It's All About Jesus
Matters of the Heart • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro:
1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
2 Corinthians
Tonight we will conclude our series on 2 Corinthians, entitled, [Matters of the Heart], I want to speak on the subject of [It’s All About Jesus].
In 2012, our church staff went to a conference in Poplar Bluff. My friend Isaac was with me. We sat near the front of the sanctuary. During worship they sang a song about the name of Jesus.
The presence of God was very strong. Pastor Davis looked at Isaac and me and exhorted, “It’s all about Jesus.” We looked back and smiled and he repeated himself.
You will go different places in life, see different things, and have different experiences, but through it all, remember, it’s all about Jesus, it’s all about Jesus!
I never forgot those words, it’s all about Jesus. As study the final chapter in 2 Corinthians, Paul brings everything back into focus. He emphasizes how our lives should align with Jesus.
Paul deeply loved the Corinthians. As he prepared for his third visit, he almost provided a warning, it is almost like three strikes your out.
He patiently worked with them, taught them, wrote to them, and spoke the truth in love to them. By referencing this would be his third visit, he reminded them of:
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
Deuteronomy 19”15
We have two letters in our bible and we know he wrote at least one that was lost to history. For Paul, this is it, I am coming to check on you Corinthians and I encourage you to be where you need to be with the Lord.
False teachers accused Paul of being soft. Paul let’s them know, if you think I am weak, should I find genuine repentance did not occur, my weakness will turn into spiritual fervor as I set the church in order.
Paul was honest with them, why? Because of his deep love for them. It was more important that he was blunt and spare them the judgment of God, then to go along in silence and watch them backslide.
As he concludes his final letter with them, he turns it back to what, or should I say who, is most important: Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
He was the power behind Paul’s ministry. He did nothing on his own. Everything he did depended on the power of Jesus working in and through him.
Now, Paul’s goal is to get the Corinthians to see the importance of building their lives on the foundation of Jesus. To demonstrate this, I have two points, [It Starts with Jesus] and [It Ends with Jesus].
Let’s begin
1. It Starts with Jesus
1. It Starts with Jesus
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Paul calls on them to examine themselves. After his subtle hint that judgment was coming to them if they did not repent, he reminds them to test themselves.
Paul would not give a pop quiz, he have them forewarning, you will be tested. It reminds me of school, my Government class was the easiest I took in junior college.
The professor would lecture on Tuesday and Thursday. She did not require perfect attendance. But on test weeks, she would always say, be here on Tuesday, I will give you the information for your test on Thursday.
She told everything that was on the test. She allowed to take notes and we could use these notes during the test. Guess what, I passed every test.
Paul tells them, I am coming, examine yourselves, there will be a test. You will pass the test if you live like Jesus. If you do not, you will fail the test.
How could Paul expect so much from them?
The Corinthians were unique. They were not like the Thessalonians or the Bereans. Paul visited them right before he went to Corinth.
These groups readily accepted the words of Paul concerning Christ, and they stayed faithful when Paul left. Little is said of Paul’s ongoing relationship with them.
The Corinthians were different.
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Paul did not want to go to Corinth. As he toiled with his decision to stay with them or leave, God spoke to him. Through the vision, Paul knew God had great plans for the Corinthians.
There is no doubt that Paul told them about God’s plan for their lives. He stayed for a year and a half, teaching and training them.
His lessons were not on faithful church attendance or bible memorization techniques. He did not have flashy messages or church growth plans.
His message was simple, Christ and Him crucified.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
It was plenty fair to expect them to know the answer of the exam, they had strong training on how to live for Jesus. If they failed the test it was their choice.
To remind them of where they needed to be, he compared where they started to where they were by the time he wrote this letter.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
The test was less about their salvation experience and more about their commitment to sanctification. How many times have we noticed Paul have to deal with matters of holiness, righteousness, and living for Jesus all the time.
Too often the Corinthians were consumed with competition, immorality, and impure motives. Why? Because they were getting their eyes of where they started, deeply in love with Jesus.
Therefore, Paul told them, when I arrive, I will look to see if:
you are committing evil
if you are dishonest in your deeds
if you speak the truth and live the truth
Paul wanted them to examine themselves. It all started with Jesus, did they get far off of the mark?
