Striving to Live Lives that are Holy

Introduction

To this point in the letter, Paul has indeed written with what might be called a toggling vantage point — alternating between defense and discipleship, apologetic reasoning and affectionate rebuke. He has:

Defended his ministry (ch. 1–2) against accusations that he is fickle or self-serving.

Explained his ministry (ch. 3–5) in terms of the new covenant, showing its divine glory and the sincerity of his motives.

Appealed for reconciliation (5:11–6:10), urging the Corinthians to be restored in their relationship with him and with God.

Now, in 6:11–7:4, Paul makes a heartfelt, almost fatherly plea. He pauses his argument and speaks from the depths of his affection:

“O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.” (6:11)

This section functions as a bridge between his theological defense (chs. 1–6) and his practical exhortations (chs. 7–9). It’s as though he drops the courtroom tone and speaks from the living room — inviting them into his heart.

Paul has been defending his ministry, but here he sets defense aside for disclosure. He opens his heart to show that real ministry is relational. Regenerated people — those made new in Christ — are called to form relationships that reflect that regeneration. Paul shows us what that looks like in three ways...

Regenerative Relationships Promote Sincerity VV. 11-13

2 Corinthians 6:11–13 “11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.”

Paul begins with raw honesty. “Our mouth is open to you, our heart is wide open.” His words convey both transparency and affection. In Corinth, many were still withholding their hearts, perhaps suspicious of Paul’s motives. So Paul models sincerity — a genuine, open-hearted connection that can only come from a regenerated life.

In these verses Paul is sharing that we must make the effort to bond with the people of God. We must open up and share what is really on our hearts and minds and drop the walls of defense of allowing each other into our inner sanctum.

You might compare this to removing the mask — not the pandemic kind, but the persona we hide behind. Paul’s regenerated heart allows him to be real, even when it risks rejection.

A. Relationship begins with openness and sincerity.

The relationship we have with the Lord is described as the bride/bridegroom in the Bible among others.

In a marriage, you get out of a marriage what you put into the marriage. And when we open up we make ourselves vulnerable. We can get hurt.

How does a deepening relationship come about? Sharing your dreams, your visions, you hurts, your insecurities, your fears, your weaknesses, your counsel and the list goes on.

Later Paul states in 2 Corinthians 7:3 “3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.”

To encourage a deepened relationship you must commit to the relationship.

Paul said, “we have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.”

Do we relate to others in our church with guarded hearts, or with gospel-shaped openness? Encourage discussion about what “speaking freely” and “opening our hearts wide” looks like in a local church community.

Speaking freely does not mean speaking with a knee jerk reaction.

Openly share what’s on your heart, but bathe it in grace. Its not what we say, but how we say it. My own personal struggles have never been that I was not open, but learning the God-given gift of communicating grace.

We can’t have open dialogue if we live in a defensive or guarded mindset.

The Question now is how do we communicate with grace? How do we offer up words that build up rather than tear down? How do we offer up Good News, Gospel words, life words?

Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Ezekiel 33:22 “22 Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before the man came who had escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so when he came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.”

Ephesians 6:19 “19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,”

Psalm 119:32 “32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.”

Let’s talk about conflict for a moment. I discussed Sunday that Christians can get upside down with each other-Paul & John Mark. You can apply this with family members as well, coworkers, and the list goes on.

Ephesians 4:26 “26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,”

-Do not let mole hills become mountains. Address quickly, but precisely.

Psalm 4:4 “4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah”

-Pray over your words.

B. Barriers to Regenerative Life Giving Relationship

Restrictions

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 4729. στενοχωρέω

4729stĕnŏchōrĕō, to hem in closely, i.e. (fig.) cramp:—distress, straiten.

What cramps our relationships in Christ? It is the same struggle that cramps your overall relationship with the church and what the church is all about.

When you see someone that gets really down on church it is usually not always a distinct issue with the church, it is a spiritual struggle.

And Paul talks about that struggle.

“Your own affections.”

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 4698. σπλάγχνον

4698. splagchnŏn, strengthened from σπλήν splēn (the “spleen”); an intestine plur.; fig. pity or sympathy:—bowels, inward affection, + tender mercy.

It means that what is there that deep in your gut you just love? What has a burning pull on your time, your passion, your energy, your calendar, your money.

The drive to make money, hobbies, materialism, keeping up with the Jones? There can even be a struggle with tough love of encouraging your faith before family and what am I talking about? I imagine most of you in here are spiritual leaders in your families. Do you encourage church as the activity or let the majority win out to some other activity that takes away from church?

2. Regenerative Relationships Requires Separation vv. 14-18

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 “14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among 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.””

We know what a yoke is. It is a harness to team up animals for pulling. Oxen have a cross member that goes across the animals to harness them and for them to work as a team.

This is not about social superiority but spiritual distinction. I do not like the word segregated, but we are insulated in one another.

There is a new insulation method called foam and its amazing. If you have it sprayed in your attic you will find your attic will be within 1 to 2 degrees of the remainder of your house. It keeps the A/C in or keeps the warmth in.

Paul warns, “Do not be unequally yoked.” The metaphor from Deuteronomy 22:10 “10 “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” (yoking an ox and a donkey) reminds believers that close partnerships — whether in marriage, business, or spiritual enterprise — must be grounded in shared faith.

“Paul uses a farming image — being ‘unequally yoked.’ That’s not language we use much today, but we can picture it if we think of sled dog teams in Alaska.

On those long, frozen trails, each dog must be harnessed in step with the others. They must share the same pace, the same direction, and the same goal — pulling together under one leader’s voice. If even one dog pulls against the harness or runs in a different direction, the whole team suffers. The sled veers off course, tension builds in the line, and what should be smooth progress becomes exhausting chaos.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Paul says, ‘Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.’ When we’re tied closely to someone — whether in marriage, business, or our closest friendships — and we’re not pulling in the same spiritual direction, there’s friction in the line. The journey becomes harder, and sometimes the mission stalls.

Regenerative relationships — those built by the Spirit — must pull together under the same Master’s voice. When both hearts follow the same lead Dog, the same Savior, there’s strength, rhythm, and progress. But if one resists His voice, everyone feels the strain.” Regenerated relationships must reflect the righteousness and light of Christ.

Invite reflection: Where do our closest bonds lead us — closer to Christ or away from Him? In our culture of tolerance, this call to separation is countercultural, but Paul roots it in identity: “You are the temple of the living God.”

“Separation is not isolation — it’s dedication to insulation-Being insulated in a bond of friends who point you toward Christ.

Would anyone want to share who your close friend is that keeps you grounded in Christ?

3. Regenerative Relationships Encourage Sanctification

2 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Notice the progression — sincerity opens hearts, separation guards hearts, and sanctification purifies hearts. Regeneration always leads to transformation.

A spring-fed pond stays fresh because the source keeps flowing — but a closed, stagnant pond grows murky. Sanctification is the fresh inflow of grace that keeps our relationships alive and holy.

Ask: What practices help us “cleanse ourselves” today? (prayer, confession, accountability, worship).

Tie back to Paul’s emotion: he longed not for external conformity but inward purity that preserves fellowship with God and one another.

In Closing, in VV. 2-4 Paul stated:

You are in our hearts… I am filled with comfort, I am overflowing with joy.” When relationships are sincere, separated unto God, and sanctified by His Spirit — joy follows.

Discussion Wrap-Up Questions:

Which of these three marks — sincerity, separation, or sanctification — do you find most challenging right now?

What practical step could you take this week to nurture one regenerative relationship?