Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
There was a collection that the Corinthian church has raised for the support of the saints in Jerusalem. The church in Corinth will appoint someone who will be entrusted with this task of bringing the funds raised to Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul shall be making the journey to Jerusalem. This appointed person will go together with the Apostle Paul carrying the collection.
This text sets the precedence for the collection of gifts on the first day of the week when the church comes together for worship, on the Lord’s Day, the day where our Lord was risen from the dead. The idea of this giving is for everyone of the believers to participate as God enables them, they are to give.
William MacDonald observed well, “The first verse of chapter 16 concerns a collection which was to be taken up by the church in Corinth and sent to needy saints in Jerusalem. The exact cause of their poverty is not known. Some have suggested that it was a result of famine (Acts 11:28–30).”
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The blessing of eternal life comes with victory over death and sin. A blessing that the kings in the past sought to find but in vain. The secret to eternal life comes by faith in Jesus Christ. This truth, for God’s people, must warm the heart and strengthen the soul. God’s power of salvation is freely given to all who will receive Jesus Christ by faith.
16th Century Reformation in Germany
Martin Luther (Part 3)
The pope first treated the matter of Martin Luther’s 95 theses lightly, but quickly changed his mind when he found out how serious was the threat to his authority and to the doctrine of the Church. He demanded that Luther should recant, and summoned him to appear in Rome. He also demanded that Frederick the Wise should deliver up this ‘child of the devil’ to the papal legate. In response Frederick suggested that the pope should send a delegate before whom Luther might appear and plead his cause and to this the pope finally agreed. He sent Cardinal Cajetan to Germany and Luther duly appeared before him.
16th Century Reformation in Germany
Martin Luther (Part 3)
The pope first treated the matter of Martin Luther’s 95 theses lightly, but quickly changed his mind when he found out how serious was the threat to his authority and to the doctrine of the Church. He demanded that Luther should recant, and summoned him to appear in Rome. He also demanded that Frederick the Wise should deliver up this ‘child of the devil’ to the papal legate. In response Frederick suggested that the pope should send a delegate before whom Luther might appear and plead his cause and to this the pope finally agreed. He sent Cardinal Cajetan to Germany and Luther duly appeared before him.
It is with great rejoicing that the people of God give praise to the power of the gospel to save lost souls. It is first of all imbibed then lovingly offered to others. And the exhortation is that the people of God be kept strong in the Lord and be kept strong fervently serving the Lord.
All that the believer does as unto the Lord for His honour and glory constitutes the believer’s new life in Christ. He is exhorted to keep relying on the Lord through prayer and to do all in accordance with God’s Word. This constitutes the good work of the believer that the Apostle Paul encourages should abound.
Death is no longer an impasse for the Christian, God has provided for His people a comprehensive solution. We are going to inherit an incorruptible body, a new body, no more aches and pains, a body that will last us for eternity. This is the promise of God in the preceding text.