A Sincere Confession Pt. 3 • 2 Cor 2:12-17

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Well, as we’ve mentioned we are in the middle of a section we’ve titled: A Sincere Confession.

This is where Paul gives an explanation for:

His change of plans

The Philosophy of Ministry

and His Exhortation to the Church.

Last week we finished going through his explanation for his change of plans. If you remember some were accusing him of...

and there were 6 reasons for this change of plans:

1. Tribulation - Beyond measure and above strength

2. Truthfulness - He wasn’t a hypocrite

3. Sorrow - He didn’t want to burden them and put a heavy trip on them.

4. Love - Telling the truth in love. It hurt him with much affliction he wrote them that sever letter with many tears.

But he did it out of love.

5. Restoration - So they can restore that brother in sin

6. Testing - Will them obey in restoring the man caught in sin? will the forgive him as Paul forgave him?

2. Current study’s Overview

That brings us to our portion of scripture and our study for today as we continue the section, “ A Sincere Confession”. Read...

Well as you can see in our quick reading of today’s scripture Paul begins to explain his Philosophy for Ministry.

This section will go on to chapter 6.

In this section we will learn how ministry is to be operated, how ministry is all about Jesus, the motivation for ministry etc.

Here in Ch. 2 Paul begins this section by teaching us that Christ Causes us to Triumph in Ministry.

There are 3 things we want to look at today regarding Our Triumph in Ministry Through Christ:

1. Triumphal Ministry Involves Opportunity Vs. 12-13

2. Triumphal Ministry Involves Every Community Vs. 14-16

3. Triumphal Ministry Involves Sincerity Vs. 17

1. A Triumphal Ministry Involves Opportunity Vs. 12-13

Read both Vs. 12-13

1.1 The Explanation of the Opportunity Vs. 12-13

Because this is a transitional portion of scripture going from Paul explaining his change of plans to now explain the philosophy of ministry.

Here he does resume the subject of his change of plans but that will quickly fade into the secondary story to the plot.

If you guys remember Paul did not visit the church as promised.

In the previous verses he said he didn’t want to go in a spirit of rebuke, he didn’t want to come in sorrow.

Here Paul tells us exactly what happened. Paul left Ephesus and went to Troas where he was going to meet Titus to receive news from Corinth.

But for whatever reason he did not find Titus. Titus was either delayed or went the wrong way. (no phones back then)

So Paul’s spirit had no rest, there was inner turmoil, we might say. Because Paul really desired to hear news of how the Corinthians were doing.

But at the same time the Lord opened a door for Paul to preach the Gospel.

So he leaves and goes to Macedonia to be used by the Lord.

And I think there are a couple of things that we can learn from

1.2 The Source of the Open Door Vs. 12b

Understand, in life there will be times where doors will open and times where doors will close.

But the one opening and closing the door, is the Lord.

While Paul was waiting for Titus he didn’t just sit around, he had no rest in his spirit.

because the Lord opened a door for Paul to preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

APPLICATION: Listen, wherever life takes us, regardless of our location, we should always be looking for those open doors to preach the gospel...    looking for those opportunities to share our faith...

ILLUSTRATION: I read of a story about a man who dreamed of being a missionary. His heart was filled with a desire to bring the Good News to a remote, unreached community in Africa.

But despite years of preparation, every time he applied to a mission agency, the door seemed to be closed.

He felt disappointed and wondered if he had misunderstood God's calling.

One day, a severe storm hit his small town. Houses were damaged, trees were uprooted, and power lines were down.

People needed help, and the man, with his health and construction skills, found himself in the middle of the recovery efforts.

He repaired roofs, cleared roads, and helped provide basic necessities to the affected families.

As he worked, he shared messages of hope and resilience found in the bible.

During his time serving his local community, a realization struck the man.

His entire life, he had been looking for an open door to Africa, but here was an open door right in front of him - his own community in desperate need of assistance and spiritual comfort.

His dream of becoming a missionary didn’t included his hometown, but it was clear that God had opened this unexpected door for him to serve.

APPLICATION: He learned an invaluable lesson that day, that we should learn too.

Sometimes, we focus so much on a specific door we want God to open that we miss other doors He has already opened right in front of us.

The opportunity to serve, to minister, and to love can be found wherever we are.

