ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST                                

By:  Brother Albert Gran

Philippians 3:17-19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

¹⁸ (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

¹⁹ Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

It fascinates me to contemplate this particular situation wherein our apostle Paul once invited the believers to emulate him in matters of a true redefined walk consistent to the life of grace in this dispensation of grace.

The overwhelming account of God’s act upon us for completion, sanctification, and grandeur started from him as a man set with the purpose to be the first among all the blessed people under the dispensation of grace, who is a new creature of God, and a man saved by grace through the precious blood of Christ. 

We cannot just simply mark those who did not receive His blessings in accordance to the purpose for the election of grace with an acclaim of true justification in line with the preaching of the cross. 

The remnant of grace in view of the election of grace began with the apostle Paul. He was set by God as our pattern in this present time when he demonstrated His grace and loving kindness during  the time he became an enemy of Christ. Most of us were viewed as the same before we understood God's grace in our lives (Eph. 2: 1-2).

We have to simply acknowledge the most sensible idea why it needs for Paul to invite others to follow him as there were those apostles who were before him whose lives were also noteworthy in view of the gospel of the kingdom at hand, a kingdom declared under prophecy as a never ending kingdom which the Lord Jesus Christ shall establish on earth, and a kingdom which shall stand against the established earthly kingdoms.

Isaiah 9:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Daniel 2:44

King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Are you not wondering why it needs for Paul to say follow “me”? What’s the idea of it? Is there anything more sensible to appreciate the goodness of God for us Gentiles through Paul and his apostleship? 

We will not speculate however to declare to anyone who name the name of Christ, that the heart of the gospel in this dispensation of grace is to declare the truth of God's grace based on His cross work without profiting from our human works.   

Who are those others whom we need to mark as our examples too? They are those who walked in accordance to the gospel delivered by Paul to us. We can’t simply say that the gospel delivered by Christ to the “sons of men” in time past under the economy of law and the kingdom is the heart of today’s gospel and that we would consider it as the ultimate basis and a means we obtained access and hope in Christ. With this attempt, the cross of Christ as the heart of the gospel was marred with many salvation contents ending up to cover the finished work of Christ to that something man could do for his salvation in view of  his own rational capacity. Many today believed they could do something to be saved and to earn for their salvation.    

      

Timothy 1:15-17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

¹⁶ Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, THAT IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

¹⁷ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We have to consider the sense why it needs for Christ to demonstrate His grace FIRST to Paul while there were already those called apostles before him, the 12 apostles who declared the gospel prior Paul’s calling and election? Why it needs for God to set him as a pattern for the life everlasting when there were those who received the BREAD OF LIFE which come down from heaven in the circumcision ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ? I believed there’s one simple reason for that. God demonstrated a new everlasting life brought by the gospel of the cross, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ apart from works, laws, ordinances, statutes or commandments as what condition he made manifest in TIME PAST under the economy of law.

It’s a new everlasting life in THE BUT NOW wherein it’s an operation simply set by God when he opened the door for the Gentiles, so they could have chance to obtain peace with God, with lives even more blessed, and whose sins were totally forgiven. We're glad and more confident to preach the gospel of peace in view of the mystery truth by preaching Jesus Christ in accordance to the revelation of the mystery revealed to us through Paul in his epistles so that when you read you will understand the knowledge of His will (Eph 3:4).

While many today succumb to many different gospels believing it’s one whole thing and entity without dividing God’s plan, it resulted preaching mixed up gospels. Many today are following and  marking men who were not patterns for the life everlasting set by God for today’s Gentiles with Paul.   

Are we not aware that by doing this, those who mixed up the cross of Christ with apparent works of services described by Paul in verse 2 and 3 were called ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST? 

Men's doctrines added the finished work of Christ especially those who establish their own works and believed for symbolic representations other than simply trusting the finished work of Christ. Their faith deviated  God's relative purpose of reconciliation to restore eternal relationship with Him. It's also a fact God desired men to make friends with God however they viewed God's grace and mercy as nothing. For this cause, they became enemies of the cross of Christ.

Simply believe that Christ paid in full the penalty of your sins when he died, was buried, and was resurrected  for your sins so you can live a new life in Christ whom Paul was set as our pattern.

