Aim for Restoration

Aim for restoration! Wow after this admonishment Paul says Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Paul had previously said that their restoration is what he prayed for. Paul wanted the best for the Corinthian Church. The previous chapters indicate that there were some severe issues with the church tho. He was concern that when he arrived he would find the church out of order. A church that did not reflect the model and teachings of Christ but a church that had be influenced by the world and the sins of the world. 2 Corinthian 12:20 says, 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. (). The was a real concern that he would not find a repented church. A group of people who still were following the sinful nature.

SO this final greeting the Church is to REJOICE! AIM FOR RESTORATION, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER, AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER and LIVE IN PEACE!

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Lets see if we can do that St Luke.

Rejoice. Rejoicing is what we we do when we experience deliverance or just anticipate our salvation. He frequently uses this word towards the Phillipian Church 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! but you can find it in most of his letters. For he knew it was the saints sign of true happiness to be found in the Lord rejoicing! We have so much to be happy about. The command to rejoice comes from a different space than just happiness. Its comes deep rooted joy. For the we rejoice in our salvation! Its Peter that says: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1:3-5)

In verses 3-5, Peter enumerates a number of things which should give us joy as Christians. Notice that as Peter lists them, they run together -- they can't be analyzed in complete isolation from each other. I'll identify each with a word, but you fill in why this should give you joy.

Great mercy

New birth Living hope

Resurrection from the dead

Imperishable inheritance

Protection by God's power

Salvation revealed when Christ returns

With our Joy we are to AIM for Retoration

One translation you may see perfection. It means putting things back in place. ; Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ().

Paul instruction is to AIM. Point towards, be purposeful or intentional. We will never stop sinning unless we do it with purpose. You should set your holiness and a goal. We need to be restored. Imagine if Paul was writing us. What type of Church would he find when he arrived? Would he be disappointed? I told you he identified some of the issues that was affecting the Church. He was concerned about quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Well I have to be honest sounds like he wrote to St wish I could say that he did not have those things going on. If I am wrong tell me.

Comfort one another

We must remember we have a responsibility to comfort one another. We serve the God of all comfort and the God of all consolation.

Agree with another

Why is unity so important?

Unity provides the harmony, the oneness that Jesus Christ wants us to have. When we give our lives to God we become one with him. In , Paul says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:”. Also in Paul says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (rejected).”

Example:

Jesus when he prayed for all believers in said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

Live in Peace

and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

The presence of the Triune God is pronounced upon the Corinthian Church.

The presence of the Triune God is pronou

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.