Debatable?

Series: Renewal

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 The Message

Romans 8:1-4 ESV

Romans 8:5-11 ESV

In college studying Argumentation and Debate was a real treat (no…really, I loved it!)

Even though I was very active in Speech and Speech Competitions in high school, I was not part of the debate squad so that’s probably why I was interested in learning more about argumentation.

Then in Seminary we studied Apologetics and that focused on arguing a point based on spirituality from the perspective of God/Jesus.  I discovered Paul’s arguments written to churches shed new light on scriptures I had read all my life.

The Apostle Paul was not only a genius, he was extremely highly educated. He studied under Gamaliel who was the best of the best of Hebrew scholars in the First Century. Paul absolutely knew how to make an argument!

That’s why his letters to the churches were (are) complete with arguments that brilliant theologians have studied for nearly 2,000 years. The thing about Paul’s arguments is that modern day highly educated scholars are still studying them.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

In order to begin to unpack that we need to back up and look at the entire section of scripture.

We read in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, “And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ. I hear that I’m being painted as cringing and wishy-washy when I’m with you, but harsh and demanding when at a safe distance writing letters. Please don’t force me to take a hard line when I’m present with you. Don’t think that I’ll hesitate a single minute to stand up to those who say I’m an unprincipled opportunist. Then they’ll have to eat their words.The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. (Verse 5) We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”

First, it’s interesting that Paul was accused of saying one thing in person and saying something more harsh in writing. We’ve all read and followed speakers who have a different tone in person than the tone we read (into it) when it’s on paper.

In today’s environment written word can be preferred by some users while others prefer oral communication. We now know that brain type (predominately right brain or left brain) is a factor when we process information. Communication preferred styles and brain types may or may not have changed since the first century, however Paul’s written message has been preserved. Paul’s point remains the same.

To be more specific, he sought to demolish a massively corrupt culture.

The culture in Corinth that Paul addressed was corrupt. “First Corinthians addresses several issues of sexuality. There was a large following of the cult of Aphrodite among the Gentiles in Corinth—her temple was atop the Acrocorinthus, and her worship involved temple prostitution. In fact, the city had so many prostitutes that well-known Greeks, including Plato, openly referred to prostitutes as “Corinthians.” Although many natives of Corinth placed faith in Jesus, many were still influenced by their immoral surroundings, which promoted sexual immorality. In 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions the problem of sexual sin in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 5:1–2).” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Corinth-in-the-Bible.html)

So, what was Paul fighting for?

Simply put, Paul was fighting for Jesus’ philosophy…which no one really understood because they were pretty much all newbys at the Jesus thing. Because of that Paul was writing and to  lay good groundwork for them (and for us).

Paul was preaching and writing to defend the truth of God brought through Jesus.

In addition to that, Paul probably knew his days of traveling were numbered. He knew eventually he would not be free to move about the country or the city speaking about Jesus. Paul clearly stated he was trying to get them to think like Jesus.

He wanted them to turn to Jesus in obedience.

So…what really was different about the culture in Corinth and the culture in the 21st Century?

In my humble estimation, a lot, but not a lot. Corruption still exists, but it’s segmented. Paul’s message is still relevant.

Even in our inner circles we don’t all perceive truth in the same way.

I realized this morning when I woke up and thought about the post I was currently writing and praying about, how very difficult it is to put my inner feelings and concept of God into words.

Truthfully, the God I know and have known since I was a very small child does not condemn me when I make a mistake. Instead the Spirit sits with me and weeps with me when I weep. God holds me when I miss the mark and is sad because I am sad. When I hurt, God hurts with me.

Truly as Paul wrote in a Romans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Even when we make huge mistakes in judgment, there is no condemnation. We have been set free from that by Jesus. When we open our hands and accept Jesus, we walk by the Spirit free from sin. That includes any sin. Every stupid decision we made or will make is forgiven.

In addition to that, when we sin (miss the mark) the Spirit is sad and weeps with us. The Spirit of God does not condemn us.

Paul goes on in Romans 8:5-11 to say, “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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Paul gives us the key…set your mind on the things of the Spirit and receive life and peace. Don’t focus on the mistake or mistakes. Let them go and live free in the Spirit.

Even in the 21st Century the fullness of life in the Spirit and the extent of God’s forgiveness are still being debated. In my humble estimation, Jesus died so that we can be set free from our sin.

Period.

Receive the Spirit. Live by the Spirit and forgive yourself.

Let God love you…you.

Love God in return.

Spiritual Practice: Open

Open your hands and heart to the Spirit of God and forgive yourself.

In God, Deborah

acrazyjourney.com