1/3/21 ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES – (Lesson # 11) 1 Cor.10:1-6
Theme: “I Would Not Have You Ignorant of Godly Sanctification.”
This is the third of Paul’s “I would not have you to be ignorant” statements. Each of these six doctrines are Satan’s (pet)favorite doctrines. These are six vital areas SPOE strikes, attacks the believer, in hopes of destroying, corrupting our edification.
We have studied two of the six essential doctrines #1 Pauline Authority and Godly Edification. #2 Israel and the Mystery. Now we come to the third “I would not have you ignorant of Godly Sanctification, our godly position in Christ. (Justification, Sanctification & Exaltation)
1. in 1 Cor.10, Paul is dealing with the Corinthian Saints concerning their godly sanctification, that controls their conduct and behavior. These carnal Saints did not understand nor appreciate their sanctified position in Christ, and it was causing problems. Problems with their sonship, which is the Liberty we have in Christ. Their conduct and behavior were at issue once again.
2. Paul is making an example of something that happened in Israel’s program in time past, when God brought Israel out of Egypt. There was a sanctification process that Israel became beneficiaries of at that time. The point is, they were sanctified, set apart unto to God. Paul is pointing out Israel’s sanctification process as an example for the Corinthians, and BOC today. The focus is on their attitude toward sanctification. Israel had been brought out of Egypt, crossed the Red sea safely on dry ground, brought out of the wilderness, but their unbelief, and of evil desires disqualified them from entering the promised land. Because of their lack of faith, and their poor attitude toward their sanctification. Paul is using Israel as an example of what not to do! Because of their desire for evil things of the flesh, & poor attitude, they played right into the hand of SPOE.
3. Paul wants us to look at our godly sanctification, our position in Christ as God looks at it. The Corinthians were making the same mistakes as the Israelites.
They were taking godly sanctification for granted. And so, it is with us today, if we do not have an appreciation for godly sanctification, we will look and think just like the carnal Corinthians and Israelites. And when we have little regard for godly sanctification, we have little or no regard for THE TIME. We will take TIME for granted and become “wise in our own conceits.” Wrong attitude!
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4. And that being the case, We won’t look at the Liberty we have in Christ properly. When we look at our godly sanctification, our Liberty in Christ we will (Eph. 5:11) “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove correct them, knowing the time.
5. In chapters 8, 9, and 10 the issue here is the Corinthians Liberty in Christ. They did not understand their Liberty and therefore produced problems especially for the weaker brethren, it caused some to be drawn away by SPOE. It came about from ignorance of the Liberty issue of their sanctification.
6. We cannot afford to be ignorant about our sanctification. Knowing the TIME! The reason Paul wants us to understand and appreciate our sanctification, is because until we do, we will never be able to fully appreciate our exaltation with Christ. Sanctification has to do with the location, and the role God has for us in the heavenly places. Eph. 2;6 says: “God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Satans objective is to keep the believer ignorant of the Liberty in sanctification, so we don’t appreciate God’s plan for our exaltation. Why? So we can’t make that impact in heavenly places to God’s glory and honor and to Satan’s shame and defeat. That is the importance of “the revelation of the mystery”
in Eph. 3: 9-10. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10). to the intent (purpose, goal) that now (right now) unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. (11). according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
7. Paul is pointing out what this all means as far as Gods overall, outworking of his plan and purpose. God’s wisdom is designed to make an impact upon the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places. This impact is our testimony, our attitude, toward godly sanctification, our holy living. Our godly, sanctified lives are going to make an impact in the heavenly places. It is God’s manifold wisdom, the superior wisdom over the adversary that is on display. That superior wisdom who according to Colossians 2:15: God’s Wisdom “spoiled (Satan’s) principalities, and powers in open show, defeating them in the battle on the cross. (It’s all in the Cross!)
8. WHY Paul? “to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery. Not to make men see there is a mystery. Rather, to make men see what is the PURPOSE of the fellowship of the mystery. Verse 10 tells us what is the purpose: “to the intent (the purpose, the goal) that now (right now) in heavenly places, the satanic principalities, and powers my know (here comes the impact) throughout heaven, by the CBOC, the manifold wisdom (The overall purpose and plan of God) is to repossess the heavenly places, and replace Satan and his cohorts, HOW? through the agency of the members of the church the body of Christ.
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9. When we understand our sanctification and exaltation, then we are able to live so our godly sanctification can be felt in the heavenly places and bring honor and glory to God, And cause Satan to tremble because he knows his time ain’t long! Because we know the time!
10. The adversary knows that if he can corrupt the knowledge of our sanctification, he can prevent the knowledge of our exaltation from effectually working within the believer.
11. So what is Liberty? Liberty is NOT a license to sin, or a license to make bad, ungodly decisions. Liberty is freedom. Along with sanctification, being set apart unto God, being made holy, comes Liberty. And Liberty (Freedom) was misunderstood by the Corinthians, and by many of us today. We, grace believers are just as guilty of misunderstanding the Liberty aspect of our sanctification as were the Corinthian saints. And it is having a negative impact in the heavenly places.
12. In 1 Cor. 8; The issue of the Liberty we have been given in our sanctification, was on display. Meats, idols, and the limitations of believers Liberty. Paul is saying, “eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols” was a matter of Liberty. Here is the application: making the decision to act or not to act, to participate or not participate, is the privilege of our sonship position. We are Sanctified sons!
13. Thank God, we are not under tutors and governors. God is not treating us as children, but as grown, adult, sanctified, set apart, made holy, sonship. Yes, sons! We have been given Liberty from the elements of bondage /sin of this world. And we have been given the Liberty, freedom, to make decisions on our own, based on the sound doctrine of Rom. 12;2 “Be not conformed (identified, in agreement to the course of this world systems. But we do have the Liberty to make decisions that prove 1. Good, 2. Acceptable, 3. perfect will of God.” But we must first know what the will of God is. That goes along with knowing the TIME. The more doctrine stored up in our inner man, will upgrade our decisions. (STUDY-2 Tim. 2:15).
14. Paul is saying, we all have knowledge, and we all have made our own decisions. But are we working with the proper knowledge? Paul is saying your knowledge, worldly knowledge, will puff you up! But value and esteem what God values and esteems, agape love of God edifies, builds godliness, and sends a godly impact into the heavenly places, glorifying an honoring God. These Corinthians were ignorant of the Liberty issue of their sanctification and Brother blades was right, now I know what it means by can “a believer can be saved, justified unto eternal life but, not sanctified. THE APPLICATION: We are to appreciate our sanctification and the liberty we have in Christ. Remember who we are in Christ and make godly decisions that will “work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight and glory.” *Is your attitude working for you? Are your decisions working for you? Remember Saints, “Redeem the Time!”
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15. Like the Corinthians, if we are not careful, we will make decisions that we think and say, are God honoring, but in reality those decisions are serving our flesh, “the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, pride of life,” and if you do this, you are co laboring with the Adversary! And we do have the choice to co labor with God or with the Adversary!
2 Cor. 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he had done, whether it be good or bad.”
And finally, Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Colman J. Gilliland 