Grace and peace!  

THE BENEFITS OF GODLY SERVICES

BENEFITS OF A GODLY SERVICE
Brother Albert Gran 

Rom. 12:1-2; Romans 6:20-23

Any rendered activity for the Lord is a godly service. It's worth since our privilege service is giving glory to our master in heaven the Lord of host, and our creator.

I thanked God for this privilege of sharing the word of God and to have fellowship with one another by His word in order to commune with him in Spirit and in truth. Through this, we could learn His ways and get benefits from His precious words.

We could be all alone, enjoy the world's substance, get into peers' social activities with fun, getting good education to have a degree, land for a job with good salary and spent most precious time in regard to the affairs in this world, self, family and friends. To sum up, it's all about "self-fulfillment and gratification'. It's the way we adorned the beauty of our "selfish life". What about selfless life with God? Selfless life is expressed in simple idea as not regarding yourself in doing service for God's glory. It's in reality accepting your most "self" inconvenience for God's service. This is a strange reality when you begin to embrace godly service (Phil. 1:29). You'll suffer adjustments to the world in general because your life is now attached to the "heavenly call".

OUR  REASONABLE SERVICE

Romans 12:1King James Version (KJV)

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 


Let us learn some important words as stated in this verse....

"Beseech" is a plea to put and render something through a kind of important information. A call of urgency, a wake up call, and a challenge. "By the mercies of God", as God had mercy on you. You're not alone, it's how he did and will do something to make you a "significant being" and designed to be special for him. What motivates you to be always in the bottom line of privilege service is God's mercy. God is merciful to us even though we aren't supposed to receive his mercy ( Rom. 3:10, 3:23). The fact of His being merciful was demonstrated by God as it reads in Eph. 2:4-5 when His mercy was given to us. He gave us the gift of eternal life and equipped us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places( Romans 6:23, Eph. 2:8, Proverbs 17:8). The "that ye present your bodies"  even requires your body's ability to perform what things yourself can do to conform in the service wherewith God called us to do ( Eph. 2:10). This is our physical body which can be touched by any forms of pains, uneasiness, hurts, weakness, frustrations, tiredness, burdens, heavy loads, weariness, sadness, troubles, afflictions and all negative tendencies all our body could feel.

When you give your life to Jesus, present your "body". Give your body to the Lord for a spiritual rendition of service giving glory to him. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice", this means when you serve God, it's sacrificial in nature same as an animal sacrifice prepared for a slaughter. We are in the slaughterhouse of world's vanity through which our service nature caused to sacrifice for Christ's sake with realities of pain while waiting for our hope. Our walk with God abhors what people seems convenient as they live in much pleasure for self satisfaction which is not to glorify God.

Enrich yourself with God's word (Col. 3:16). This is the ultimate bottom line of our service as believers in Christ in this dispensation of grace following the apostle Paul as our perfect pattern ( 1 Cor. 11:1). Our life shall make manifest the principle of right approval based on rightly dividing principle (2 Tim. 2:15) in view of the all-inspired word of God with accompanying results, building godly life for righteousness sake with establishment  and grandeur (Col. 2:7)."Holy" calls  for a kind of life as set apart characterizing newness imbued with a godly character nature which is motivated by the principle of grace. Grace believer's life isn't so easy as our life rendition of service is not a matter of debt but grace, meaning our service is a privilege in gratitude of God's grace and mercy giving us peace each day through our Lord Jesus Christ. The "acceptable unto God" is something that God accepts and counts it for future reward (Eph. 5:2; 2 Cor. 2:15). It's by way of keeping the knowledge of truth in view of who Christ is in accordance to the revelation of the mystery causing us to be always triumphant in Christ ( 2 Cor. 2:14). All these things contributes your life into a reasonable service. It's reasonable when your faith in God had its strong basis in accordance to the truth of God under grace void of establishing works under the economy of law. All inputs and outputs characterizing grace walk in this dispensation of grace exalts the truth of God's long suffering while extending the leeway of eternal life's opportunity for the lost human species in our planet.     

Another strong reason over this fact of our life service is God's life manifesting in our character-nature with life-giving and life-changing end results. Newness of life is more significant to grace believers in this most recent period of grace. It possessed victorious resemblance of the risen Christ while our existence on earth is in subjection under the reality of vanity.