Every situation can be our mission field, every interaction can be a chance to reflect God's love and grace. 

Colossians 4:5–6 NIV

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

APPLICATION: We must be ready to walk through the doors God opens, no matter where they lead. Because that's where we will find the people who need His message the most.

let us not only pray for God to open doors but also ask for the discernment to recognize the doors He has already opened for us.

May we all have the courage to walk through those doors and bring His light to the world, wherever we are.

And the second thing we can learn from this portion of scripture is...

1.3 Prioritizing the Opportunity Vs. 13

Again, Paul had no rest in his spirit because he was torn by two options:

He really wanted to wait and look for Titus to hear back news from Corinth.

But on the other hand the Lord opened a door to preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

What does he do? He takes the door the Lord opened.

He did not allow himself to get so caught up with his own circumstances that he missed out on a divine opportunity by God.

APPLICATION: uyguiuh

2. Triumphal Ministry Involves Every Community Vs. 14-16

2.1 Triumph In Every Place Vs. 14

Here Paul is using the illustration of the Triumphal Parades of Romans Soldiers.

During this time, when Roman Soldiers would return home from a victory they would lead their captives along the streets of the capital.

There would be certain men in the parade who were with the soldiers that would hold these big torches filled with incense and would fill the scene w/ a sweet fragrance.

So Paul is picturing the Lord marching as a conqueror everywhere He went.

Wherever the Lord goes, through His servants, there was victory.

The Fragrance of the Knowledge of Christ is spread through God’s ministers.

So here Paul is thankful to God because the Lord gives him victory and triumph in every place and in every community.

Paul planned to go Corinth but it didn’t work out, and he was ok with that.

Because he knew that in every place and in every community God would use him to manifest the knowledge of God.

He knew wherever God led him, there would be victory or triumph in leading people to Christ.

APPLICATION: When our plans don’t work out the way we think they should...     

it’s ok, because God’s desire is to use us in every place in every community to bring forth the knowledge of God...

1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the Knowledge of God?

It’s theology...

John 17:3 NKJV

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

And here in Vs. 15 & 16 Paul continues to drive this idea of fragrance.

2.2 The Fragrance of the Gospel Message Vs. 15 - 16a

The way God looks at us it’s as if we are those men holding those torches of fragrance everywhere we go, in every place and community.

And Christ is the soldier who does the work of fighting and bringing victory.

Jesus is the one who does the work of using us to bring people to Him.

Every where we go we leave an impression of Jesus Christ to those are saved and to those who are perishing.

Which results in 2 things:

Death: The rejection of the Gospel

Life: The acceptance of the Gospel

As I mention the historical fact of the victory parades. When roman soldiers would come back from a victory they would bring along with them captives.

And to these captives these torches giving off this fragrance to them it was a smell of death and defeat. Because they obviously lost.

To the home town and soldiers the fragrance was a sweet smell of life because they obviously won.

In the same way, those who are living their lives rejecting the Gospel, to them it is a horrible stench of death.

They don’t like what the Bible and Gospel stands for and so they harden their hearts digging themselves deeper into a pit of death.

But to those who accept the Gospel when we hear it its the sweet smell of life.

And at the end of the day that is what it is: If we don’t receive the Gospel we are living a life of death that will lead to more death.

And if we receive the Gospel we are living with a more abundant life.

Apart from the Gospel message we are all sinners destined to hell.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death...

Ecclesiastes 7:20 NKJV

20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Isaiah 53:6a (NKJV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way...

Revelation 20:12–13 NKJV

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:14–15 NKJV

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Now, life with the Gospel is the complete antithesis...

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

1 John 5:13 NKJV

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

1 John 2:25 NKJV

25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:15–16 NKJV

15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2.3 The Sufficiency for the Gospel Message Vs. 16b

Who can possible be sufficient to influence people in such an eternal way.. 

Paul realizes that he is not...        Lord willing, more on this next week...

1. A Triumphal Ministry Involves Opportunity 2. Involves Every Community

3. A Triumphal Ministry Involves Sincerity Vs. 17

When Paul corrected them his motives were pure...  his heart was right...  he didn’t do it for a pay check...

He did it out of sincerity out Love for them...   Paul wanted them to get right with God & be Saved... 

APPLICATION: The reason we’re here today is out of Love...    we want to see people go to heaven... 

ENDING.......