 11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
11:2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

It was once said the difference between true worship and false worship rest in headship. All false worship started with an act of rebellion against God's headship, than spread to Eve's rebellion against Adam's headship into the human race. Paul states under Holy Spirit it is a foundation on which the one person on earth that stayed perfectly faithful under his Fathers headship we must build on if we have the truth, Christ Jesus.

1Cor.3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building. 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.

If the Corinthian brothers and sisters were to be members in the spiritual Israel they must obey the headship foundation stone laid from the creation of our world by God own headship. Rebelling against headship is a rebellion against God, not man. These brothers and sisters must understand headship was not the Good News it was not the center piece of their preaching they were not reforming the world into equality or God's standards into the leavened bread of the world. They were not to go along with the values of the world and its constant state of rebellion against God's headship principles.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Within the Christian's congregation headship was not an option those of the world coming into the congregation of God would witnesses the workings of the Holy Spirit among its membership and see the power of headship demonstrated in Holy Spirit humility. The Holy Spirit does not deny itself, it does not commune with rebellion, nor does it have peace with darkness.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34}

Those having God's Holy Spirit need not have headship legislated too them it is a gift of Christ own headship by Holy Spirit. Moreover, Christ is translating us into God's love, we are not translating ourselves into what we think God's love is. In other words, if the Holy Spirit rest upon a person they are under proper headship with God and having peace will be their overseer. If not the works of the flesh will prevail as it does in all the world. Either these brothers and sisters are going to be of the world, or they would be pillars in support of the truth against world?

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.

1Cor.11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

God set up an order of things, man, on the other hand, thinks he has grown past God's order of things by societies normals. There have been places in history of mankind where men have violently dominated woman, and in some cultures woman have been the head over the man. But here Paul was not talking about man's standards or a woman standards, nor are these brothers and sisters going to push God's standards upon society.

James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

These brothers and sister were under Christ headship, which headship was under God, they had accepted the Christ and chose to worship Christ Father in truth and Spirit, so these standards must be kept for them to be pleasing to God, and not man. Faith is about believing what God has said is good and righteous that He is King and creator and we are his works.

Rom.9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9} 9:21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

In other words, why does it shame a man to have his head covered? We could go into a long line of reasoning, or we could accept that God says it does and who of us would dishonor God as fickle like society that condemns and hates over the latest issue and in a few years find the fruit of the issue has not made things better, but worst. God created man Adam to be the ruler over the earth, and the woman was created at last to help the man in his God given position. Thus, when men or woman get that order backwards its not God's order which has never changes. We can call God unrighteous, not fair, he does not understand, or care, but all that has nothing to do with truth.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

As these brothers and sisters were learning and being adjusted, they must conform to God's standards, not bring God's standards into their world changing them to be popular or fit into a world alienated from God, they must come up to the things above, thinking as God thinks through the mind of Christ.

John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

1Cor.11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 11:9 for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 11:10 For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.

Such a subject as headship in a world that knows nothing of headship one can easily take Paul's words here and twisted them into a legal argument for or against headship. The truth is, this subject is about shaming what God has created from the start of the human race, its about the order of things that is not oppressive or unrighteous, it not about abuse of another human, and/or a power grab control things its about God's order, His creation and our trusting God is good in all things.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

The very nature of mankind's fallen flesh challenges God it resist God and His order of things, the flesh is against the Spirit and the flesh cannot be in subjection to God's law. In fact, this war between the two always ends in the death of one or the other. Here Paul is ultimately is saying if your born anew the Spirit in you will not shame God's arrangement of headship, on the other hand, if your fleshly and divided like a group of attorneys seeking legal redress from God laws for seeming wrongs in society than being under the headship arrange will be a put down to your flesh.

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.

This group had just that problem, they were very fleshly giving honor to teachers, and self-merit in Christ, being in competition with one another in who had more gifts, a better understanding of the scriptures, just like the world. Paul would not commend them for even meeting together with such worldly thinking. So yes, how could they understand headship where a woman can shame even God's angles in being so bold in taking the position of man before God and boldly going where not even angles dare to tread.
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

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.

