A Matter of the Heart

Freddy Lam

2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

2 Corinthians 6:1–13

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Paul's life is the Blueprint to Christ's Community

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ME

Blessed new year in 2020 in the name of our Lord Jesus! So I wasn’t here along with Shannon and six other young people last week because we went to Passion Conference in Atlanta. It ran from the 31st and ended on the 2nd, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 65,000 college students from 18-25 years old gather to hear seven sessions to call them to faithfulness in Jesus! Speakers such as Levi Lusko, Ravi Zacharias, Christine Caine, John Piper, and Louie Giglio and all the big worship bands fill those two and a half days with loud sounds and passionate challenges. If there’s only one thing though which I take exception to the general theme, it would be this. The focus is very much on the individual and victory, and not as much the power of togetherness and in struggles, the in-between of life.

Passion conference, praise for message, young people passionate, but individualisic,

WE

Yet I understand why there is an appeal to the individual to seize God’s moment and calling and transform the world! Life, if you are honest, is so much easier to do alone. You can’t have arguments as to what to choose, where to go, what to do, when you are the only one making the decision. Everywhere from advertising to self-help books (notice the word self), we are told we have untapped and undiscovered potential and we are the master of our own destiny. Another reason besides not having arguments goes deeper. Some of us have been hurt before. Whether it is by a group of people, who left you out or forgot about you, and you are saying I’ve given up on trying! Some of us have been betrayed by people, something you said to them and tell them not to share with others, and they broadcast it in the whole group which left you embarassed and bitter. Others of us have been in a situation where we do the work as a group but at the end only one person gets the credit. So when you are asked to join a group, to trust other people, you either don’t have time for all the possible things which can go wrong based on your past experience or we are just wired to do life on our own. As an introvert especially, that’s the mode of life I am most comfortable with. Ironic isn’t it, when I move to English ministry about a little over two years ago I chose to serve in small groups ministry. People. Lots of people. With all these problems, why should we still be in community?

GOD

discouraged by people

disappointed by people

mistreated and cheated by people

GOD

We have been going through slowly the second letter to the Corinthian church since last year, and you can go back and hear those messsages if you want to catch up by going to the church webpage and under message, select 2019 messages. We left off at the middle of chapter 5, so shouldn’t we looking at the rest of chapter 5? I have preached on it ironically as the first message of 2018 and for coherency I have put it up on the 2020 message. We’ve been talking about the Apostle Paul and how this letter is his love letter (and love sometimes also includes all sorts of emotion as we have seen and we shall see) to the church of Corinth which he has founded, nurtured until some opponents from within started to challenge his authenticity as an apostle, as someone truly called by God to share the gospel and plant churches. This left Paul at times sad and disappointed, at times dumfounded, emotional but not to the point of losing his hope in God. As we shall see in this intimate passage after he declares what some sees as the heart of this letter that we are New Creation! And as Christ has reconciled us to God, we ought to reconcile ourselves to one another. The first two verses of chapter 6 in some way is a bridge to tie the message we just heard with Paul pouring his heart out yet once again in this letter from verses 3-10.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Where we left off and why we skipped as it was preached on, and last year a guest speaker on September 21 spoke about 16-21 and you can go back and listen to it.

The verses in quotation are from where the old testament prophet Isaiah was describing the work of the suffering servant. Paul sees Jesus as the suffering servant, so by extension he is the servant of the Suffering Servant. He appeals, using this Old Testament quotation, to those who are in danger of having receive the grace of God in vain. The grace of being reconciled and being called to reconcile with others. Paul can wait for the church of Corinth to hold out on him yet for their sake, Paul declares NOW is the time. Since you have received salvation and by extension reconciliation, that is making peace with the father, NOW is the time you reconcile with us.

With these two verses explained, we now look at the heart of today’s message:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

What obstacles was Paul referring to? Certainly it couldn’t have been his delayed travel plans flip flopping to visit them and couldn’t, or his constant report of suffering and weakness more than other so-called apostles who have infiltrated the Corinthian church and said Paul is weak and not worthy to be an apostle. No, the only stumbling block ought to be the offense of the cross, which to the world bears shame and weakness, but through which Jesus took on both and glorify himself in boldness and strength. And that ought to be the only thing which the Corinth church can hold out against Paul, if he did not preach and live the gospel, except that he did. What follows then is Paul pouring his heart and soul, not being afraid to share what he went through with others like Timothy, or Silas, or Titus, so that the Corinthian church will not see them as a liability or shame, but as an example of a true community to emulate in word and in deed. Paul is commending his community life as both a defense of his identity and a model to follow. Here’s the one point: through Paul’s life, we can see a blueprint for Christian Community. Paul’s Life, his fellowship, his struggles, his experience and unwavering hope is the Blueprint for Christian Community. We can break down verses 4-10 as follows:

v3. The only stumbling block ought to be the offense of the cross,

Paul is not afraid to share what he went through

Beginning with in afflictions, all the way to hunger are nine hardships, all of which can only be endured by great endurance.