SERVICE FOR ETERNITY'S SAKE        

What else do we value when your life is already valued by God as for Him along the side of your existence in this life journey? Selfless efforts are spent for the cause of reasonable service bringing more people reconciled back to God. He designed us to be His heaven's citizens with greater position than his angels who can judged the affairs pertaining in this life ( 1 Cor. 6:3).

What gives breath to our inner man is spending quality time with God through reading His word, exhortation, and doctrine ( 1 Tim 4:13; 2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Cor. 13:11). We have to learn in our walk with God to continue growing in order to eat the strong meats as God designed for our "perfection" as to remain babe in our life is more insignificant when possessing a baby-like stature for after many years of service still longed and desire for the milk of God's word ( Heb. 5:13).  

No matter what cost in this life, as long as you know you're right there in the track of God's perfect plan it's all due to make worth of your life for eternity.

Grace and Peace!        

THE EYES OF FAITH

RIGHTLY DIVIDING: CONSIDER WHAT PAUL SAY

2 Timothy 2

By: Bishop Albert Gran 

There has been a great challenge for every grace believer in our times in so far as the truth of the gospel continued to spread out around the globe. Always, the truth today has been placed in several tests. Rightly dividing the word of truth is sufficient for every man of God if calls for mastery in handling God's word. God's scheme through which His call for approval in determining soundness of doctrines through faith, always without doubt our prerogative being His workmen created in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10).  

Good soldier of Jesus Christ has not find difficulty in understanding God's word in such simple way as taught in 2 Tim. 2:15. Akin to the principle of laboring in word and doctrine, it really needs an effort with hard labor to study, decipher, and believe what it says in His word. 

A WORKMAN'S TRAINING SCHEME FOR MASTERY      

2 Timothy 2 King James Version (KJV)

2 Thou therefore, my son, BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

The basis and right foundation of our stand as grace believer is to firmly cling on what we received, heard, and seen in Paul. As a WORKMAN OF GOD, common goal set for mastery imbued with hard labor is a real process before we attain our firm foundation about the GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH.

We must learn to obey God's plan and study how far we've come understanding God's wonderful wisdom he set in His complete word, THE WORD OF TRUTH.  
    

LISTEN TO PAUL:

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Paul's instruction to Timothy is so plain how to show a godly-edifying disposition with a kind of life WHO RECEIVED THE GRACE OF GOD. It's only considering the fact Paul here has only one-single aim, to communicate the MY GOSPEL, THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD in view of an erroneous  DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION as thought and believed to be "ALREADY PAST". This PAST RESURRECTION belief was attested by Paul as a popular error causing trouble among believers during his time.    

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Of course Christ's resurrection was already past when Paul charged it to Timothy, however I believed Paul wanted to point out THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION for the saints in our time which was opposed by Hemeneus. The cause through which Paul suffered trouble, being accused as evil doer for preaching the truth of the gospel so that the ELECT OF GOD (remnants of grace, THE CHURCH BODY OF CHRIST) MAY ALSO OBTAIN THE SALVATION which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

The context plainly not point out SOUL SALVATION, however it pertains to ETERNAL COHABITATION with the glory which God shall give us IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. Thus, the phrase "WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS WITH ETERNAL GLORY". The saints today will enjoin eternally and will have the glory which Christ has IN ALL ETERNITY.
 

LIVING WITH CHRIST ETERNALLY

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Our identification in Christ's death shows great significance that we already obtained FORGIVENESS OF SINS (Col. 2:13). We were dead with Him! If we believed that we were dead with Christ (We were enjoined in His death) thus, we will live with him. Living with Christ indicates what life we currently live with promised hope of eternal joy and victory.

Believer's life is granted and designed with a life of SUFFERING. Thus, "if we suffer" (which I firmly believed also the reality of suffering when Gods workman stand in truth of the gospel with Paul) however, "we shall reign with him".

Somehow there's a point of a workman's life who will live in an unfruitful life and in course of action will deny Christ and will not continue in God's goodness, Christ will also deny him to the point HE WILL SUFFER LOSS but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED (1 Cor. 3: 11-15).

