Every Promise Is Yours In Christ

2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Paul’s plans

His original plan:

Visit them on the way to Macedonia

Stop again on his way back through to Judea

1 Corinthians 16:5-9

But his plans changed, and he did not visit them as he had hoped

His change of plans:

He refrained from coming to them

They were expecting him to arrive, but he never showed up

They become suspicious of Paul

They begin to wonder if he is vacillating in his planning

This means that they began to think Paul might be wishy-washy, irresolute, or fickle

Why does it matter?

It matters because if this is true, then they will conclude that he is not committed to them

Perhaps he doesn’t actually want to see them again

Maybe he doesn’t really love them as he claims

If he can’t be trusted in this regard, then can they really trust what he has taught them?

But was Paul making his plans simply based on personal preference?

Was he being led by the eb and flow of his feelings toward them?

Were his plans made according to the flesh, always being ready to either say “yes” or “no”

No! (vv.18-19)

How do you make your plans?

Do you ever make plans for ministry in your life?

Many of us fail to use our lives for gospel ministry because we fail to make a plan

We ought to have specific ministry plans for our church

Do you make your plans in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Is your schedule and your plans spiritually minded?

Paul’s anchor

What keeps Paul faithful, sincere, trustworthy?

There must be a binding reality in his life, or else he is truly just fickle

God is faithful (v.18)

He knows that God never fails or lets him down

It is God’s faithfulness that is the anchor for his faithfulness to the Corinthians

If we are to be faithful people, then we must know and love God as endlessly faithful

The promises of God (vv.19-20)

Paul says that in Christ, it is always “yes” because all of the promises of God find their yes in Him

But what does this mean? What do the promises of God have to do with Paul’s plans?

It means that, as Paul is led by the Spirit of God, the promises of God are unchanged, no matter which direction He leads

If Paul comes to them as he originally planned, all of the promises of God are operational in their lives through Christ

And if his plans change, all of the promises of God are still operational in Christ

Christ died in order that every promise He has ever made to His beloved children would be fulfilled and made effective

God is the God of salvation from beginning to end (vv.21-22)

He establishes

God is the One who gives, stabilizes, strengthens, and confirms us in Christ

Colossians 2:6-7- Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

1 Peter 5:10- And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

He anoints

God is the One who consecrates and sets us apart

Luke 4:18- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

1 John 2:27- But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

He seals

This is an identity marker (like a brand) that attests to ownership and authenticity

He guarantees

Literally “down payment”, is a pledge of the fullness of what is to come, and this pledge guarantees the coming fullness

Ephesians 1:13-14- In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Point being: God is the sovereign actor over salvation, who saves, sends, and secures every sinner He makes His own

What anchors your life?

Does God’s absolute faithfulness keep you steady?

Do the promises of God given to you through Christ make you firm?

Do you believe that every promise God has made to His people is yours when you become united to Christ through faith?

Does God’s sovereign power in salvation give you absolute confidence in Him?

Do all of these realities cause your life to be oriented Godward?

Paul’s motives

Paul’s work has been hard

His last visit to them had been painful

His previous letter(s) were written out of anguish of heart, much affliction, and many tears

So what motivated Paul to keep working for the Corinthians?

He works for their faith

His desire is that they would not only be rooted in faith, but also grow in their faith

Much of the remainder of this letter has this desire in mind

We should not merely desire sinners to come to faith in Christ

We should desire to see them grow up into maturity in their faith

He works for their joy

He tells them that he is not interested in domineering over them, but working for their joy

“Fellow workers for your joy”

It is difficult to know whether Paul means that he, Silas, and Timothy are coworkers for the joy of the Corinthians, or if he means that the Corinthians are coworkers with Paul for their joy

Either way, both are true

Paul and his companions are working for the sake of the Corinthians’ joy

The Corinthians have a significant role to pay in the work for joy in their own lives and in Paul’s life (vv.2-3)

He works because of his love for them

He has written difficult things to them, and that is because he loves them

His heart is filled with genuine affection for these believers, and he wishes to see them thrive and grow in Christ

Does this kind of ministry mark our lives?

Are you willing to do hard, uncomfortable, even painful things for one another?

Do you desire and work for the upbuilding of faith in one another?

Do you desire and work for the fruit of deep joy in one another’s hearts?

Do you operate from a heart filled with genuine love for one another?