Today many fleshly Christian's do the same, using words in Greek and Hebrew for fallacious argument about headship, but how simple, can a woman shame themselves, God and even angles for stepping out of your God created place, what more needs to be said? How many more argument is going to change the truth, or make a person not shame God's position. God is saying if you love me than this is how things should be isn't that enough, or are you and activists wanting to change the world, righting the wrongs of human race, by denying God's order of things, Well, the wonderful thing about love is God is not going to force you to show respect, that type of conduct is done by unrighteous men thinking they are god!

Romans 13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1Cor.11:11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.
11:12 For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.

Why did Eve seek independence from God and her husband Adam? Ultimately, isn't that what her quest was? Yes, she felt something was being withheld from her in secret knowledge not allowing her independence in making choices of good and evil for herself. She lacked nothing good, Adam was a loving head, God was a loving head of both, and yet she was convinced of oppression through male dominance. “God why did you make this way?” In other words, if God was not perfect enough and Adam wasn't either for Eve who than could make a showing?

Rom.11:33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 11:34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"{Isaiah 40:13}

Rom.9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9}

It easy for us to forget that even some of God created angels rebelled against him, and they to lacked nothing good. Perfection and peace is not good enough for some, no matter how far a person bend backwards, no matter how kind, no matter how much you try to accommodate some a person could not be perfect enough in speech nor actions to please those discontented with God's provision of headship. It not a matter of fairness, or how good a person treat another person it is a matter of appreciation for God's love.

9:13 Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."{Malachi 1:2-3} 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!

Many are fooled with equality they believe it is the single biggest moral issue of the human race, if only everyone was equal that would make all things fair and good. But Eve found out that equality does not work, independence does not work from God or from each other. It only creates more hate, division and death. Men and woman both seek equality, but never achieve it, why? Because we are not gods, and when people think they are if fills them with contempt for any perceived authority, all things become an oppression nothing is fair if it inconvenient the person god-ship.
Jude.1:8 Yet in like manner these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. 1:9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"

So no! Headship to Eve wasn't fair even when it was fair without human sin in paradise, so what that say to us whom do abuse headship? Can mankind even the score card by given up all rights to appease past sins? Hardly, neither could God or Adam, because it was not about them, as equality really is not about others, it about us, and what we do with God's love. Back than and now it about a heart condition of appreciation for God Kingship, its not a legal argument found in ones bible, its about a Spirit that indwell each Christ with Christ own humility and lowness of mind towards all mankind just the opposite of the world.

Luke 9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest. 9:47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side, 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

Philippians 2:3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself.

1Cor.11:13 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? 11:14 Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 11:15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 11:16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies.

Why would some be “contentious” over the apostle Paul's counsel? Where does our contention come from, hate, trying to control something out of our control. Yes, some felt put down by Paul's words here about a woman role in the Christian's congregation, they viewed it as taking a right away from the equality of woman. Such was viewed as small minded and evil on Paul's part, but they also knew Paul was appointed by God as apostles to the nations. Such authority would test each ones faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

They had fallen from grace into the worldly judgments, Christ had given them freedom that could not be gained by human judgments or what they thought was correct. Christ gave woman love of the Father an equal sharing in the Christ in heaven, and in respect upon earth as children of God, he did not control woman, by abuse or putting them down. In fact, God and Christ controls no one against their will. If one is so foolishly to thinking so than ask why God allowed Adam to make the biggest mistake every made in heaven and upon earth for the human race? These brothers and sisters were viewing headship as oppressive and evil, not as love.

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.

Yet, their whole love of Christ was fleshly, and divided which Paul address in the next few verses. Nothing they were doing was correct, so how could they even understand headship, if they were putting themselves under the headship of men and woman as Christ upon earth? Headship is about the secret person of the heart between God and the person, its about God's love affecting the person in humility like the faithful angels of God. It not about position, it not about pride, its not about deprivation, or fighting for human rights, it is about believing God is love, and for those loving God nothing is lacking.

James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34}

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34}

Its about trusting God, whom created headship not about us, or if a person upholds headship, or even if its apply it fairly. Just as it isn't about if our bosses is fair or life is fair, not every one is born beautiful, does that mean God does not care, or its his fault if all are not beautiful? Some people have talent that others do not, some people are born into wealth and privilege never having to worry about food, shelter, health care, or money, is this God's fault? Do you have man's kingdom confused with God's incoming Kingdom?

