2 Corinthians 6
Book of 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
as we have studied the last 5 chapters we have seen Paul layout the hope of salvation, the hope and confidence we can have of living with Christ in heaven for all eternity and how that hope should give us a drive to endure the suffering of this world to preach the truth to the people around us.
Paul here is being quite blunt and I will as well, Many believers go through life without taking on the purpose of Christ! what is the purpose of Christ? To show His love for the world and offer salvation to all who believe. why then are so many Christians apathetic to that purpose? why do they go through life still living for self instead of picking up the purpose of Christ, their savior?
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Paul points back to Is 49:8
8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, And in a day of salvation have I helped thee: And I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, To establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
Where God promises to hear us when we call out for salvation and he delivered us as He promised. Paul takes this old testament promise to the Jews and extends it to Christians now. Paul says “Today is the day of Salvation” if you have never put your faith in Christ do it today! if you are trying to live up to mans expectations or just trying to walk the walk, Stop! Turn to Christ and put on His righteousness and trade it out for your sinful dirty cloths.
tomorrow is not promised, but if you turn to Christ, salvation is promised!
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
This idea of giving no offence refers back to someone placing a burrier in the way. Paul is saying, hey I’m not withholding the truth, our ministry is not going to be blamed if you do not accept christ, the truth is plainly being laid out.
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Now, Paul lays out some of the hardships he has endured to make sure the word of God is preached truthfully. Paul patiently continues in spite all these hardships!
times of being beaten, times of living in need of provisions, being imprisoned tumults = riots, hard labouring, sleeplessness and times of hunger!
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Now Paul gives the list of goodness, yes there is hard times that came after him and he fought against the hard times not with the natural hatred for hatred. No he countered the hatred with love! he tipped the balance in his favour by living right even when the world was seeking to destroy him!
Verse 7 tells us how he did it! it would not be possible if he was doing it in his own power! It was a requirement that the Holy Spirit be with him!
His focus was on the word of Truth, through the power of God with the armour of righteousness on his fight and left.
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and look, we live; as punished, but not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; and as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
no matter if good or bad things came, liers are met with truth, the dishonorable are met with honour.
We preach the truth and the world will try to brand us as liers.
We are unknown and ignored by the world but well known to God, the one who matters.
if we die, take another look, we are still alive untouched by death! the world will punish us and may even imprison us but they can not kill our spirit which belongs to God!
our pursuit of holiness and love for truth may mean we stay poor financially but our pursuits will bring spiritual richness to the world that was spiritually poor!
We may have nothing but because we have Christ we have everything we need!
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Paul is speaking open, holding nothing back, letting the full truth come out!
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Paul says you are not held back because we have not given the full truth, you are held back because you are refusing the truth that is being laid out to you plain as day. Today church the truth is laid out plain! do not choose ignorance! Choose salvation through Christ and His work, stop trying to take a short cut and looking for some easy path through life, look to Christ alone!
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Now, open your hearts to the truth and do not hold yourself back from the truth!
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Do not be joined with unbelievers! with those who do not follow Christ as Lord! many times people use this to discuss business relationships and marriage, but here Paul is addressing the church, do not bring in those who do not believe in Christ into the church. If our churches goal is to serve God how can we do that while joined with people that do not believe in God! it can’t work! we can not function as a light when we are joined with darkness.
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
what concord or harmony does Christ have with the devil? NONE in the same way what harmony is there between a believer and an unbeliever? NONE!
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
If you have never been transformed by the power of God by putting your faith in Christ as we said at the beginning, Today is the day to believe and be saved! If you have put your faith in Christ, it is time that you stand up for truth, stand on what you know is right in the eyes of God and be different than the world! Stand up! set your affection and love on the Truth and proclaim the truth not just with your words but also in your actions! walk in the spirit and keep your eyes focused on the promises of God to give you the strength to endure life!
Every day you wake up as Paul says, “I die daily” die to self and put on the righteousness by renewing your mind with the truth of Gods word every day!