Then Paul list a catalog of virtues, in verse 6 beginning with by purity, up to the right hand and to the left.

Verse 8-10 list nine antitheses of worldly and godly comparisons.

Verse 8a there are two combinations beginning with the word “through.”

Verse 8-10 list nine antitheses of worldly and godly comparisons.

If you are not lost yet, I haven’t tried hard enough. Clearly, Paul has carefully crafted something which scholars believe follow the conventions of philosophers of his time, subtle to us but it would have impress his Corinthian audience of Greek heritage.

conventions of philosophers of his time, subtle to us but would impress Greek-Corinth auidence

Let’s dive deeper into this list:

I. A Community which boasts of vulnerability and endures hardship

English Standard Version Chapter 6

by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

The hardest part in preaching this message is this part, because let’s face it, most of us are not facing afflictions or hardships or even calamities, let alone beatings, imprisonments and riots, not to say labors, sleepless nights and hunger over our Christian life. If you were to write a defense of why others should follow you, you probably wouldn’t start with a list of all the bad stuff. You would start off with the good stuff, such as how many people were saved, how many churches we built, how many philosophers we debated and won. Listing nine catalog of hardships seem to such a downer. But Paul knows a community which acknowledges the reality of hardship and is vulnerable in not making it all look rosy is the first part to an authentic apostolic community.

Each of these nine afflictions are in sets of three, the first three are general hardships. In some sense all three words mean relatively the same thing, they are all oppressive whether it is hardships, or more the stress of it, and calamities, that of things which is beyond our control, all as a result of choosing to be an apostolic community.

Here, we can relate, because our life regardless of whether we serve the LORD or not, will experirence these hardships. They are part of what it means to be human living in a fallen world. Some are of our own making, as in we cause them because of a bad decision or selfish choice. But others are the results of other people’s bad choices and we get burned because of it. However, Paul can claim what we cannot, which is in all cases where these hardships were visited upon him, he did it for the LORD. While it may not be about planting churches or building up a people of God, how might we do our work as serving the living God in our workplace? How might we treat our family as serving the living God? How to raise our kids? How to take care of our elderly parents? How to understand that bad diagnostic from your doctor? Since in life we can expect affliction, how might we face these afflictions so others know we believe in God?

Then Paul lists three very specific hardships they endured: beatings, imprisonments, and riots. Because of how unpopular the gospel was to a pagan world and the Jewish religion seeing it as threatening the propserity and livelihood and so-called peace within the establishment, they endured physical pains and caused their freedom to be stripped away, and even cities were in an urproar to tear them apart, and yet they did not recant their faith.

three voluntary self-disciplines

The last three in the list are three voluntary self-disciplines he took on so he can bring the gospel to as many people as possible: labors, whether it is to work hard in his tentmaking business throughout the day then engage in ministry work throughout the night, to carrying the burdens and stress and pain of the people he loved causing him insomnia, or work so hard and diligently he forgot to take care of himself and eat.

Paul’s nine hardship reminds us when our life is totally sold for the gospel, safety, well-being, freedom, and luxuries become secondary. The appeal of a community which is transparent and vulnerable is no one will ever feel left out because there will be endless things to say. Instead of counting all the wins and build up our pride, we count our losses and lift up his grace. Jesus says it correctly and I paraphrase that the Christian community is for not for healthy people who needs a medal, but sick people who need a phyisician.

II. A community which cultivates the virtues of God in us

catalog of hardships

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

4b-5 nine afflictions, 4 three general, 5a three inflict by others, 5b three voluntary self-disciplines

In some ways, there is a cause an effect to a life sold for Jesus Christ and his gospel. Virtues shapes our character and grows and matures us. The first two, purity and knowledge refers to a life lived with moral integrity and the Hebrew understanding of knowledge as lived knowledge, not just knowing something, but knowing something so well it becomes how we live our life. Then the next four ought to be familiar, especially with the Holy Spirit awkwardly placed in a list of virtues, are some of the fruit of the Spirit: patience, kindness, and love. Paul may be thinking of his opponents or his accusers and even those who mistreat him and his companion, that they patiently await their conversion, or God to vindicate them, and they instead offer kindness willfully and tangibly. How many of us can say that, even in less than dire circumstances in life?