There's a point of a workman' s life TO NOT BELIEVE, yet HE REMAINS FAITHFUL. Many workmen still were unconscious of God's reality dealing in our present times. As Moses' veil still cover their eyes to not see the mystery of Christ today, yet God's revelation of the mystery, the MY GOSPEL delivered by Paul is clear declaring God's faithfulness whom he promised to the saints today. God's abiding faithfulness is in view of His recent plan and purpose through which God delivered to apostle Paul as in verse 9 "THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND"
       

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WOT: MAKING WORDS PROFITABLE

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

God's workman has to be A TRUTH-SEEKER of which his striving aims for profitability. In verse 2, Paul already mentioned beforehand  "THE THINGS THAT THOU HAST HEARD OF ME" of which I believed the things we have to commit the same TO FAITHFUL MEN WHO SHALL TEACH OTHERS ALSO. What are form of sound words today are the things designed with Paul or Pauline designed truths. These things are truly TO THE SUBVERTING OF THE HEARERS. Many preachers today GET IRRITATED WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT PAUL'S RECEIVED REVELATION, THEY MYSTERY WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET. I was reminded when this term "subvert" was found in  the book of Acts. The troublesome DOCTRINE at this time is about GOING BACK TO THE LAW AND CIRCUMCISION.

Acts 15:24King James Version (KJV)

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us HAVE TROUBLED YOU WITH WORDS, SUBVERTING YOUR SOULS, saying, YE MUST BE CIRCUMCISED, and KEEP THE LAW: to whom WE GAVE NO SUCH COMMANDMENT:

This is the letter content of which the troublesome religious devout people would want the Gentiles be subjected themselves under the LAW. I firmly persuaded that these people, even the 12 apostles exactly had no idea what's going on with the Gentiles how they themselves also received the blessings of God through the preaching of Paul with Barnabas through which Gentiles' blessings came through the preaching of Christ's DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.

It point's out the fact that A WORKMAN'S striving words of no profit shall include understanding of GOD'S PLAN THROUGH OUT TIMES in order to address the issues such as RESURRECTION, LAW, AND CIRCUMCISION be placed in the right order of God's plan through out ages and thus below Paul called to RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH.  

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The truth of the gospel in the revelation of the mystery indeed already received by Paul when he gave it to Timothy. "The things which thou hast heard of me the same commit thou to faithful men" clearly signifies totality or wholeness body of truth or information causing to have single mindedness in Christ based on Pauline revelation for OUR FAITH and PRACTICE.

There's a chart signifying how come MOSAIC LAW, CIRCUMCISION, PAST RESURRECTION are false doctrines in our present time although these were but all scriptural. There's no chart found in 2 Tim. 2:15, however the context in 2 Timothy will tell how these doctrines are fall short of God's wisdom throughout times.

   Many today feel irritated when this chart shall be presented a though they want to cover their eyes with open wide fingers. No matter how eyes are covered, the center "BUT NOW" is very clear and open directing your SIGHT.

CHRIST COMMUNICATING YOU TODAY THROUGH PAUL

BLESSINGS BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST  ( Part-1)

By: Bishop Albert Gran

Ephesians 3

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence BY THE FAITH OF HIM.

I prayed we can come up a simple grasp how come our overflowing blessings in this dispensation of grace to all the saints became a reality. I intend that this short presentation would ensure our boldness by faith in the gospel in light with the revelation of the mystery in our times.

GOD'S POWER TODAY THROUGH PAULINE MINISTRY

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

  It's clear to us why Christ made Paul a minister and how come our overflowing spiritual blessings to the Gentiles occurred today. The "effectual working of God's power" signifies the gospel through which it has the power to save us according to the GIFT OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

1 Thessalonians 2:13King James Version (KJV)

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.     

1 Corinthians 1:18-31King James Version (KJV)

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is THE POWER OF GOD.

There's a special design of Paul's ministry through which Gentiles' access in this present dispensation of grace became our claim and a kind of present position with eternal grandeur.

Paul's ministry design is upon God's will to channel His plan of pouring out blessings for YOU and ME today through the GOD-GIVEN GRACE.

