and strove earnestly to reach 〃the righteousness which is of God by
faith。〃 Philippians 3：9。
Paul knew that his warfare against evil would not end so long as life should
last。 Ever he realized the need of putting a strict guard upon himself； that
earthly desires might not overcome spiritual zeal。 With all his power he
continued to strive against natural inclinations。 Ever he kept before him
the ideal to be attained； and this ideal he strove to reach by willing
obedience to the law of God。 His
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words； his practices； his passionsall were brought under the control of
the Spirit of God。
It was this singlehearted purpose to win the race for eternal life that Paul
longed to see revealed in the lives of the Corinthian believers。 He knew
that in order to reach Christ's ideal for them； they had before them a life
struggle from which there would be no release。 He entreated them to strive
lawfully； day by day seeking for piety and moral excellence。 He pleaded with
them to lay aside every weight and to press forward to the goal of
perfection in Christ。
Paul pointed the Corinthians to the experience of ancient Israel； to the
blessings that rewarded their obedience； and to the judgments that followed
their transgressions。 He reminded them of the miraculous way in which the
Hebrews were led from Egypt under the protection of the cloud by day and the
pillar of fire by night。 Thus they were safely conducted through the Red
Sea； while the Egyptians； essaying to cross in like manner； were all
drowned。 By these acts God had acknowledged Israel as His church。 They 〃did
all eat the same spiritual meat； and did all drink the same spiritual drink：
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them： and that Rock was
Christ。〃 The Hebrews； in all their travels； had Christ as a leader。 The
smitten rock typified Christ； who was to be wounded for men's
transgressions； that the stream of salvation might flow to all。
Notwithstanding the favor that God showed to the Hebrews； yet because of
their lust for the luxuries left behind in Egypt； and because of their sin
and rebellion； the
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judgments of God came upon them。 The apostle enjoined the Corinthian
believers to heed the lesson contained in Israel's experience。 〃Now these
things were our examples；〃 he declared； 〃to the intent we should not lust
after evil things； as they also lusted。〃 He showed how love of ease and
pleasure had prepared the way for sins that called forth the signal
vengeance of God。 It was when the children of Israel sat down to eat and
drink； and rose up to play； that they threw off the fear of God； which they
had felt as they listened to the giving of the law； and； making a golden
calf to represent God； they worshiped it。 And it was after enjoying a
luxurious feast connected with the worship of Baalpeor； that many of the
Hebrews fell through licentiousness。 The anger of God was aroused； and at
His command 〃three and twenty thousand〃 were slain by the plague in one day。
The apostle adjured the Corinthians； 〃Let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall。〃 Should they become boastful and self…confident；
neglecting to watch and pray； they would fall into grievous sin； calling
down upon themselves the wrath of God。 Yet Paul would not have them yield to
despondency or discouragement。 He gave them the assurance： 〃God is faithful；
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able； but will with
the temptation also make a way of escape； that ye may be able to bear it。〃
Paul urged his brethren to ask themselves what influence their words and
deeds would have upon others and to do nothing； however innocent in itself；
that would seem to
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sanction idolatry or offend the scruples of those who might be weak in the
faith。 〃Whether therefore ye eat； or drink； or whatsoever ye do； do all to
the glory of God。 Give none offense； neither to the Jews； nor to the
Gentiles； nor to the church of God。〃
The apostle's words of warning to the Corinthian church are applicable to
all time and are especially adapted to our day。 By idolatry he meant not
only the worship of idols； but self…serving； love of ease； the gratification
of appetite and passion。 A mere profession of faith in Christ； a boastful
knowledge of the truth； does not make a man a Christian。 A religion that
seeks only to gratify the eye； the ear； and the taste； or that sanctions
self…indulgence； is not the religion of Christ。
By a comparison of the church with the human body； the apostle aptly
illustrated the close and harmonious relationship that should exist among
all members of the church of Christ。 〃By one Spirit；〃 he wrote； 〃are well
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。 For the body
is not one member； but many。 If the foot shall say； Because I am not the
hand； I am not of the body； is it therefore not of the body？ And if the ear
shall say； Because I am not the eye； I am not of the body； is it therefore
