Unknown, Yet Known

Paradoxes of the Bible  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  32:33
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Intro; How well do we really know people? Often times we think we know who someone is and then out of left field they do something that was not in what we thought their character is.
There are people in history whose reputations are known by millions, but whose personal characters few people would want to imitate. There are also people whose characters are pure but their reputations have been tarnished by envious enemies who are good at telling lies [Jesus ].
Tonight we are going to look at the paradox “Unknown, Yet Known”.
Text; 2 Cor. 6:9
2 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
In this passage there are several paradoxes that we will look at eventually, but I want to look at the first part of verse nine, “unknown, and yet well known”.
In Paul’s two letters to the church at Corinth he addressed many issues that had become divisive within the congregation. These issues dealt with incest, idolatry, immorality, public worship, marriage, and litigation between believers. But the most important issue was dealing with some misunderstanding the gospel and Paul’s ministry of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:10–17 NKJV
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

1. To Know Someone;

Know- recognize, be familiar with, have intimate knowledge of, to honor
In his early years, Paul was well-known to the Jewish elite as one “climbing the ladder of religious success”
Acts 26:4–5 NKJV
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Galatians 1:14 NKJV
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul was also known by those of the Way as one who was ruthless and breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.
Acts 9:13–14 NKJV
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
But when Paul was saved he became unknown to his former family, but known to God and the church.
How can we know that people who claim to be christians truly are?
They are obedient to the Lord;
1 John 2:3–6 NKJV
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
They love the brethren;
1 John 2:9–11 NKJV
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
They have a consistent Christian life;
1 John 2:12–14 NKJV
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
They are separated from the world;
1 John 2:15–16 NKJV
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
They are faithful to the Truth;
1 John 2:21 NKJV
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
They practice righteousness;
1 John 2:28–29 NKJV
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
The closer our walk with Jesus the easier it becomes to “know” [recognise, be familiar with, have intimate knowledge] of other believers!

2. Unknown, Yet Well Known;

Unknown- ignorant of, not understand, don’t recognise, dishonor
After Paul’s conversion he was only known by the Lord, Ananias, and a few of the disciples he spent some time with in Damascus.
After Paul began to preach Jesus as the Christ in the synagogues, he became “Unknown, Yet Well Known”.
Many who knew Saul before, did not recognise him anymore because they could not understand the change that had taken place in his life concerning Jesus. And they began to dishonor him and try to kill him.
Acts 9:21–23 NKJV
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
Even the disciples in Jerusalem were ignorant of the change in Paul’s life.
Acts 9:26–27 NKJV
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
But what was happening to Paul in the church at Corinth and among the worldly by being “Unknown, Yet Well Known”, was because of his faithfulness to the Lord.
Many called Paul’s apostleship into question;
Many questioned his authority in ministry;
Many spread evil reports about Paul;
2 Corinthians 6:3–10 NKJV
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the 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 behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Paul was more concerned with being right with God, even if it meant he would be criticized or abused by men.
Galatians 1:10 NKJV
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Close;
When you become a true follower of Christ, your world will be turned upside down and inside out. You will become “Unknown, Yet Well Known”. Dishonored by some and honored by others. You may not be popular anymore among some, but being known by God is all that matters.
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