We had quite the study today in V.15-17, clarifying the importance of the Lord’s Supper / Communion, and our responsibility to approach it in humility and honesty. We are responsible to keep short sin accounts, and make sure that we harbor no animosity or unforgiveness toward others. It harms our fellowship with God and puts us in danger of the chastening hand of God. Please refer to 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 and Hebrews 12:5-11.
V.18-22 reminds us of the danger of idolatry. We saw in Matthew 6:24 that Jesus distinguishes the struggle of all mankind with the allure of money, and how it can easily become an idol in any culture, especially ours!
Matthew 6:24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
We will compare the difference of the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord, understanding that things different are not the same; things different are alike.
Philippians 1:6,10: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
Philippians 2:14-16: Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
The Day of Christ definitely has to do with the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54), ushering in the Tribulation, that 7 year transition dispensation taking the world to the Day of the Lord – the 2nd Advent, the physical return of Messiah King Jesus, coming in power, with all the hosts of heaven, to establish his everlasting kingdom.
Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Next Sunday, we will continue our study in chapter 10, trying to close it out, in preparation for chapter 11.