not of the body？ If the whole body were an eye； where were the hearing？ If
the whole were hearing； where were the smelling？ But now hath God set the
members every one of them in the body； as it hath pleased Him。 And if they
were all one member； where were the body？
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But now are they many members； yet but one body。 And the eye cannot say unto
the hand； I have no need of thee： nor again the head to the feet； I have no
need of you。 。 。 。 God hath tempered the body together； having given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked： that there should be no schism in
the body； but that the members should have the same care one for another。
And whether one member suffer； all the members suffer with it； or one member
be honored； all the members rejoice with it。 Now ye are the body of Christ；
and members in particular。〃
And then； in words which from that day to this have been to men and women a
source of inspiration and encouragement； Paul set forth the importance of
that love which should be cherished by the followers of Christ： 〃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。 And though I have the gift
of prophecy； and understand all mysteries； and all knowledge； and though I
have all faith； so that I could remove mountains； and have not charity； I am
nothing。 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor； and though I
give my body to be burned； and have not charity； it profiteth me nothing。〃
No matter how high the profession； he whose heart is not filled with love
for God and his fellow men is not a true disciple of Christ。 Though he
should possess great faith and have power even to work miracles； yet without
love his faith would be worthless。 He might display great liberality； but
should he； from some other motive than
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genuine love； bestow all his goods to feed the poor； the act would not
commend him to the favor of God。 In his zeal he might even meet a martyr's
death； yet if not actuated by love； he would be regarded by God as a deluded
enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite。
〃Charity suffereth long； and is kind； charity envieth not； charity vaunteth
not itself； is not puffed up。〃 The purest joy springs from the deepest
humiliation。 The strongest and noblest characters are built on the
foundation of patience； love； and submission to God's will。
Charity 〃doth not behave itself unseemly； seeketh not her own； is not easily
provoked； thinketh no evil。〃 Christ…like love places the most favorable
construction on the motives and acts of others。 It does not needlessly
expose their faults； it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports； but
seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others。
Love 〃rejoiceth not in iniquity； but rejoiceth in the truth； beareth all
things； believeth all things； hopeth all things； endureth all things。〃 This
love 〃never faileth。〃 It can never lose its value； it is a heavenly
attribute。 As a precious treasure； it will be carried by its possessor
through the portals of the city of God。
〃And now abideth faith； hope； charity； these three； but the greatest of
these is charity。〃
In the lowering of the moral standard among the Corinthian believers； there
were those who had given up some of the fundamental features of their faith。
Some had gone so far as to deny the doctrine of the resurrection。 Paul met
this heresy with a very plain testimony regarding the
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unmistakable evidence of the resurrection of Christ。 He declared that
Christ； after His death； 〃rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures；〃 after which 〃He was seen of Cephas； then of the Twelve： after
that； He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once； of whom the
greater part remain unto this present； but some are fallen asleep。 After
that； He was seen of James； then of all the apostles。 And last of all He was
seen of me also。〃
With convincing power the apostle set forth the great truth of the
resurrection。 〃If there be no resurrection of the dead；〃 he argued； 〃then is
Christ not risen： and if Christ be not risen； then is our preaching vain；
and your faith is also vain。 Yea； and we are found false witnesses of God；
because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ： whom He raised
not up； if so be that the dead rise not。 For if the dead rise not； then is
not Christ raised： and if Christ be not raised； your faith is vain； ye are
yet in your sins。 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are
perished。 If in this life only we have hope in Christ； we are of all men
most miserable。 But now is Christ risen from the dead； and become the first
fruits of them that slept。〃
The apostle carried the minds of the Corinthian brethren forward to the
triumphs of the resurrection morn； when all the sleeping saints are to be
raised； henceforth to live forever with their Lord。 〃Behold；〃 the apostle
declared； 〃I show you a mystery： We shall not