“Our Responsibility”

2 Corinthians 6 (ESV)

Introduction: Two weeks ago we discussed death

Death is guaranteed:

No matter who you are whether you’re a celebrity or an average person we will all face death

However, the Christian has the Spirit as the guarantee (V5)

But Paul warns , “All of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, where we will give an account for the good and evil we have commited” (V10)

What does God want from us?

No longer live for yourself (V15)

New Creation in Christ (V17)

We are an ambassadors for Christ (V20)

1. (V1) Do not receive the grace of God in vain

Two ways of taking God’s grace in vain

They may have asked Christ into their heart but they don’t obey Christ, in fact they reject Him with their actions

The second group isn’t obedient to the call and they do not evangelize their faith

2. (V3) We put no obstacles in anyones way

The Apostle Paul made it his goal not stumble anyone with he lived his life and served Christ

He was willing to forgo a salary as a minister of Christ, he allowed others to be more prominent, he was willing to work hard, he endured hardship, and suffered for the gospel

We can put an obstacle in front of someone that may stop them from coming to Christ or maybe wanting to come to church

One major turn off to church is Christians, by the way they treat others

3. (V4) Paul commending or praising himself through the things he has suffered for Christ

If you serve God you will suffer

**The word commend means to praise

Great endurance / every servant of God must have great endurance

Long list of suffering

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

4. (V11-13) Our heart is wide open to you, but you have withheld your love from us

Paul prayed for the Corinthians, he taught them, he labored for them, and suffered for them, yet they treated him poorly

That is one unfortunate part of ministry