Out of ten thousand instructors, we were recipients of the blessedness of God on the perspective of Paul's apostleship, his doctrines, walk and destiny through which God's abundant blessings were delivered to us by the gospel of the grace of God. 

1 Corinthians 4:15King James Version (KJV)

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: FOR IN CHRIST JESUS I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

The simple fact by faith is to realize that to be Christ's follower today requires understanding to appreciate the apostleship ministry of Paul and consider how it made more unique according to the design God had planned for him for Gentiles' wisdom and power.

Imagine if you have ten thousand instructors providing you with volumes of information classified as in view of God's delineated purpose according to prophecy or simply believing as yours today for faith and practice the doctrines through the apostleship ministry of the 12 apostles or to the Patriarchs in old times by the LAW and the PROPHETS designed for the kingdom to come on earth, then what shall you avail then? That's why we must not be ignorant of the truth to put things in its right order through RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH (2 Tim. 2:15)

What I'm saying is our TRUTH TODAY and the GOSPEL through which we preached, lived and abide as per direct instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ was passed on through Paul in form of direct revelation. 

1 Corinthians 11:1King James Version (KJV)

11 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 

It really cause so much understanding how to become a follower of Paul. Indeed it's not a call to worship Paul but simply to become his follower as Christ designed him to be enabling him to follow Christ.

The truth of the matter is that the doctrines, manner of life, and facets pertaining Gentiles blessedness came forth through the given revelation from Romans-Philemon.

2 Timothy 2:2King James Version (KJV)

2 And the things that thou hast HEARD OF ME among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 3:10-11King James Version (KJV)

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me

We had lot's of mentors whom we greatly appreciated and favored and whose lives set as our example. Many thoughts and doctrines we knew delivered by our mentors were scriptural indicating noteworthy and complacent values as per God's revelation. However, have you thought of observing TO WHOM AND FOR WHOM were those instructions as God had been primarily given?

God directly communicated to us today through the revelation of the mystery of Christ to Paul. There you can say CHRIST COMMUNICATING YOU TODAY THROUGH PAUL. That is the truth of the matter to be a follower of Paul as he followed Christ. 

Grace to you and peace.

LORD'S TABLE:PAUL IS SPEAKING TO THE CORINTHIAN JEWS
By: Bishop Albert Gran

This is an issue which might lead other grace believers in our time who inclined the practice of Lord's table as a custom which they supposed Paul had taught them and a charge many grace preachers in our time called their members of the church the body of Christ to observe.

May this lesson be an aid or an eye opener which lead you the bright side of this doctrine in accord to God's holy writ. I intend to present this exposition somehow your eyes of understanding rather points out what needs to be considered in view of this tradition as mostly adapted by many Pentecostal and evangelical churches in our times.

1 Corinthians 10 King James Version (KJV)

10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that ALL OUR FATHERS were under the cloud, and ALL PASSED THROUGH THE SEA;

Paul had something to clarify to the Corinthian believers so they themselves were not ignorant about God's plan way back in the period of law in time past wherein their forefathers also walked in accordance to the obedience of Mosaic law.

Though Paul addressed his first epistle to the Corinthians who were members of the church, the body of Christ in this recent age of grace, yet Paul plainly had wanted to bring us an idea about the Corinthian's racial background and how their story had set to be AN EXAMPLE AND ADMONITION for the believers under grace today to not live similarly like the murmuring and unbelieving Jews by which through lusts resisted God and PROVOKED HIM TO JEALOUSY. Just simply ask why Paul had reminded Corinthians about their "fathers" who had passed through the sea. Paul simply pointed out the paternal fleshly background of Corinthian believers who were accustomed to Jewish tradition especially to Moses' custom. 
        
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Believers passing through the Red Sea is a baptism of Moses in the cloud and in the sea. It typifies Israel's redemption from the hand of their enemies going all through the promised land. Corinthian's fathers basically were recipients of Moses baptism along with Mosaic law and its covenants. 

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

Paul pointed out that the meat is in reference to the word of God (The Law) through which their forefathers abide, had obeyed, it is by being obedient of Mosaic law teachings as God delivered to them. In its widest sense the law is the school master which led them to the promised Messiah, the Christ.   

