God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ
At one time the believer was without God and without hope in the world. He was dead in trespasses and sins, and a dead man cannot do much for himself. However, God, in His great mercy and grace “butted” into the believers’ lives. He interceded to help when the believer was helpless. He intervened and brought hope to the hopeless.
Not many wise, mighty, or noble men are called, but God chose the foolish.
The natural man could not understand the things regarding the mystery, but God revealed them unto the believer by spirit.
Labourers planted and watered, but God gave the increase.
Meats are for the belly and the belly is for meat but God shall destroy both it and them.
Marriage relationships may not be perfect but God hath called us to peace.
Believers continue to be tempted, but God is faithful to make a way to escape.
There are many members in the body of Christ but God hath tempered the body together.
Believers may die and see corruption but God will give them a new body as it pleases Him.
God made a difference and continues to make a difference in the lives of believers. He has accomplished the believer’s perfect and complete salvation. He has taken the believer from the depths of depravity and helplessness and placed him in the exalted position of being seated together with Christ at his own right hand. Thereby making it available for us to live in this world, as he is.
The overall purpose of First Corinthians is to show the believers where they are believing wrongly. It corrects the practical error that resulted from failure to adhere to the revelation of Romans. Certain areas of wrong believing are pointed out so that they might return to right believing.
The uses of “but God” in First Corinthians bring the believers back to the acknowledgement of what God has wrought in and for them. The logical connective “but” draws the mind back to what God has accomplished. The believer:
was not worthy but God chose him
did not know but God revealed to him
was unable to augment the church but God gave the increase
was ruled by the mundane things of the world but God shall destroy them
was in bondage due to failure to renew his mind but God called him to peace
was tempted but God was faithful to make a way to escape
was one of many members of the body but God tempered the body together
was doomed to corruption but God will give him a incorruptible body.
Irrespective of what may be our circumstances and our needs, we ought to remember “but God.” God has intervened into the life of every believer to do that which the believer could not do for himself. God continues to take an active part in the lives of His people. He energizes the manifestations, and brings to pass His Word in their lives.
The precise use of “but God” in I Corinthians displays the precision with which God wrote His Word. He had a purpose for everything He said; where, how, to whom, when, and why He said it. The believer needs to acknowledge Him in all his ways and allow God to direct his steps.
The believer needs to become Word conditioned not world conditioned. As the believer practices the presence of God in his life the knowledge of the truths of “but God” can help put steel in his backbone. There is nothing that God has promised in His Word that He can not and will not do for the believer.
God challenges us to believe His Word. These statements of what God has done should continue to resound within the heart and mind of every believer until they become an integral part of life. Belief in God and His ability to perform His promises is simple and logical.
The contrast between God and the world is apparent. The spiritual battle that has raged since the fall of man still confronts the believer. However, God has freely given the believer spirit so that he can know the things that God would freely give to him, God persists to will and to do in the life of the believer that which he can not do for himself. Paul was confident in this very thing:
Philippians 1:6:
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Whenever you are faced with situations and circumstances that are contrary, remember God can “but” in and change things.