Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul is getting to the bottom of the matter when he asks the Corinthian Christians to check their motives for all their good works. Is it done with a genuine and sincere heart for the good of honouring and glorying God and in the spirit of true love? If it is not, the greatest deeds of charity of giving away all our goods to feed the poor and giving our body at the stake to be burned will be to avail in the sight of God.
The Apostle Paul is citing the worth of the Christian walk. The Christian faith is an expression of God’s love. He concluded that he is not valuable as an instrument for God’s glory if he does not exercise charity. This word “charity” in our text describes the outworking of God’s love in the life of a believer. This love is both unconditional and sacrificial as exemplified by Jesus’ life as the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all…”
Here is shown the fundamental character of God that the Apostle Paul seeks to impart to the Corinthian Christians – charity is the goodness of God working out in love and benevolence. It is a love that is sacrificial, unconditional, that seeks to do the highest good for another person in the light of eternity. A love that was demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Hymns: 247 Cleanse Me, 213 Welcome, Happy Morning, 286 O Happy Day!
Finding Forgiveness
Psalm 32 (KJV)
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Indeed, MacArthur said well, “God does not intend for everyone to have the same gift, and He does not intend for everyone to have gifts that are out front and noticed. He distributes the offices and the gifts according to His sovereign purpose, “just as He wills” (12:11). The responsibility of believers is to accept the ministries they are given with gratitude and to use them with faithfulness.”
The gift of tongues speaks of the ability to speak in different foreign languages that was prevalent in the Corinthian church. William MacDonald explained insightfully, “Last is the gift of tongues. We believe that there is a significance in the order. Paul mentions apostles first and tongues last. The Corinthians were putting tongues first and disparaging the apostle!”
The word “governments” literally describes the skill with which a pilot guides a ship. He appreciate the terrain of nagivation for safety, has a team of dedicated crew to steer the set course. He manages the well-being of the entire ship. This word is used figuratively here of leadership skill administrative ability, gift of leadership, managerial skill (1Cor. 12.28). [Friberg]
Acts 21:1-20 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians Knowing Your Privilege in Christ “The Blessed Christian Life (4)” Ephesians 5:7-11 (KJV) 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are yelight in the Lord: walk as children of light. 9 (For …
John MacArthur observed well, “The gift of helps is a gift for service in the broadest sense of helping and supporting others in day–by–day, often unnoticed, ways. It is the same gift as that of serving (Rom. 12:7), though another Greek word is used in that text. Helps (antilēmpsis) is an especially beautiful word, meaning to take the burden off someone else and place it on oneself. That gift doubtlessly is one of the most widely distributed of any, and is a gift that is immeasurably important in supporting those who minister other gifts.”¹