“Faithful Service” (2)

Introduction:

(V15) Paul reminding the CorInthians that Christ has died for us, so that we might not live for ourselves

(V17) We are a new creation in Christ, the old was has is gone and all things are new

(V20) We are ambassadors for Christ and God makes His appeal through us

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

5. (V14) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers

a) What the scriptures do not say:

Paul was not saying that Christians should break off all association with unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor. 5:9-10; 10:27). He had previously encouraged the saved partner in a mixed marriage to maintain the marriage relationship as long as possible (1Cor. 7:12-16).

He had also urged his fellow Christians, as ambassadors of Christ, to evangelize the lost (5:20). Rather here Paul was commanding that Christians form no binding interpersonal relationships with non-Christians that resulted in their spiritual defilement.

b) Yoked

The idea of do not be unequally yoked together is based on Deuteronomy 22:10, which prohibited yoking together two different animals. It speaks of joining two things that should not be joined.

Deuteronomy 22:10 “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.”

c) Types of relationships

Friendships, relationships , business relationships

Illustration: I have a close family member who was dating a man and I warned them, she didn’t listen.

They are not equally yoked in the marriage. Now there is lots of contention.

King Salomon was another example of someone who was led away by being unequally yoked with his pagan wives

d) Why do you think God tells us not to be unequally yoked?

Mismatched alliances can prevent the Christian from living a consistently obedient Christian life.

Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

5.1 What does it mean to be a believer or how do I know if someone really believes?

A person can tell you things, but that doesn’t make it true

Example: I can tell you I am a woman or I can have babies, but we know that is not true

The KJV translates Strong's G4100 in the following manner: believe (239x), commit unto (4x), commit to (one's) trust (1x), be committed unto (1x), to put trust in  (1x), be commit to one's trust (1x), believer (1x).

a) If someone says they are a believer, as Christians we should look for the evidence of it, before we get into a relationship with them.

(Got questions.org) Believing the facts about Jesus is only part of the equation. Biblical faith/belief is far more than believing certain things to be true. Biblical saving faith is also trusting/relying on those facts.