Solution to stumbling blocks – a bride devoted to Christ; John 16:1; 2 Cor 11:1-4.

Title: Solution to stumbling blocks - a bride devoted to Christ; John 16:1; 2 Cor 11:1-4.

 

1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.

 

1 Cor 3:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

 

1 Cor 3:3 For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly [carnal - controlled by OSN], and are you not walking like mere men?

 

 “jealousy” - zhloj[zelos] = jealousy, envy, zeal after what someone else has. [origin of the word zealous]

 

“strife” -  evrij[eris] = contention, strife, wrangling, conflict resulting from rivalry.

 

These are mental attitude sins that refer to person #3 in the parable of the sower. They have some doctrine, which Paul describes as milk since that is all that babies can metabolize, but not solid food, the more advanced doctrines, and so there is no application of the mechanics of the FRD, PSD, or OC and therefore they have mental attitude sins and wrong priorities.

 

Nothing wrong with being a child type of believer, but there is when you’ve been under doctrinal teaching as long as these Corinthians have been.

 

These words represent the natural inclinations of the world system but are foreign in God’s system of grace.

 

2 Tim 3:16-17

 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

The word of God does all the things that some people eroneously think they should do through their own speech.

 

These blocks are inevitable but woe to the one through whom they come. Speak less and listen more. Be careful what you say and how you say it. Be careful what you hear and how you hear it. And if you are the recipient of any of that kind of nonsense take those thoughts captive immediately to the obedience of God’s word and in some cases you should gently rebuke the person immediately, loved one or not. The local assembly is the most dangerous place to have stumbling blocks and so satan works tirelessly to plant them, but remember, he has to use people who are willing to do so, whether ignorantly or knowingly.

 

Concentration of stumbling blocks: Soul, marriage/family/home, local church, business/labor/wealth, entertainment, social life, school.

 

Business or the job contains the deceitfulness or riches and promotion as well as people who compete, are lazy, cut corners, gossip, malign, judge, kiss up to the boss. The job will never be like minded or intent on one purpose. The family may be, but that is rare. Our Lord’s family was divided during His ministry.

 

Entertainment or social life is yet another arena of people and desires. It may be just you and your computer or your phone and your entertainment becomes a stumbling block. We already talked about internet addiction; porn, social networking, and other types where the clicking of the mouse becomes a new window, a new picture, a new post, a new whatever and addiction ensues and unclean thoughts are placed before your eyes. But this also occurs at the parties, at the bar or the club, or wherever people gather together for entertainment or social life. The solution is not to abstain from entertainment or social life, but to find the proper entertainment or social relief or, what it really is, which is a release of tension from the details of life, which does not hinder your relationship with God.

 

I also include schools, even though most of us are not in them anymore, but the youth of each generation is getting a hardy doze of stumbling blocks in the centralized public school system, which is continually under the reform of the progressive movement. I don’t think a school can ever out influence a sound doctrinal parent, they will believe you more than their school, but unfortunately many of the parents in our nation are fully influenced by the progressive idea and give hardy approval to a multicultural, liberal, post modern, education rather and a classical education in sound history, reflective philosophy, strict grammatical technical writing as well as creative, thought evoking writing using sound grammatical rules and vocabulary, authoritative ethics, informative civics, rigorous math and science, and pertinent literature that evokes the human spirit as well as rugged individualism and self reliance.

 

The one that we are perhaps all aware of the most:

 

Stumbling block of the old nature: There are two natures within every believer that have different desires and so cause conflict. The OSN is a major source of stumbling blocks.

 

As we examine each scripture in the NT for stumbling blocks we surmise the scripture’s emphasis on the following ones:

 

False gospel, false doctrine, false saviors, fear of danger [violence, wars, famine, natural disaster], undeserved suffering, hatred from world, unreceptive neighborsrelatives, doctrines that go against the norm, cultural or legalistic taboos, earthly goals, flip-flopping believers, religious arrogance, being judged, the area of weakness, failure to apply agape love.

 

Since people are always involved, agape love becomes indispensible.

 

It is easy to equate these with the areas where they would be most prevalent or concentrated.

 

We also surmise the solution:

 

The solution is sound doctrinal teaching and in certain cases separation and isolation from the one(s) causing the stumbling block.

 

The greatest area for stumbling blocks is in the arena of false gospels, which are often found in so-called churches, Matt 11:6; 2Cor 11:4.

 

This is the greatest area because of the end result, which is the lake of fire as judgment for rejecting Christ and thus choosing independence from God.

 

Matt 11:6

 

"And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me."

 

Verse 4 states:

 

2 Cor 11:4 For if one comes and preaches [referring to public communication] another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully

 

Verses 1-3 are about protecting the pulpit and the local assembly from false Jesus’, false gospels, and a false Holy Spirit.

 

2 Cor 11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

 

2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin [for the husband’s use].

 

The engaged virgin bride to be should be loving her groom to be only and not losing that love and becoming the lover of another while He is preparing their wedding chamber. Jeremiah told this to Israel.

 

JER 2:2

 

"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth,

 

The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

 

The same warning was given to the church at Ephesus.

 

REV 2:4

 

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

 

You can be a hard worker, witness, doer for Christ and have lost your love.

 

A lack of occupation with Christ leads to failed mechanics in application of sound doctrine and the believer becomes like the seed among the thorns, filled with MAS’s and wrong priorities.

 

When there’s no love the believer becomes sluggish, cranky, and a person just going through the motions. He loses vigor and the ability to handle quickly changing circumstances.

 

This believer has already tripped over the stumbling block and into the bear trap and it is inevitable that more stumbling will come.

 

The problem is a divided heart as we’ll see in verse 3.

 

2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

 

 “craftiness” - panourgi,a[pan = all; ergon = work] = literally - to do anything and everything in order to deceive while ignoring all decency; capable of anything, unscrupulous conduct, craftiness.

 

This word is never used positively in the NT. In the Septuagint it takes on a more positive connotation in Proverbs, meaning wise, but the sense here is a creature who has the brains, wealth, and power to do anything, but is severely corrupted by these assets to only do evil in the form of deception. It really speaks of satan’s fall and his desire to take as many with him as possible.

 

This word would also describe the arrogant snob who thinks he knows everything. Ironically, arrogance makes a person stupid, as the most arrogant creature, satan, is the most gifted physically is the dumbest.

 

When a person loses control of their soul to great emotionalism they take an active interest in what is false.

 

 “minds” - no,hma[noema] = the activity of the mind or what is thought, therefore it is more descriptive of the heart where the thoughts of the mind are put into action.

 

Again the Koine does us a great service here for clarity. The standard Greek word for mind is nous, but this is more descriptive of the activity of the mind.

 

And what should the activity of the mind or thought application have?

 

 “simplicity” - a`plothj[haplotes (hop-ah-lotes)] = singleness of heart, noble simplicity of heroes, unaffected by perversion of thought, opposed to double mindedness.

 

This singularity is the thought process of Phil 2:2:

 

Phil 2:2

 

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.