if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

2 Corinthians 3:1-18

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Why?

The Spirit is more important than the Laws. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This freedom is in Jesus Christ; it is in the Spirit.

How?

Thank Jesus Christ, because the blood of Jesus was shed for us, so we can have eternal joy in this world and eternal life in the future with the Lord.

We might not rely on ourselves but on God. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. 

We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Why?

Paul made a good example to witness that Jesus Christ is the real God and was raised from the dead. All they preached is "Yes", there is no "Yes" and "No".

We have relied not on worthy wisdom but on God's grace, so my work, and mission, and my service in the church.

How?

My mighty God is great and full of love for us. Everything has God's good benefit for us. Rely on the Lord instead of on our own wisdom.

flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed

 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.  But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

The saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why?

Our flesh body can not accept the imperishable body, but we will change to another body, an imperishable body, to live in an imperishable place with the Lord.

Trust in Jesus Christ and do what we should do to obey the words of the Lord, love each other.

Gos is love, so we should love others. For the Lord loves us first.

How?

We have the hope that after we perish in our physical body and we will change to another bodily shape in heaven.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man

 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.

Why?

We trust that Jesus raised from the dead, Jesus conquered death, so we have hope, and we believe Jesus is our savior.

Paul witnessed the living God, Jesus, and the grace of God that was with him. So Paul preached the Gospel, even facing the danger to his life.

How?

I trust in the Lord and believe that Jesus rose from the dead; one day, I will rise from the dead with Jesus Christ.

Be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way

1 Corinthians 14:21-40

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

 For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Why?

Prophecy and speaking in tongues are good and allowed. But it has to be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Most important is to build people's lives, and have order before the Lord.

Speaking in tongues is good, but prophecy is better to people.

Church needs quiet and worship Lord in order.

How?

Love each other and do services in church with order and love.

Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God

 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 

For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Why?

Paul had explained very clearly that a tongue does not speak to people but to God.

One who prophesies edifies the church, for everyone understands what he says.

If it is interpreted, what they say in tongues is good to everyone.

But most time, people in public speak in tongues to earn respect or personal honor.

How?

Follow the instructions of Paul and the word of the Lord is benefit to every Christian.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Why? 

Faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest is love; without love, any others are nothing.

Prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, knowledge will pass away, when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. All we know in this world is part of completeness.

How?

The Lord stands forever, God's words endure forever, and love makes efforts valuable.