This is the quest of hating man while blaming God for his created position, it does not change headship, or God's love of it, it does not make anything equal or better in Christ Kingdom, it does not change the truth, it changes us, into loving God, or not loving Him. Such is the foolishness of the fleshly mind person whom seek justice upon earth under man's rule, if justice upon earth were possible as far as sinful men/woman are concerned we would still be dying in our sins, because God would not have sent us His love, Christ Jesus to die for our injustice towards him.

Romans 5:3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance;

Hebrews 2:9 But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

James 5:10 Take, brothers, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

Those that are thankful for God's headship over them, men, and woman both will be blessed without a curse, they will come to know the love of God. But those contentious over such teaching are going to cause division, and pain and suffering the very things God's has freed us from in the headship of Christ. Contention and hate are not of God, nor division. Those feeling oppressed by man's headship, must understand God does not condone evil, or such oppression, and they must separated the flesh from the spirit knowing the complete lasting change will only come through Christ Kingdom. None of Christ body member revel in oppression of men or woman the are eagerly awaiting the freeing of creations from such corruption.

Rom.8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. 8:24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 8:25 But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience.

1Cor.11:17 But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
11:18 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.

Division is proof of denying Christ, if we deny Christ by sect and divisions, and than comes together what is the purposes? Many have falsely believe the gather together is more important than the Christ as our head of the body. Which only proves they do not have Christ by the very existence of division. The body of Christ is united by love, it is a body and for that reason it function without division as our own body does and teaches us.

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours.

1 Corinthians 3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?

1 Corinthians 1:12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ."

When division exist instead of harmony there is a minding of fleshly ideas and lust for prominence, power, and position. Here in the Corinthian congregation was found such division by elevating men as teachers above the Christ. Hence, division was caused by competition and seeking an agenda in defending a teacher over another teacher. Nothing good came from such teachings or practices accept proof that these brothers and sister were not walking in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.

One partaking of the emblems of Christ life and blood which brought us peace with God, healing the division of our sins, which alienated us from God should understand fleshly fighting among body members over men and teachings is not in Christ. Why were these brothers and sisters coming together to prove a point, or to remember Christ and his own humility in washing the feet of men on the very night of his death? We they gather like worldly nation to make a statement to back up their chosen teachers, in proving a point, this was not the purpose of the Lords evening meal.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

Many Christian's put doctrines of their religion above all else and defend those invisible boarder doctrine as a country willing to kill others spiritually to prove a point. Than come together with their enemies existing in division and lack of love to prove they are of Christ by partaking of bread and wine, emblems of Christ own life and body. But Paul says such is proof of not having Christ, the proof of Christ life is the Holy Spirit being indwelt with Christ and his personality which is unity for body members through love.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

1Cor.11:19 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.

One cannot associated with God's temple class without the truth of each one motives being revealed. Its not possible to deal with Christ the Word of God and live a lie or a pretense in the flesh. Today we have numerous religions all claiming to serve the Christ, but by their many divisions and sects prove they are not, they are instead serving the flesh by following men/woman in the name of some religion.

1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints.

This was the problem in the Corinthian congregation, where the flesh thought gathering was more important than truth, but Paul warned if they came together and they associated with God's anointed their unrighteous would become known to all. Light and darkness do on mixes, yeast cannot be mixed into the Christ willingly by following men or personal beliefs without consequence for those in the body of Christ. Why partake of truth, the Christ, to live a lie? Why partake of the life of Christ while living in the works of our flesh?

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace.

Is the symbolism of meeting greater than the truth, our we the world where symbolism is worshiped over the truth? Why come together to make a point when the point denies the truth of Christ Jesus entire life. This is the power not of Holy Spirit that unites in love, but the power of flesh where each point has to be made to win in beating an opponent so one can be right. Nothing changes in the opponent do you know why?

