Bible Recall Memory Verse:

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:12-21. This could be extended back to 5:9 where the aim is expressly stated to please God and to consider the coming judgment of God heavily.

LESSON:
Historically, the Corinthians heard, believed and were baptized into Christ (Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 6:11; 12:13). Their new birth began when they initially obeyed the gospel, and it is the same today. While some were formerly fornicators, idolaters, homosexuals, drunkards, etc. they were forgiven and are no longer identified as such (1 Cor. 6:9-11). In their obedience, they were washed, sanctified, and justified. The Christian is a forgiven person, but he is not pardoned to continue in sin, but to transform into a “new creation.” Paul defined it well, “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).

1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: 1 Corinthians 1:13-17.
EXTENDED CONTEXT: 1 Corinthians 1:13-4:21 with the likelihood of this section-context extending through chapter six or possibly even further.

LESSONS FOR UNITY:

• Definition: speak the same thing, no divisions, perfectly joined together, same mind, same judgment
• The perils of disunity and factions in the church (pride, carnality, contentions, overlooking sin, an incubator for error, etc.).
• The prayer of unity (Paul pleads for what Jesus prayed for, John 17).
• The pleasant state of unity, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1).
• The posture for unity (Eph. 4:1-3).
• The platform for unity (Eph. 4:4-7).

Question: By what basis should we pursue unity?

Bible Recallers:

Our memory verse challenge for the next two weeks is Romans 1:16.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Many of you may have already memorized this one. If such is the case, use these two weeks to familiarize yourself with the context better or if you are behind on memory work, use these two weeks to catch up on verses that are challenging.

For those who have not memorized this passage. It may be a helpful hint to break it down into the sections of “for” (emphasized in bold above).

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: Romans 1:1-17.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ON:

1.       What was Paul separated too (1:1)?

2.       What does the faith require for every person of every nation (1:5)?

3.       Who were the “beloved” in Rome (1:7)?

4.       How did Paul serve God (1:9)?

5.       What was mutual between Paul and those he wrote (1:12)?

6.       What was Paul ready to do (1:15)?

LESSON: Let us live each day unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.