I know I have a lot to learn to be kind to those who do not reciprocate kindness to me. And be patient with seemingly bad people with bad behavior getting away with things. Although I have gotten better, I still feel a deep sense of self-righteousness when I angrily shake my fist at fast drivers crossing lanes when they zoom past my car.

All these are crowned by genuine love which can only be from the Holy Spirit, who is love (God is love), and Paul puts genuine because specifically to the Corinthians, Paul wants them to know their love for them is pure and without an ulterior motive (unlike those who accuse him otherwise). Then again, the catalog of virtue veers off in a different direction with truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left. Paul is saying another marks of a true Christian community is in teaching the truth, which is not a matter of eloquence but rather whether it is from the power of God, to both defend the truth and attack in order to win someone to the gospel.

What are we to take away from this? What virtues are we cultivating as a community? When we serve God by serving people who aren’t perfect (and neither are we) in community, our characters get tested and through alot of trials and even failures, eventually we realize our patience just got extended a bit more for that person who’s always late, or show more kindness to those who seem ungrateful to your help but you aren’t doing it for their approval, so much as you are doing it because God is pleased when we mirror his kindness to his image bearers.

III. A community which can’t be defeated because of their faith.

catalog of virtues

In the life of the apostle, two seemingly contradictory things can be true. One seen from the eyes of the world, the other, from the perspective of the gospel. Verse 8 may not sound much to us, but honor and dishonor and good or bad reputation are the currency of ancient middle-east society. Paul is saying though the gospel has a higher calling to worry about either.

P.E. Hughes says it best, in regards to Paul’s view of these things:

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 40: 2 Corinthians (Second Edition) Comment

no evil report, however false, can harm him and no good report, however true, can distract him.”

7 preaching ministry

standard literary and rhetorical technique

Paul lives in the contradiction of his present reality and the true reality when seen through the eyes of faith:

three + six paradoxes

9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

8a two combinations (through)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

glory (honor) held in high esteem

Have you ever seen one of those blow up clown balloon with a pivot at the bottom and you can punch and kick or push it all you like and it will always bounce back? This is what Paul is commending to the Corinthians about community. While we first notice the vulnerabilities and the virtues, we now see all things from the eyes of faith. A community like that is resilient. It’s almost as if you throw anything at it, no matter how dark or how lethal, they always come back with a big grin and see something positive out of it.

slander and praise (bad report/reputation and good report/reputation)

“You are dying, but yet we live for another day!”

“You are being punished, “hey but at least we have not yet been killed!”

“You should be sorrowful,” “and yet would you look at that, we are rejoicing!”

“you are poor,” “but we are making many rich!”

“you have nothing,” “oh contraire, we possess EVERYTHING!”

How can you argue with someone like that? How can you defeat such faith? Only those who have experienced NEW CREATION! The old is gone, the new has come, can nothing deter them! A community which is this resilient can take the long road to accomplish what God would have them do. They are not in it for the short sprint, but the long marathon!

8b-10 seven antitheses of worldly to the divine and paradoxical (both can be true)

This is Paul crying out to the church of Corinth. Yup, this is who we are, a bundle of contradictions. A seeming paradox and the cause of my joy despite my hardship, the cause of my hope despite my many brushes with death.

Like my experience in Philippi with Silas...

This is why even though you broke our heart so many times for not treating me as your apostle, you can never break our spirit. This is why we voluntarily choose to live a simple life so many more can hear the gospel and thus become spiritually rich with Jesus as their Savior and Lord!

YOU

As I said before, the hard part of this sermon is how do you relate a first-century Christian giant’s life, like Paul and his companions and the persecution they faced to, even as secular as Canada is becoming, middle-class and up suburbans living in Richmond Hill and Markham. We can’t, unless we have been called to the regions in the world where Christianity is so opposed we will experience persecution. So where does this leave us with an application. I will put it out there ahead of time. The application is not a direct one, but one which I think we need to think about.