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

It is because Christ is not building up our flesh he is not rebuilding that which no longer exist in God's eyes, he not promoting our sinful flesh as winning over a brother or sister in verbal free for all, no! That proves we are not in Christ, it proves nothing of value for those walking in truth, because it is the working of the Holy Spirit in truth and Spirit that units us peace. Peace free from contention; peace from God's Spirit that excels all thoughts of the wrangling flesh.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Romans 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

Something Christ would not do in him knowing the power of God, and the blindness of the flesh in not understanding spirit words that come from truth of God's Holy Spirit. The very division proves the Holy Spirit is not among them so why gather, why boast in more flesh, why fight, and wrangle when nothing of Christ is accomplished? In other words, the end results was not a conversion of another person it would be the putting to death the flesh and its thinking, only those whom are in Christ would be shown as walking in truth, having the same Spirit of truth, and they would have to leave to maintain the unity and peace of Christ in their hearts and minds and with each other.

1Cor.2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Cor.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? 3:6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

One could not give another the Spirit of God by a fleshly argument, now could they? One could not cut a person to the heart with their teachings, one could not make another seek God in truth and Spirit, only God could do such things. But what the flesh hears from the Spirit it will not understand, it would seem to its fleshly ears a lie, so flesh can not make a changes to become part of Christ, it must be put death in Christ for that change to happen, something no human can do by their teachings.

Matthew 10:14 Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

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.

1Cor.11:20 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 11:21 For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. 11:22 What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you.

The Lords evening meal can be eaten anywhere within a person closet, a prison cell, or not at all, or if one does not judge themselves not worthy at the moment. A person can be prevent from eating. In other words, its not a law or that we become more approved, and/or washed clean of our sins. It is a remembrance of Christ life and what its has done for us, and what it is doing for us each day. It is not a sporting event to prove something to other fleshly persons.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The issue here was flesh, and the works of flesh within the congregation of Corinthian's, something which does not scripturally having anything to do with those in Christ, for their sinful flesh is dead in Christ. These brothers and sisters were warring in their flesh and making the Lords evening meal a worldly event coming together like people whom love to make show of approval in good standing with God, at least in the sight of men.

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.

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.

We have God's reminder the Holy Spirit indwelling us, it remains us of our commune with the bread of life, it disciplines us when we get off track, and it comforts us in our trials and tribulations. It is our constant companion, and we were promised by Christ the Holy Spirit will never leave us. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things about walking in love for one another. Coming together with those we walking in love with in a love feast, a joyful moment of our acknowledgment of Christ wonderful and precious life, what could be more rewarding than the Lords evening meal for those indwelt with the life of Christ?

James 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.

But where competition and contention exist the fleshly mind is at work which cannot be for those partaking of the bread of life. Subsequently, coming together in the sinful flesh is meaningless as is gathering together at a worldly event. God and Christ are no part of the world they do not love it or the actions of it. So let each one of us consider in truth and Spirit before we meet so we walking orderly in the body of Christ glorifying his righteousness before our Father in thanks giving.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 2:6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

Colossians 3:14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

1Cor.11:23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. 11:24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me." 11:25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me."

Christ is the bread of life by his precious life, which life was in his blood, he became life eternal for all those putting faith in the real food from heaven. Paul here makes the point, the food from below that fleshly people enjoy so much, making an occasion into an event is not the purpose of coming together for the Lords Meal in remembrance of what Christ died for, and is living in us for.

Hebrews 13:9 Don't be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

1 Corinthians 8:8 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

The food from above is not flesh sustaining, it is not event for fleshly people to glutton themselves with, it is the Spirit that gives us life, the flesh is of no value at all. Hence, Paul had just counsel this fleshly congregation if they did not perceive the reason for the Lord's Meal it would be better they just stayed at home and not come together. Nothing of their life born again was of their flesh, factually, their flesh was dead in Christ and the sheer fact they were having works of the flesh proved they were unworthy to partake of the Lord's Meal.

John 6:54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

John 6:56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

The New Covenant is not with flesh, but spirit son's of God, its not an earthly event for competition, or a feast in a celebration of pot luck meal. The Lords evening meal was part of the very life of Christ Jesus communing with him Spiritually in remembering by faith the purity and unadulterated word of God, Christ Jesus. Those partaking of Christ living Spirit were God's son's, they were feed from above miraculously unleavened bread, as the Israelite's were feed the manna sustaining them physically day to day. So too are the son's of God feed manna from above , Christ Jesus spirit life, miraculously sustaining them day to day as God's holy temple upon earth.