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The Rock which Moses had beaten when people were thirsty in the wilderness journey typifies Jesus as the Rock of which those who will drink of it will no longer be thirsty. In the book of John Jesus Christ had clearly emphasized what is this living water when Israel (in comparison of Jacob's well) has invited to come to him and drink His Living water (Jesus Christ).

John 4

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee LIVING WATER.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But WHOSOEVER DRINKETH OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER BE THIRST; but the WATER that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.     

In the circumcision ministry of Jesus Christ, he came in order to fulfill the Law and the prophets about the prophecy concerning him as the Living water. He's the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who shall sit in David's throne and a ruler of Abraham's land. The Jews must come to acknowledge that Christ is the Living Water so they will obtain everlasting life and reign with him in the kingdom which is at hand.    

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

In spite God's divine manifestation of power to quench Israel's thirst when Moses struck the Rock and splashed out water, still people were not consistent  and contented of God's goodness. They continued to oppose and disobeyed His laws. They were laden with grossed sin and pride through their own lusts. It displeased the Lord and many of them were overthrown into the wilderness. OT records shew how Israel was divided, some were taken captives by their enemies and killed, then some were cursed and buried under the ground alive, etc.        

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

LUST is a significant issue at the church in Corinth. What Paul had observed in matters of Corinth's disposition and affairs in their status is when he wrote them what's about  their kingdom observance concerning Lord's Table. They were like babes who were easily trodden down by the thoughts and doctrines of their fathers. Observing Lord's Table as a custom is what they got from the Jews particularly the kingdom saints, as Christ told them until he comes, however their observation is done through fleshly motivation (for the satisfaction of the flesh) wherein great merriment and wrong practice happened inside the church. Some got drunk and slept. Paul taught them the lesson however that those what had happened in the church is a pattern of the OT occurrences to be set as example.        

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
     
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

When Moses approached to Mt. Sinai to receive God's laws, he had so much displeasure when he went back and saw people worshiping the golden calf. He saw people sat down to eat and drink, rose and play. They lusted themselves and that the whole congregation caused so much displeasure before God's eyes. Moses threw tables of stones and broke it in pieces. Israel broke God's commandments through idol worship.Through lusts had forgotten also the goodness and mercy of God.

Paul reiterated Israel's journey to the promised land through which issues of idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmurings were behaviors causing God's so much displeasure. Their course of action is a sign of UNBELIEF after He proved his power to protect, save them from their enemies, and provide their needs as they journeyed to the promised land.

In this account, Paul had elaborated these events using Israel's wilderness journey with accounts of their fathers misbehaviors and unbelief so that the Corinthian believers will see themselves that their father's experiences are typical to what they did inside the church at Corinth.    

11 NOW ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR EXAMPLES: and they are written for our ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no TEMPTATION taken you but such as is common to man: but 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 to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.

15 I speak as to wise men; JUDGE YE what I say.

We knew Corinth is an idolatrous city and people basically had city lifestyles as you observed very common in our modern times. Lusts and temptations were very common issues which characterized tendencies for people to live a compromised life, doing evil and what seems similar to what had happened in time of Moses.

Paul reminded them what example believers at Corinth might learned from their fathers. Today, we knew we're living under grace, however we were called to be wise and conscious about our grace walk and disposition as sons of God to redeem the time as our days are evil. Corinthians had many tendencies to live a compromised living in consonance to the world's recent corrupt affairs. In fact there's one situation where immorality was committed by a member of the church at Corinth. Since most of them knew the story of their fathers in time past, Paul used that account to remind them not to tempt Christ in their present walk respectively under grace. As many of them walk like babes, they were enhanced by Paul to live wisely and JUDGE his admonition for them.             

LORD'S TABLE ISSUE: A JEWISH CUSTOM

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

18 BEHOLD ISRAEL AFTER THE FLESH: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Now, I would like to point out something I learned and perceived in this issue about LORD'S TABLE as many confused if this doctrine is for us members of the church the Body of Christ especially Gentiles in particular who were saved through Pauline gospel and doctrines.  

As we knew Corinthian members are predominantly Jews and by background aware about the circumcision ministry of Christ, Lord's Table or communion is one of the practices they applied in their congregation. It's one of the common activity that the Jewish believers in the early ministry of Paul had practiced. 

