Exploring Corinthians #38

Christian Equilibrium

In our lesson tonight Paul transitions from how sorry he made the Corinthians with his letter to what he expected of them as they were restored to grace.

Paul uses another churches well doing to motivate the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

2 Corinthians 8:1–2 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

The Macedonians Gave beyond their abiblty

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2 Corinthians 8:3–4 NKJV

3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

They gave and then begged Paul to take their offering to minister to the saints at Jerusalem.

They gave themselves to God and then to the apostles

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2 Corinthians 8:5 NKJV

5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

The Corinthians abounded in everything

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2 Corinthians 8:6–7 NKJV

6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

if you have it all you should share

Giving in this way wasn’t a command

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2 Corinthians 8:8 NKJV

8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

this wasn’t a regular offering but a special offering for the poor in Jerusalem

Jesus became poor so we can be made rich

:9

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Paul advises the Corinthians to finish what they started

2 Corinthians 8:10–12 NKJV

10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

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2 Corinthians 8:10–14 NKJV

10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

We should desire equality among our brothers and sisters.

2 Corinthians 8:13–15 NKJV

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

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