Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sin – (13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  (14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. (15) But the free gift is not like the offense.  For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

When sin entered the world through Adam’s act of disobedience God established a union between the first man and his posterity.  Adam acted, was judged and condemned by God,  His sin became the Pandora’s box of human history.  All men became corrupt in their hearts and behavior. Man doesn’t just sin, this became his/her depraved nature.

When sin entered the world no man could break the judgment for no man was free from sin. Sin was in the world but not the Law so no one was guilty of sin but all died. But in Genesis, God told man that the remedy for this judgment was the promise of the Messiah to come. Adam was a type (shadow)  of this second man, Christ Jesus. Christ was true God and true man, He was born without sin and was the only one who could break the transgression of Adam.  It’s faith, not our acts or deeds that save us, just as it was Adam’s act, not our independent deeds that condemned us

Justification of the faithful is based not on man’s deeds but only Christ’s. This justification corresponds to Adam’s one deed resulting in condemnation of all – not of mans deeds but the actions of the first man.  THe Bible is the story of God’s remedy in Christ as God reckoned to us the righteousness of Christ. Our sins are covered through faith and our sanctification  is progressive from the moment of faith. Justification is by faith, not by our deeds. We are pardoned and purified in faith in the saving act of Christ Jesus.  The doctrine of original sin and our subsequent release from damnation in Christ should make us wild with joy and gratitude.

It’s hard to understand and accept this doctrine of original sin but it sure explains what we see in this world – the universality of evil and our constant battle against our basest instincts.  Only one man inserted into history, Christ Jesus, could and did get us right with God.  Only Christianity teaches this remedy.

The bread which we break, is it not The communion if the body of Christ?  (17) For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul to address problems in the church Paul had founded.  Corinth was a commercial capital mostly because of its geographic location – and became a liberal and diverse city like highly populated urban areas today. Corinth was known for its temples and pagan culture and today’s verses in context were directed at the dangers of this culture to the Christian life.

In chapter 10 of this letter Paul is warning the faithful Corinthians of the consequences of their lax behavior using the example of the Israelites fleeing from Egypt under Gods protection.  Israel succumbed to the temptations of the flesh and paid the terrible price in the desert  Paul is telling the Corinthians they are at risk also.

The Lord’s supper is to commemorate Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and by partaking of this sacrament men were symbolically and really in union with Christ and each other. The Corinthians had added part of a pagan ritual to the supper – eating of meats that had been sacrificed to an idol were used in the Christian communion service as well.  Paul is saying that the spiritual union between Christ and believers would be a sacrilege if partakers of communion also had fellowship with idol worshippers by using these meats.

Paul’s warning is to us as well as the Corinthians – “flee from idolatry” and take the lessons of history to heart. The demon is baffling, patient, insidious and powerful. Don’t be deceived by intellectual conceits and keep the commemoration of God’s great gift pure. 

Finally, brethren, farewell.  Become complete.  Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (12) Greet one another with a holy kiss.  (13) All the saints greet you. 

The 2nd letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul.  Paul founded the church at Corinth for strategic purposes – it was a large commercial city and a gateway to all parts of the Roman Empire so the gospel would easily be spread. Corinth was a pagan city steeped in idol worship and sexual worship practices. There was a cult of the young and fit  as this was the site of the Isthmian Games, so prominent in that ancient world – the culture was the opposite of Christian fundamental values and stressed the material world.  Into this world Paul arrived on his second missionary journey. He preached the gospel of Christ crucified and raised from the dead for the redemption of the fallen man.  Paul preached eternal life  and that faith in Christ Jesus was all that was necessary for salvation – real faith that would transform men/women from transitory figures of the night to children of the light.  On top of the culture wars in Corinth the false teachers arrived. Motivated by Paul’s success with the gospel these false teachers attacked both Paul’s apostleship and character – meaning they  challenged his gospel and ministry.

In his letters to the Corinthians Paul is addressing the problems of conduct in the church, conduct in the relations of Christians with each other; strife and division in the church and abuse of spiritual gifts – he is defending himself and his authority because sin must be corrected. This is not about temporal power, it is about eternal life or death. Paul is presenting his final challenge and closing words to the Corinthians in our verses today.  Paul expects the Corinthians to challenge their faith by testing themselves as to the cause and source of eternal life. If the Corinthians believe that they are saved ONLY by Christ then they are really transformed and their belief is to guide their actions as specifically outliined in our verses today.  These actions are commands, not suggestions, and also linked to a promise for those who obey God’s will. We depend on God, not the other way around And God promises peace to those who trust in Him.

And finally Paul reminds the Corinthians that there is a larger world out there and the church is a bigger body – the blessings that will flow from that union with Christ’s church are grace, love and peace.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  (4) And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (5) And there were dwelling in Jersulam Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  (6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytism, (11) Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God”. 

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, the Gentile physician and historian of the early Church. Forty days after the crucifixion of Christ Jesus and His resurrection from the dead much had changed. The apostles had fled in terror from the scene of the crucifixion, not understanding and in fear that they would be killed next. Then Christ was raised from the dead and appeared to these men who became utterly convinced that Jesus was God and everything He said was true.  The Lord stayed with them, teachinging them for forty days untill He rose out of this world – leaving them with the great commission to carry His word to all nations of the known world. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until the promixed Spirit would come to them

So now it is fifty days after the Resurrection and the religious Jews from all the nations of the world have gathered at Jerusalem for the feast of weeks or first fruits. These particular Jews – and Gentile proselytes were at Jerusalem to worship God from diverse cultures and separated geographically. We are told by Luke that the apostles and disciples were there of one accord when Gods time came for this great miracle. There was the manifestation of a great sound – of a sudden rushing wind which cannot be seen but can be heard and felt. Then the visible tongues of fire. Then a gathering of a fearful crowd. The violence of the wind caused the fear which opened the gate of the mind. (There are no atheists in foxholes).

And the diverse peoples heard the apostles speaking in their own dialects and languages. By calling them Gallileans Luke is telling us the crowd knew these men and knew they were ignorant fishermen who pretty much stuck to their own country and were not acquainted with other languages So the speaking in tongues was a great miracle.  The gift of the Spirit was a visible gift and all the signs were for the ages.  The appointment and gift clearly were of God and a fulfillment of the promise of Christ to send the Spirit

The Spirit now gave the apostles the power and courage to carry out the great commission of Christ.  Now begins the new era of God dealing with men – the era of the Spirit Who empowers men for witness to Christ and to witness not just to the Jews but also the Gentiles  – God is calling the gospel to all nations with the purpose to spread the knowledge of God to all;  not for our own edification but to empower men to bear witness to the glory of God.  That is the meaning of Pentecost

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eared to these men