Lord's table is not the command or practice which Paul instituted for all members of the church the Body of Christ especially the Gentiles under this present dispensation of grace who were not promised by Christ to reign in the kingdom to come on earth. 

As Jews who knew Lord's Table background, Paul had used this practice as an illustration to the most important significance HOW MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST get its essence through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Our salvation was directed as instant as the blood of Christ shall automatically cleansed our sins the moment we believe and trust it for our perfect salvation apart from human works.

Admittedly, Paul himself being a Jew knew this doctrinal practice in view of Christ's circumcision ministry. Lord's Table is not a mandate for today's practice especially when you knew the actual significance of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for your sins causing to change position, walk and destiny.

Simply put, when Gentiles today break bread and instituted Lord's Table or Lord Supper in their churches it's understood simply only an adaptation of Jewish custom but not as a matter of God's command to practice for the church the Body of Christ because our salvation today is in effect of the gospel immediately work to those who believe. The reason why it's not for us today because we will not SUP WITH CHRIST in the earthly kingdom (Luke 22: 15-20, Rev. 3:20). It's the Jews primarily the kingdom saints who will sup with Christ when He establish His kingdom on earth.   

LORD'S TABLE: A JEWISH PRACTICE IN VIEW OF SPIRITUAL WALK IN OUR RECENT AGE             

19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

The issue of Lord's Table had been such a long traditional practice of Corinthian believers of whom we found in this context as Jews. Paul had used this customary practice to set themselves as example being members of His family, the body of Christ to FLEE FROM IDOLATRY, and PARTAKING GENTILE SACRIFICES called DEVIL SACRIFICES whose were Gentiles activities.

As members of Christ's body, a cleansed individuals who were called to be saints, being washed, and saved these things must not be once practice in the church with believers doing and committing it like what their fathers did during Moses time.

Paul wanted to point out that these Gentiles' activities also, which are evil in nature, were not those activities of believers who partook the salvation and being recipients of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (as illustrated by Paul partaking the Lord's Table).

 Paul had stressed that their traditional practice of Lord's Table gave significance how to live a separate and holy life as Jews with distinct activities for the Lord. This is contrary to Gentiles' idolatrous nature with sacrifices to devils who also did activities through lusts which were ways of PROVOKING THE LORD TO JEALOUSY. 

There's no sense Paul mentioned even by implication that Lord Supper is a doctrine we should do as well today. He reminded them that as partakers of Christ's body they should abstain from these activities the fathers did in time past during Moses time and such those sacrifices also committed by Gentiles.        
           
MORE PRACTICAL GRACE-LIFE INSTRUCTION 

Edification, being thankful, set as example, and salvation of the lost  are Paul's main themes of instructing Corinthians to live a life with grace. He enumerated that though we are at liberty from sin we shall not attempt or commit as those who we were before we obtained our fellowship with Christ.

In this chapter, Lord's Table is not the real issue through which Paul told members the church the Body of Christ as an essential practice however he used this Jewish observance to point out what life governed if being partaking the communion of Christ's body (a spiritual significance of salvation and relationship with Christ).       

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Our grace-life walk has to be governed with carefulness and described as those who walk in wisdom for the sake of weak consciences designed for edification and others salvation. This is a new-character nature provided by our Lord Jesus Christ to walk in the newness of life, as those who truly are resurrected from the dead.

We are God's workmanship created by Jesus Christ unto good works and henceforth the new life we had in Christ is complacent to the image of Christ whose lives set as living epistles, holy, and righteous before Him in love.  

I viewed Lord's table as something a kind of practice similar to water baptism which Paul also had practiced in the early church the  Body of Christ. However, those practices I firmly believed based on several proofs and citations those belonged to that which were ceased when he instructed them TO SHOW THEM THE WAY OF THE LORD MORE PERFECTLY. 

Therefore, it's such a categorical practice Paul had mentioned "I KNOW IN PART" but when the PERFECT IS COME, nevertheless that which was in part shall be vanished away. 

Preach the gospel  and hid it to the lost and that is where you can COMMEMORATE THE LORD'S TABLE in all your life.

Grace and Peace!