Taking Care of Business

2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10 NASB95

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

He uses us to appeal to others the salvation that He has brought in Jesus Christ. (v 5:20)

God has established our work in the work of Jesus. Through the work of Jesus we are able to give an example of a life lived in Jesus. (v.5:21)

We work with Jesus not without Him (6:1)

Don’t work in vain (as one who has not been saved or given the righteousness of Christ). The guy who takes your order with a bad attitude or poor work ethic.

How we become Righteous.

How other’s become Righteous.

How we live in Christ’s Righteousness:

a. When things aren’t right or fair: (4-5a) Affliction, Hardships, Distresses, Beatings, Imprisonments, tumults)

b. When you are weak: (5b- Labors, Sleeplessness, Hunger)

c. When you are Tempted: (6- Purity, Knowledge)

d. When you are tested: (6/7- Patience, Kindness, Holy Spirit/Flesh, Genuine Love, Word of Truth, Power of God, Spiritual Warfare)

e. When things are said about you: (8- Glory/Dishonor, Evil/Good Report, Deceiver/yet True)

f. How you respond: (9/10- Unknown/Known, Dying/Alive, punished/Not Dead, Sorrow/Rejoicing, Poor/Rich, Nothing/Everything)