1 Corinthians 16

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. All that you do must be done in love. (vv. 13-14)

The Letter to the Corinthians contains practical guidance on church matters as well as theological teaching. Paul is not asking believers to become experts in theology. No one needs to be educated like the Pharisees, as Paul was, in order to experience what he experienced or to understand what he understood through the Holy Spirit. Paul was given the task of building churches in different regions, and he was granted great wisdom and knowledge for this purpose. What he asks of the Corinthians is not burdensome. Paul emphasises love, and this love is found in the cross of Christ. When one understands what the cross of Christ means through the power of the Holy Spirit, that love will be manifested in the church.

Many people think love is merely about sharing food or helping the sick and the poor. Non-Christians can do these things as well, and some do them better than many Christians. We often hear news of church leaders exploiting members of their congregations. Some collect large sums of money for their own advantage. As a result, many people have turned away from churches because of the evil deeds of corrupt leaders. The worst thing these leaders do is teach lies about God. As shown to me in my dreams in 2017, people happily go back to slavery. The gospel is no longer presented as good news but as bad news. Churches enslave people and send them back to Egypt.

The conditional covenant was given so that we might honour and uphold the unconditional covenant. The new covenant does not exist for the sake of the old covenant.

By believing that Christ died for us and was raised to eternal life, we receive that eternal life. Christ is the only begotten Son of God from eternity. He became human so that He could die and rise again as our representative. He is our representative only when we believe in Him. Christ cannot be your representative if you do not know Him or understand what He has done for you. The cross is the core of Christian love because it is the ultimate act of self-sacrificial love—something only God can accomplish.

All good deeds flow from the love revealed at the cross. Without understanding the cross, there is no true love. How can there be love when lies are proclaimed from the pulpit every Sunday? False Christians proclaim that the cross is not enough for our eternal life. They trample truth under their feet and show no shame.

Only those anointed with the Holy Spirit can truly believe in God and love fellow believers. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not initiated by human effort but by God Himself. God chose His people before the creation of the world. This choice is not based on our good works; therefore, no one can boast.


If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (vv. 22-24)