Gifted to ServeSample

There has always been the tendency among God’s people to presume upon his love and grace to forgive our sin rather than punish it. King David wrote, “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8). The Lord understands our tendency toward sin and stands ready to forgive, but He never accepts or condones the presence of sin in our lives. Christians were coexisting with non-Christians in Corinth, one of the most pagan cultures in the Bible. The Corinthian church was a melting pot of believers from many different backgrounds of education and religious beliefs. Paul addressed the issue of how to deal with the freedom that faith in Christ offers without presuming that our freedom allows for ungodly standards of behavior.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).