Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

The love of God flowing in and through us is the more excellent way.   1 Corinthians 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.  The last chapter concluded with Paul telling the Corinthians to covet in a good sense, the best spiritual gifts. Then, the apostle told the church that he was going to show them a more excellent way, that puts the focus upon heart transformation rather than upon spiritual gifts. Speaking in tongues without love is as foolish as banging cymbals.  1 Corinthians 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  The connection between the end of chapter twelve and the beginning of this chapter is readily apparent. The Corinthians were so distracted by coveting prominent spiritual gifts that jealousy and division were destroying the unity of the Spirit within the church (See Ephesians 4:3). The word "speak" is most frequent

Remember that God is the One giving gifts in His church. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  25)  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  26)  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  The comely body parts Paul speaks of refers to the frontal or prominent ministry such as preaching, teaching, leading worship.  These correspond to our external features, our face, noses, mouths, eyes, ears, hair and so on. Unseen body parts such as our various systems and bones and organs are covered so that they can function as God intended. These correspond to all those who carry out behind the scenes tasks that we previously mentioned.  It is God who "tempered" all of the external and internal body parts together in e

The body of Christ is a global and multi faceted living organism. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  Paul was guided by the Spirit of God to teach us rich truth about the Spirit's ministry in and through us. He was also used to guide us into truth about the church, the body of Jesus Christ. The church is a living organism and Peter compares each Christian to a living stone in this temple of God (See 1 Peter 2:1-5).  Pagans constructed impressive temples for their idols, using lavish building materials, but the church of the living God is composed of born again people. In contrast to a local pagan temple, the church of Christ is global in scope, reaching into every nation where the gospel is preached

The marvelous composition of our body mirrors Christ's body, the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  As we begin to study spiritual gifts, the Spirit of God guided Paul to connect these with truth about the church. The church is also called the body of Christ. The church is not a building where Christians gather together.  Rather, it is a living organism composed of believers in Christ. This is why Paul uses an excellent and easy to grasp analogy comparing Christ's church to our body.  We can easily understand the application of his teaching. Our body has about 78 organs and more than 200 bones.  It has four distinct types of  tissues like connective tissue or lining tissue.  Our body has at least 8 different systems such as respiratory, renal or nervous systems. Our body is made up of 11 different elements including carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Our body w

1 Corinthians 12:10-11  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  11)  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  We are thinking about the gift of speaking in tongues.  Let me begin by stating that there is much false teaching and distortion of the scriptures when it comes to this subject.  If I may be blunt, there are many televangelists who "fake" speaking in tongues in order to solicit donations from their audience. Televangelists promote the sin of covetousness.  2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of tru