1 Corinthians 9:13 Don't you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Nothing unclean from our sinful flesh can commune with God's righteous Holy Spirit, nothing of leaven/yeast can enter into God's temple, without judgment upon the fleshly person not discerning the body of Christ he/she are associated with? The division among this congregation was proof that it could not unit itself by fleshly thinking, which is dead in Christ, no matter how spacious their justification and arguments were, division was proof of works of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

James 3:8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

Fleshly thinking of the world would not give these brothers and sisters the unleavened bread of God needed for unity, God's unity is without sin, for their sin had been removed, not by their good works, but by God's undeserved kindness, if they could not discern this simple truth they should not partake calling themselves into judgment of their fleshly thoughts, which cannot be at peace with God and Christ.

1Cor.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?

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

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.

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.

11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1Cor.11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.

What makes a person unworthy of eating the Lord Meal? Simply put, exactly what the apostle Paul has been speaking about in his letter to the Corinthian's congregation, fleshly division among those that should be one, united with Christ by Holy Spirit And two, these brothers and sisters we walking in the mind of their flesh that should be dead in Christ. Its the exact opposite of what a legalistic Christian's believes, they believe obeying the laws of the bible is what Paul was preaching here putting away the works of the flesh by laws and rules.

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.

Gal.5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

The very thing these brothers and sisters were fighting about, in comparing themselves against themselves believing whomever in the group could be self-righteous by law were the ones that should be leaders and teachers in the Christ, missing completed the purpose of the Lord's Evening Meal!

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1Tim.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, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

First a Christian's does not examine him/herself against another mans flesh, their personality, or rings on their finger, they examine themselves against not flesh and blood, but Christ whom is Spirit and truth. Christ is not a competition sport where whom ever can speak the best quote the bible the best or even preach the best is the best. Christ is the law of love for Christian's and to walk in that law and be in Christ one must be dead in their flesh mind, and understand the word unmerited kindness. If a person cannot understand what unmerited kindness is they are not Spirit lead, or our they in the truth. When Christ died for us, he completed the judgment upon our sinful flesh, we are no longer under the judgment of what is dead in Christ. These brothers and sisters looked at the flesh to make judgments about the Lord's Meal they did not discern that we know each other no more by our flesh.

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. 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Feeling confident in their judgment they came together to show whom was approved and whom wasn't by a show in their flesh. In other words, “if I put on an appearance of righteousness I will prove I am standing for some issue raging in the congregation”. There are no issues in Christ accept fleshly wrangles over personal rights and/or doctrinal teachings one accept or rejected. Christ is not about division, but peace their division were in judgments of fleshly thoughts they had not discerned what Christ is, where he is, and what he had done for them.

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? 3:6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building.
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.

1Cor.11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body. 11:30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 11:31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged. 11:32 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Does the hand on our own body discern the body? What discernment is involved? The hand moves and acts in concert with our brain in fluid movements without objection. There is no war between the brain and our hand, nor pride of stubbornness, but what of the apostle Paul comments here, how could some not discern the body of Christ to which they were a part of as a member?

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace.

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

The congregation at Corinthian's were fleshly they did not separated the spirit from the flesh, they instead tried to convert the flesh into the Spirit translating its desires into Christ desire as a body member, giving such unrighteous competition and ambition a stamp of approval as coming from Christ righteousness. But forgetting their fleshly desire does not exist in Christ, why?

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

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.

Because Christ is a spirit being having no desire of the unrighteous flesh which God has put to death in our baptism into Christ. Christ does not have loves and hates found in all sinful flesh, nor does he deal with a dead person flesh in judgments, but why? Simply put, Christ stop the judgment of our sinful flesh by fulfilling the one thing judging it as wicked the Law of God. Did these brothers and sister discern the body of Christ spiritually, or were they putting on a show in their flesh partaking at the Lords Meal? If they did not discern what is in the body of Christ how could the partake of Christ and not be judged in their flesh?

