However, Paul's letters are only one approach he used to address the health of the church in Corinth. In fact, certain contextual factors in Paul's day actually helped advance the gospel. God would eventually use these experiences in Paul's life to improve the church.
First, Ephesians reveals Paul's strategy to protect the church from the teachings of the mystery religions. In these verses the threat to the health of the congregation in Colossae becomes clear.
Know the Church
He tells the Ephesians that Christians must be 'zealous to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Eph 4:3) and that the Lord gives gifts to the church. A review of the letters to the Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians will help to emphasize this. In Romans, Paul offered a series of insights designed to protect the unity of the church.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul offered instruction on the subject of ministry to every level of the organization when he wrote: . Paul's purpose in writing exhortations like this one was to protect the credibility of the church and the gospel they proclaimed. As church leaders and revitalization agents work to improve the health of today's church, the institutional factor of morality cannot be overlooked.
Another institutional factor that has always been a key component of the health and effectiveness of the local church is leadership. If Paul's instructions were not heeded, unqualified men in leadership positions could cause irreparable damage to the health of the church. He did not see a dichotomy between the theology of the Church and the mission of the Church."39.
Third, maintaining a biblical theology is necessary so that the church can speak accurately about cultural issues of the day.
Love the Church
In addition to glimpses of this particular genre in Paul's letters, other evidence of Paul's love for the church is evident in the content of his letters. In addition to the above examples of Philippians and Romans, an even more explicit expression of Paul's love for the church can be found in the Thessalonians. Throughout his letters, Paul repeatedly showed his love for the church by praying for them.
Although Paul's prayers for the church are common, they are not found in Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Titus. One of the more surprising ways Paul showed his love for the church was through rebuke. Paul also showed his love for the church in Corinth in a way that was similar to his expression of love for the Galatians.
A final way Paul showed his love for the Church was by making personal sacrifices for it. A similar example of Paul's sacrifice for the Corinthian church is evident in his writings to that church. For this reason, he made personal sacrifices so as not to interfere with the work of the Church.
His love for the church drove him to act in various ways to eliminate institutional problems that could harm the health of the church.
Know Why Satan Attacks the Church
In this example, the exact strategy that Satan implemented to hinder Christian ministry is not given.5 What this example does provide, however, is confirmation that Satan does exercise a powerful influence over the affairs of men, especially when they seek to interests of the kingdom of God.”6 The following texts provide additional insight into the motivation behind Satan's efforts to hinder the ministry of the church.
Follow the Prince of the Power of the Air
First, Satan is motivated by a desire to see people remain in a state of spiritual death. The most vital part of man's personality—the spirit—is dead to the most important factor in life—God. death (Romans 6:23). Second, Satan is motivated by a desire to see people remain under the influence of the forces of evil.
This phrase describes "the attitude of God towards people who are considered fallen in Adam (Rom.. 19) and who refuse to accept the gospel of grace and salvation in Christ. Beginning in verse 3 he writes, "And though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Paul's phrase, "the god of this age" in 10William Hendriksen, Ephesians, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker John 12:31) or as the one who made this age its god." It is therefore clear that Satan is the agent who is actively working to prevent people from see light of the gospel.
The terminology Paul uses "lost" describes those who reject Christ and "are now being deformed in the image of the god of this age whom they serve. Paul wrote that Satan defends his evil castle and keeps people in slavery by blinding" the minds of unbelievers" (2 Cor 4:4). 13 Satan causes unbelievers with spiritual blindness to prevent them from seeing and understanding the truth of . It is not simply that people in their natural state cannot do works. good of a kind that would justify them in the sight of God.
Since the gospel is the only hope unbelievers have of being delivered from Satan's dominion (Eph 4:1-5; Col 1:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:8), it may be expected that the gospel, and those who preach, become the target of the enemy.
Garland argues that forgiveness “is not just freedom from the past; it frees us for the present and the future.
Paul says that the Colossians used to give their lives to sin, which only brings God's wrath (3:5-7), but now they give their lives to Christ, who brings joy and light (2:6).”16. For the Jews the crucial question was whether they had a part in Moses (Ass. Mos. 2:2—761). For Christians, however, the decisive question is whether they share in the Word or gift of God.
Satan wants to keep people captive in his kingdom and is therefore motivated to hinder any activity that results in the bestowal of this inheritance. Salvation occurs “when the sinner repents, is cleansed from sin, and takes his place among those who have received their spiritual inheritance through faith in Christ. The church that takes evangelism and discipleship seriously is a threat to Satan and his kingdom.
Before analyzing Paul's strategy for engaging the enemy, it is therefore beneficial to first understand some of the general ways in which Satan attacks the church.
Know How Satan Attacks the Church
Unresolved anger is too often Satan's opportunity to undermine the effectiveness of the church. The failure of the church to live in unity is another strategy that Satan uses against the church. Would it not make sense, then, that one of Satan's main goals would be to create division in the church?33.
One of the reasons why Paul emphasized unity to the Corinthians is that God's unity places Christ at the center of the church. The last way that Satan is known to infect the health of the church is by attacking the leadership of the church. The scale of destruction that Satan could cause with this particular attack can extend beyond the walls of the church.
Paul taught that “Satan would actually set traps to slander the church and ultimately hinder her mission in the world. Paul knew that the prayers of the church would help leaders lead "a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Tim. 2:2), while also strengthening his own courage to faithfully proclaim Christ (1 Tim. 2:2). Eph 6:19). By understanding the spiritual factor of Satan's attack, the church can better prepare for the inevitable conflict with the enemy.
In his work with churches, Paul used his knowledge of the enemy's schemes to build a warfare strategy that, if implemented, would help the church live in victory.
Know God to Experience Victory
Spiritual factors that affect the health of the church include the supernatural, good, and evil. Third, revitalizers must not overlook the issue of spiritual factors affecting the health of the church. Through small groups and personal discipleship, these factors can be addressed so that the health of the church can improve.
Church members can quench God's Spirit (1 Thess 5:19) by clinging to sin in their lives. The most common way was through a representative of the church giving Paul a report on the health of the church. Finally, there are other instances where Paul spoke of potential problems that could threaten the health of the church.
Instead, Paul seems to have relied on a report about the health of the church that he probably received from Epaphroditus (2:25).11. He believed these issues were destructive to the health of the church and needed to be resolved once and for all. If revival ministries are to be effective, the revival agent and church leaders must be able to identify issues that are corrupting the health of the church.
As trusted leaders in the church implemented Paul's prescribed solutions and silenced those promoting false doctrine, the health of the church would improve. No opponents were mentioned, and no open question seemed to corrupt the health of the church.27. This reality is unfortunate, both for the church leader and the church itself.
