2 Corinthians 6:1-7:4
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
2 Corinthians 5:18–21 “18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 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 is continuing his thought from 18-21
God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus
As ambassadors, God gave us the ministry of witnessing, teaching, and preaching to the lost their need and the ability to also be reconciled to God
So, as an ambassador working with God, Paul is urging them, as an apostle and pastor given authority by God, that the Corinthians don’t take the grace they’ve been given for granted.
Remember, The Church at Corinth stared with Jews and then grew to be a majority of Gentiles
So Paul quotes the LXX Isaiah 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;”
The Jewish listener would think of the Exodus and Israel being freed from the captivity but Paul is explaining that NOW, the time the Corinthians have been saved, is when God heard their cry, and set them all free from the captivity of sin and death
“receiving not the Grace of God in vain” isn’t about the Corinthians sinning and losing their salvation; it’s about that grace not creating a new life in new creatures that makes a difference in how they are living
God saving us cost the life of Jesus, to not live how we ought to, cheapens it and empties what it means
So what does that mean for them NOW…
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 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; 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, 8 By honour and dishonour, 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 not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Paul then shifts from “them” to “US”
Not asking them to live righteously while he just “coasts along”
“take grace seriously and live saved and this is what that looks like in my ministry”
Paul gives a list of all the things commendable about His ministry and uses the very things some were saying disqualified him
Starts with a list of the sufferings the false apostles and even some in the church coming out of the world see as weakness or counter to a ministry given by God but God sees as strengths and even proof (the “in” list) vs. 4-5
vs 4 is the general categories but he goes on in vs 5 to itemize specifics
Goes on to character traits a Christian ministry AND individual would display (the “by” list) vs. 6-7
these are what actually keeps us going through and in light of the troubles
Holy Spirit in the middle isn’t just another trait; I think Paul is showing Him as the true (and maybe only) source the others come out of
Then finishes with a list of contrast between world perception and heavenly reality (the “as-and yet” list) vs. 8-10
liars yet true
unknown by men yet known by God: not seen as impressive to the world or the false apostles but known by the churches, by God, by anyone paying attention to the fruit
dying but living forever
beat but not killed
sad but full of the joy of and in Christ
poor and having nothing but rich in glory and having everything and able to give those riches to everyone
Paul is showing them the differences between what the world SEES and what being reconciled to God through Jesus IS
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
After going through all ministry has cost him, he transitions to speaking personally to them
“mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged”: Jewish saying “he isn’t holding anything back and has poured out all that’s in his heart”
“Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.”: “Any coldness toward me is in you, I’m here for you and you’re the ones putting any distance between us”
“be ye also enlarged”: Finishes with his ask of them, “match my love for you with your love”!
“speak as unto my children”: not talking just as a role model or pastor, but as a father speaking to children
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Paul then tells them how to act in light of reconciliation, loving him, and loving their neighbors
“be not unequally yoked”: telling them just like you don’t yoke an ox and a donkey together to plough; to attach yourself to the lost thinking it will work (Deuteronomy 22:10 “10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.”
always heard about marriage, but Paul means it about everything: marriage, business, anything that can tangle us up with anybody or anything that isn’t who we are in Christ
Paul’s next five questions have the obvious answer of NO
the righteous aren’t anything like the unrighteous:
light and darkness don’t mix:
Jesus isn’t anything like their “gods”: Belial meant worthless and wicked and later was use in Jewish for the name of Satan himself
what good does the lost person add to a believer:
the temple of God isn’t for idols
Paul is using OT quotes (Leviticus 26:12, Ezekiel 37:27, Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 20:34, and 2 Samuel 7:14) stacking covenant promises to show WE are the temple of God ever since Jesus fulfilled the Law completely so like Isaiah 52:11 “11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” COME OUT of the temples of idols
don’t offer yourself or take part in any of the offerings to idols
2 Samuel 7:14 “14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son…”
son is Solomon here but Paul changes it to sons and daughters.
Paul’s reading the Davidic Covenant through Christ
The same thing he does in Galatians 3:29 “29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Paul is going back to the love of God for his children and Paul’s love for the Corinthians
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
Those OT passages were promises from God to His people. Paul tied them to believers now with 2 Corinthians 1:20 “20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
but when he says “the fear of God” he’s reminding them and us: “those promises come with responsibilities and examination at the Judgement Seat of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:10–11 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
So he repeats his appeal from 2 Corinthians 6:13 “13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.”
They need to enlarge their heart toward Paul while closing their heart to idolatry
If that means they lose money from cutting business or marriage ties, so be it. Profit from a relationship with the devil and his children are of no benefit to a child of God or the Kingdom of God
wronged no man: Paul’s continuing his defense against any and all accusations
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
to condemn is a judicial verdict with a penalty
Paul’s not putting them on trial or penalize them, but telling them these things because he loves them and wants to boast in them
Vs 4 is a hinge from Pauls thoughts before and the thoughts after
Paul can speak boldly like this to them BECAUSE of his confidence in them!
Paul’s shot totally straight with them and told them the truth in love BECAUSE he believes they love God want to act like it
Paul wrote a harsh letter (the "tearful letter," 2 Cor 2:4), sent it with Titus, then he’ll meet Titus in Macedonia (2 Cor 7:5–7)
so next week when he gets the good report that they listened, he knew they would when he wrote to them!
Conclusion
Conclusion
We want the benefits of grace without the cost of separation.
The Corinthians received God's grace (6:1) but resisted Paul's call to live differently from the culture around them (6:14–7:1). Western Christians do the same thing — we'll take forgiveness, comfort, and eternal life, but balk when the gospel demands we actually break from the values, relationships, and loyalties that contradict it.
Paul's point is blunt: you cannot receive grace and then live as though it asked nothing of you. That's receiving it "in vain."
We judge our leaders by the wrong scorecard.
The Corinthians looked at Paul — beat up, poor, unimpressive, emotionally transparent — and wondered if they should trade up for the polished super-apostles. Paul's response in 6:3–10 is to list the very things that disqualified him in their eyes as his actual credentials. Western churches do exactly this when they chase production value, platform size, and charisma over faithfulness, suffering endured, and genuine love.
The résumé of an authentic minister looks like 6:4–10, not a conference brochure.
We keep our hearts closed to the people God gave us and open to everything else.
Paul says "our heart is enlarged toward you" and then asks them to enlarge theirs back (6:11–13, 7:2–4). Sandwiched between those two appeals is the command to stop yoking themselves to what doesn't belong (6:14–7:1). The Corinthians had it backwards — open arms toward the surrounding culture, closed hearts toward the apostle who loved them enough to tell them the truth.
That's the Western church in a sentence: warm toward the world's approval, defensive toward anyone who calls for holiness.