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.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members? 4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask. 4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

Christ is the unleavened bread of God, he is sinless, hence, not having corruption of yeast. How could one act in the flesh and its desires and discern the spirit body of Christ having no fleshly desire in it? But what judgment would these brothers and sister fall into if they did not discern the workings of Holy Spirit, instead of converting their own ambitious desires into Christ? The judgment of the flesh that is dead in Christ. In other words, if such a one is handed over to Satan, for the destruction of their flesh that the spirit might be saved, they had not discerned whom they are in the flesh dead in Christ.
1Cor.5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Gal. 5:7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 5:8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump. 5:10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

God had dealt with their flesh, but they had resurrected it by personal ambition and desires to walk by sight and not faith in the unseen Christ. They rejected the quite and mild implanting of the Holy Spirit of Christ life for the ruckus of the flesh wrangling over being right in competition and earthly desires claiming such were Christ working in them. No lie exist in Christ he is the Truth, his spirit does not flirt with corruption of our sinful flesh as though its missing something good. Judgment would be coming, but not with eternal destruction of the spirit in view by of the flesh already judged dead in Christ.

Gal. 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. 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Soon each one would loose the love of unrighteousness found in their flesh learning that no good thing dwells in their sinful flesh or God would not have put it to death. One cannot take a little leaven and make a new lump of unleavened bread these brothers and sisters must accept the unleavened bread from above and stop acting like the world created by leavened bread corrupted into slavery and death from sin!

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. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit.
5:26 Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

1Cor.11:33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. 11:34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

How does the Lords Meal become a food fest, what does eating and drinking have to do with God's Kingdom? Can an anointed brothers separate their fleshly desires from spirit? Partaking in Spirit is one thing, but partaking of the flesh is one-hundred and eighty degrees the opposite of truth, hence, the Christ. How could a brother or sister in Christ allow the commune with Christ to become a mundane meal to fill a person gut?

Hebrews 13:9 Don't be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Timothy 6:8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that

1 Corinthians 8:8 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

The life of Christ given to us was given so we could be restored to a spiritual relationship with our heavenly Father YHWH it is the greatest unselfish act in our universe, it is an indescribable gift of God's unselfish love for mankind. Without this gift no human being could have their sins removed, have a Father son relationship with God, no human could understand the truth, love, and comfort of God's Holy Spirit renewing their mind and binding up their brokenheartedness in the trials of their flesh. But here some loved their flesh more than God love, although, Christ had given his own life in his flesh for them.

Here some could not understand the unity in Christ at all, they could not, not see past the flesh of their brothers, and sisters for greed of food, and recognition of men. They had no idea of the meaning of the Lords Meal except to make a show of their standing before man, it was nothing more than a competition to prove oneself right before another person of the flesh making it into a meal for their flesh where being first at the feeding tough was proof of position!

John 6:52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves. 6:54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 6:56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

It was better not to even meet with the holy temple of God, found in God's anointed son's than to trample upon it by fleshly thoughts and desires. Stay home, eat at home, do your thing, but forget calling this unholy gathering God's unselfish sacrifice for mankind, as approved of Him! But this is not the way of flesh, the flesh must win at all cost, the cost of destroying the Lords Meal to be right in a battle with other flesh, to prove its position to justify and defend its unholy actions with God's word the bible.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna,{Manna is supernatural food, named after the Hebrew for "What is it?". See Exodus 11:7-9.} and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.

Could these brothers and sisters be corrected with words, well certainly not in their flesh, but why? The flesh cannot be corrected by Spirit, it can be killed, put to death, and the spirit of the person be made new in Christ, but not the flesh, which is dead in Christ. So no amount of words the apostle Paul could speak will change the charge of the flesh head-long into being right. Paul was concerned with one thing, those whom are seeking Christ in all things trying to walk in the Spirit at the cost losing this life including their fleshly lust in being right, instead of looking like a fool for Christ, for the next life. These would soon become apparent, not in being right, but in association with Christ, maintaining faithfulness to God in Christ. The others would manage judgment, and more division until those approved in Spirit would see the unrighteousness of their ways returning to the vomit of the world in which they had been delivered out of by God's unselfish love.
Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 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. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God. 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 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Completed on: February 14, 2014

By: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus