2 Cor 10:7-18 Boast in the Lord

Boast in the Lord

2 Corinthians 10:7-18

Weariness of the the arrogance and pride during the election season.

How do we avoid arrogance and comparison as the people of God?

Main Idea: When Christians recognize that the Lord alone commends them, they boast in him alone.

In this txt Paul begins dealing with those who oppose and accuse him. His opponents were seeking to discredit his ministry. Causing difficulty and confusion in the Corinthian church. As a result, Paul had to respond.

Comparison and self commendation result in conflict and arrogance.

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

All who are Christ’s are in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

No hierarchy or system of some being spiritually greater and lesser before God.

Does not mean that there is not leadership and places of authority(means that those in leadership are no closer to God or more of a Christian than any other believer.

8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.

Paul boasts that his authority is not his own; it has been given to him by the Lord. His authority (comes from outside of him).The weakness of his own person and his lack of (speaking) gifts... do not detract from this authority in the least. ...his authority is not dependent upon his powers, but upon Christ, who is present in his weakness (12:9–10). (Seifrid 387)

which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. He states the purpose for which the Lord gave him authority... While his use of authority may sometimes appear to tear people down (cf. 13:10), it is actually intended to build them up through spiritual discipline. (Kruse 233)

Illus: If you can’t say amen, at least you can say ouch.

9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.

responding to accusations by his opponents...

(The word for frightening), used only here in the NT, means to cause intense fear or terror. So Paul does not want to be perceived as terrorizing the congregation through his letters. (Guthrie 482)

Now to the accusation...

10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”

Often, instead of dealing with what you say, accusation lies in how you say it. Not dealing with the content, accusing and discrediting the person. Why I often offer a disclaimer…that then is interpreted for apology.

Paul’s presence(persona)...He does not carry himself with authority and charisma, CSB says “his public speaking amounts to nothing.” As a result... How dare he write in such an authoritative manner?

There is a principle at work…”The difference between the power of Paul’s letters and the weakness of his person is nothing other than the difference between the treasure of the Gospel and the earthen vessel in which it is placed (4:7). Christ’s power is perfected only in weakness (12:9–10).” (Seifrid 389)

Though he may appear weak, Paul is not afraid.

11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.

He assures them that, when present, (what he does will correspond with what he says)..(Hodge 618)

Now to the heart of the matter...comparison and self-commendation.

…they think Paul is beneath them in ability and not in their league. Ironically, he agrees that he should not go toe-to-toe with them(not for reasons they would perceive). (Guthrie 488)

12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.

“In the cutthroat competition for (followers) and pupils, one had to advertise oneself publicly with audacious praise while impugning the qualities of other contenders for honor. People were constantly vying with others to attain elusive glory and engaged in a constant game of one-upmanship.” (Garland 452) …one way to move up in the world was to tear down an opponent, using the opponent’s shredded image as a step stool to greater status. Paul refuses to get caught up in such worldly competition... (Guthrie 488-489)

How are we set up for this? Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller “From the earliest years, an alliance of parents and schools creates a pressure cooker of competition, designed to produce students who excel in everything. Brooks calls this ”a massive organic apparatus a mighty Achievatron.” The family is no longer what Christopher Lasch once called a “haven in a heartless world,” a counterbalance to the dog-eat-dog areas of life. Instead the family has become the nursery where the craving for success is first cultivated. (Keller 79)

Illus: preschool sports

What does the text say about us when we drag this mentality into the church? Reveals who we are, what we believe, and what really matters to us.

But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

...Paul strongly asserts that the opponents, who carry on “ministry” by classifying one another, comparing themselves to one another, and evaluating performances using one another as the standard of measurement, demonstrate that they simply are ...clueless about what constitutes true Christian ministry. (Guthrie 490)

There is no room for weakness, suffering, persecution and imprisonment, which were often Paul’s lot, and which Jesus said would be the experience of those who followed him. ... it is no wonder Paul says of these people, “They lack understanding.” (EGGNT) “they are without understanding...remember phrase without understanding when we come to Jer. 9 later.

There is a different way…biblically informed way...

(Paul) evaluates his own ministry and that of others on the basis of a set standard--whether ministry is carried out under the lordship of Christ, faithfully, and according to the assignment given by God. (Guthrie 490)

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 ESV

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God humbles the proud so they will not try to take credit for what God alone has done. (Garland 451)

Recognizing the Lord alone commends us results in boasting in him alone.

13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

Paul’s ministry is in God’s hands…the area of influence God assigned to us. Paul bases his right to operate as an apostle in Corinth on two facts: first, God assigned to him the task of evangelizing the nations, and second, he was the one who carried out the initial evangelization of Corinth. (Kruse 236)

For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

The ministry of the gospel is the core issue not Paul, the Corinthians, or the so-called super-apostles. The problem is that they are having a negative impact on the ministry of the gospel.

15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.

Paul desired for the Corinthians church to stabilize so that their area of influence along with the growing believers at Corinth would enlarge. He hoped that Corinth would become a launching pad for further gospel growth to the west. (~Pratt 419)

Paul wanted them to join him in the work of getting the gospel to the unreached.

Romans 15:20 ESV

20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,

Healthy, growing churches reach beyond themselves and their immediate community. They share a burden for those who have not access to the gospel.

Illus: Global Summit in 2 weeks…pray, hear, and prepare for going with the gospel to all people(s)

Making the the gospel know is the expected focus of the every believers’ life as an ambassador.

When we focus on the gospel instead of ourselves...we boast in the Lord.

In v. 17 He now brings the train of throught full circle. From wrong boasting to right boasting.

17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” glory in, verbal praise.

The object of our boasting is the Lord not gifted individuals..

All confidence, pride, and boasting should be in the light of what God has done. Believers often accomplish much, just as Paul had, but they should always take pleasure in these accomplishments with the awareness that they are humble servants of the Lord. (Pratt 419–420)

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The right source of approval/commendation leads to right boasting...

Where does our commendation come from as christians?

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 ESV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

So What?

Am I(are we) boasting in the Lord?

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

The competitiveness and love of advancement in spheres such as business, sports, and academia can fuel an atmosphere of classification and evaluation that can dull ministry spiritually, transforming the wine of ministry into the water of a talent contest. The exaltation of public ministers,(individuals) and ministries to pedestals of fame and influence can prove harmful both to the minister and those who are the recipients of that ministry. (Guthrie 499)

Paul Tripp book Dangerous Calling...

Prayer

Baptism at 11 am

8 am outside next week weather permitting.

DPDT

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