The one thing we may have forgotten in all of this is, beginning with verse 1, what does it say: I appeal to you? No, it says WE appeal to you. then verse 3 says WE put no obstacles in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with OUR ministry. Then verse 8, WE are treated as impostors… and now verse 11, WE have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. See, although the context is a personal appeal, Paul was never alone in his plea to the Corinthians. In fact, if you go back and read all the accounts of Paul’s hardships, calamities, his beatings and imprisonments, he was not alone. Just read the book of Acts.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 6:8–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

It says Paul and Barnabas were persecuted by Jews in Antioch ()

It says Paul and Silas were dragged into the marketplace, inflicted blows upon them, and imprisoned them in Philippi (, )

It says Paul and Silas caused the Jews to form a mob in Thessalonica ()

I can go on and on but although the letter is an appeal to Paul the apostle, Paul knew what also was at stake was the reputation of those who are his companions and partners in the gospel. The letter began with Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother… and we already heard and will see again the work of Titus in Chapter 8.

Of course Paul depended on the gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of salvation, the reconciler to reconcile, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Yet, he didn’t endure afflictions alone, or share in the joy of suffering, alone. Not only was the Holy Spirit with him, his brothers and sisters are with him. So Paul is not just reonciling himself but all those who are with him, who was in the trenches with him, who suffered with him, to be reconciled with the church of Corinth.

Paul’s cry is for Corinthians to open their hearts to him as he has to them.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

YOU

So the application to the Corinthians is the same as to us this morning. Widen your heart also! (v11, 13) Paul has commended a community where people can be vulnerable and endure hardship together. A community where the virtues of God are nurtured, and also a community where faith is so real their spirit is undefeatable!

I can’t help but think when Paul and his companions are finally reconciled with the church of Corinth, what stories will they share, what seemingly irreconcilable differences then they can now just laugh and gloss over in light of the gospel? What encouragement they will offer to one another, and support they will have for the journey ahead? That’s what Paul is commending as a new way of living to the Corinthians.

That’s what Paul is commending as a new way of living to the Corinthians.

Imagine a place where you can be this outspoken like Paul to pour your hearts out. All your hopes, your fears. Your challenges in life. Do you have people who you can be this honest, this transparent, this vulnerable to talk to as Paul was to the church of Corinth? Where you can share your experience and they can share theirs? Do you have a place where you can grow your relationship with Jesus by doing life together with other followers of Jesus, who sometimes will be your best friends and great brothers and sisters, and other times will stretch your patience and kindness and love in order to bear with them. Do you have a group of people who pledge to pray for you and with you and keep you accountable to your goals and promises?

Christian fellowship is the only way for further growth. The cliche is true, we are better together. Circles are better than rows. I know there are those seated who have come for many years, maybe even have been baptized but have not taken the next step to be in community. And there are those who are here for the first time.

In MCBC, it is through small groups which we learn to practice the matters of the heart. Through small groups, brothers and sisters meet anywhere from once a month to every week and they share, they learn about God together, and they pray, and they serve together. In fact, one group just yesterday took down all the decorations inside this sanctuary, just as quietly as they put it up. They also happen to cross into the mandarin congregation and help them set up the baptistry. They probably want to keep a low profile, but even if it’s not calamities and afflictions, they demonstrate the type of community we ought to have. And they share the joy and fruit of serving together!

Paul to come up and share with us.

Sometimes, small groups even go through life’s struggles together. Recently at our small groups huddle, one of the small group leader shared about how their group came together to help a family during an unexpected situation, I like to ask Paul to come up and share with us.

[Paul’s sharing]

WE

This might be shameless plug but it’s worth sounding like a salesman if one more person would join small group! Our next round of sign-up for small groups begin next week, and we have signfiicantly simplified the process. If you are already part of a small group then you are all set. But if you are not in a small group yet, we will have our official launch next Sunday, so stay tune!

So you may say, Pastor Freddy, can you guarantee I won’t get hurt if I join small group? Can you guarantee it will be time well-spent? That I will be love and accepted? Well, I can’t guarantee that, but what I can guarantee is you will be immersed in a community of imperfefct people who because of the love of Jesus, gathers together to learn how to love, serve, and support one another as we grow together!

So friends, brothers and sisters of MCBC, widen your hearts, for an opportunity to experience what Paul shared, no, it may not be persecution or beatings and imprisonments your small group will go through (I hope), but it could in those moments when life’s calamities hit you, when life’s pain causes you to stay up all night, or when you just need someone to pour your heart out and listen to you, that you can share in the fellowship where hearts meet hearts. This may be what’s missing in your walk with Jesus.