2. It Ends with Jesus
2. It Ends with Jesus
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, 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. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, 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. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Something tells me Paul had confidence that the Corinthians would do the right thing. They had genuine encounters with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. What they needed was the reminder that at the end of the day, its all about Jesus.
His letter was strong and convicting, but he concludes it with six practical commands that believers should have in their lives.
11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, 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. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
2 Corin
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, 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. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
11 aFinally, brethren, 1rejoice, 2bbe made complete, be comforted, cbe like-minded, dlive in peace; and ethe God of love and peace will be with you.
When they determined to live a life where God is their focus, His love and peace would consume them, enabling them too:
12 aGreet one another with a holy kiss.
NLT, 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
13 aAll the 1saints greet you.
14 aThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blove of God, and the cfellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
When they determined to live a life where God is their focus, His love and peace would consume them, enabling them too:
When they determined to live a life where God is their focus, His love and peace would consume them, enabling them too:
Rejoice.
I am constantly amazed how those truly in relationship with Jesus can rejoice in all things. Paul displayed this in his life. Imagine all he faced.
He was imprisoned, beaten, lied about, and sick at various times in his life, but he learned how to rejoice. Knowing he saved and in the center of God’s will gave him cause to praise God no matter what.
If the Corinthians would turn over everything to Jesus, the freedom they could experience would cause them to rejoice!
Be made complete or grow in maturity.
As they matured in Christ, they would be able to withstand the spiritual assaults of the enemy. It was not as though they were inept when it came to the work of the Holy Spirit.
The problem was they were immature in walking in the Spirit. If they would get nearer to Jesus, then they would grow up in Him and act maturely!
Be comforted
If they follow Paul’s teaching and turn back to Jesus after examining themselves, comfort will come. I notice, conviction does not feel the best, but when we repent, conviction is followed by comfort!
Be like-minded
For too long the Corinthians allowed useless competition to bring disunity. Whether it was attempting to be overly spiritual based on who led them to Jesus or flaunting their favor with God during times of communion, they needed to return their focus to Jesus.
If every individual would focus on Jesus, unity would follow.
Live in peace
Conflict is inevitable when people are involved. But if each person will remember, it’s all about Jesus, then they will have peace in the midst of conflict!
The Corinthians would push people away in conflict when they all should have drawn nearer to the Lord. If they will do that, peace will come!
Greet one another with a holy Kiss
We could say be hospitable and kind to each other. In some cultures, it is custom to give a person a kiss on the cheek, regardless of gender. I am happy with hugs or handshakes!
Paul’s point is to encourage and help each other. Show kindness and love toward those in body of Christ.
He shares greetings from other Christians in different churches, then he ends his letter with a blessing. He invites all members of the Trinity
The grace of Jesus
the Love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with each of you, amen.
Close:
Paul wrote to the Corinthians more than he did to any other church.
Between the two books we have twenty-nine chapters, thirteen more than his other longest books. And 694 verses, 260 more than to any other church.
There are many times we go to 1 or 2 Corinthians in the modern church era. When it comes to the Gifts of the Spirit, proper use of communion, church discipline, or qualifications for leaders, I am thankful for these two books.
And
As I prepared this message, I noticed how it started and how it ended. It began with Jesus and the message of the gospel, and it ended with Jesus and the call to live for Him.
Paul’s ancient words touched my heart, examine yourselves. We have to ask the question, am I still in love with Jesus. Is He still everything to me.
I love history, I enjoy telling stories about what I have experienced in my life so far. Bekah could tell you I tell more stories about the past then I do about what might happen in the future.
However, I have no desire to go back. I do not pine for the past, I know God has bigger and better for the future. But what I do appreciate about the past is I have a reference.
Tonight, I feel we need to examine ourselves:
Am I as in love with Jesus as I was in the past?
Am I as hungry for Jesus as I was in the past?
Am I as passionate for Jesus as I was in the past?
Am I as committed to Jesus as I was in the past?
Sadly there is often a progression for believers, there is great joy when we start, then reality sets in, and we lose our zeal and passion.
God has a better way, keep everything focused on Jesus, remember its not so much about how we start, but about how we finish.
If we will keep our eyes on Him, He will take us to new places, drawing us nearer, and allowing us to have more of Him than we could ever imagine!
It’s all about Jesus!
Does my life reflect that truth?