What a Wonderful God

2 Corinthians 1:1-6

Introduction

There are literally hundreds of religions in the world today. Each one has its own beliefs, creeds, history, practices, relics, and doctrines. Each religion focuses on the central worship of single or multiple gods. In most of the religions, the worshiper is trying to find god or a spiritual state of perfection. In all these religions, the worshiper is trying to find their way to God. Christianity and Judaism differ in this point. God is searching out man. And that is a big difference.

Paul wrote his first letter to the Church at Corinth about twenty years after the death of Jesus (about 53/55 A. D.) About a year later, Paul wrote the second epistle to the Corinthian Church while he was in Macedonia (a. d. 55/56). Paul wrote to the Romans from Corinth about a year later (Acts 20:2–3).

To really understand Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, it is imperative to understand frustration and discouragement. Have you ever been discouraged? Have you ever felt that your life is the pits instead of the cherries? Are you prone to dwell on the hard times of life? I am not sure of the number of converts Christianity would have if the only role model would be the life of Paul. His life certainly would not be a life to inspire or to look forward to. He would not be the “poster child” for the victorious “Christian” life.

One of the key words Paul uses in this epistle is “comfort or encouragement.” The word means “called to one’s side to help.” The word is used eighteen times as a verb and eleven times as a noun. In spite of all the trials Paul went through, beatings, imprisonments and shipwrecks, he experienced God’s grace in all these events, to write this letter which is filled with hope and encouragement to others.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Almost all of Paul’s letters, begins by simply starting with his name; “Paul.” Paul is the author, no question about it. He then emphatically states that he is an apostle. The first letter he wrote to the Corinthians partially dwelt on the fact of his apostleship. His apostleship was in question as Jesus was not alive by the time of his conversion. Paul says, “an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God.” So Paul is simply telling the church that it was not his will to be an apostle, but God’s and that he was ordained by God and not men to the task. That is the authority of his position. It is true that Jesus was dead by the time of Paul, but his conversion and calling happened along the road to Damascus. This life-change experience dramatically changed Paul forever. He was not the same man. Therefore when Paul speaks of a persons conversion as being a “new man” (Eph 2:15; 4:24; Col 3:10), he has experienced it. It is this divine calling on his life that supported and sustained Paul through all the hard times that he experienced.

The letter includes the name of Timothy. Timothy was not the writer of the letter, but a companion with Paul at the time of the writing of the letter. When Paul is writing to Timothy, he refers to him as “my son” (1Ti 1:18). Paul’s style changes when he writes about Timothy as , “brother,” and “my beloved son” (1Co 4:17).

Included in the opening words of this epistle are the recipients of the letter; “to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.” The expression “church of God” means that those receiving the letter are “God’s Church”. It is the assembly located at Corinth and the believers in the region. Those that are born again, blood bought, paid for on Calvary, followers of Jesus the Messiah. Those that have experienced the same “life changing” encounter with Jesus that he had, a group that has been called out of the world to follow the teachings of God and Jesus His son. Those are the recipients. So, as Christians today, we can see that this letter pertains to us as well. There are parts of the letter that were specific to the local church at Corinth, but the letter also included those in the region; “all the saints who are in Achaia.” Achaia is the southern region of Greece; just like the area called Macedonia, represented the northern section of Greece.

2 Corinthians 1:2 “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s compassion begins in verse 2 in his words, grace and peace. Whenever Paul conveys his desire for the church, he never asks for material things for them. Instead he wishes for them spiritual blessings such as grace and peace. Oh to have the mind of Paul or Jesus. The material world held nothing for them. Instead the pupil of Jesus, Paul, follows the example of Jesus in proclaiming the Gospel to where man could be saved. Notice that “grace and peace” are from our Father, God himself. These blessings also flow from Jesus the Messiah. God the Father and God the Son are the source of “grace and peace.”

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

There is so much compassion and joy of thankfulness for what God has allowed in Paul’s life that it just can’t help but come out in this letter to a church he had been waiting word of their acceptance to his leadership. Paul sits down with pen in hand after Titus brought him word of their decision to support and follow his leadership, that his heart just swells with thanksgiving that flows in these opening verses. In Philippians 4:11, Paul tells the church at Philippi that he had learned that “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Even in what we would call hardships, Paul finds peace and grace from God. If you take the time to study the writings of Paul you would find that in eleven of the thirteen epistles that Paul wrote begin with proclamations of thanksgiving, praise and the joy that God has given him even in the hardest times in his life. No matter the situation, Paul remembers that God is in control and that is a great comfort to Paul.

Paul breaks out three areas of God’s peace and grace that he wants to share with the church. “Blessed be God,” is a great place to begin each and every act of praise for God is the author and finisher of our salvation.

God is “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” and if there were no other reason to praise him, this would be worth every breath we could offer. In the Old Testament, God had the title of “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, or the God of Jacob.” In the New Testament God is addressed as “the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Old Testament concerned the Law while the New Testament, because of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten son of the Father, now concerns the work of the Jesus.

God is “the Father of mercies”. Isn’t it awe inspiring to know that the God we worship, is the “Father of mercies”? He is the one who designed mercy. He is the one who insured that mankind could have mercy. He is the one who freely gives mercy to those that worship and honor him. Listen to the words of David the Psalmist; “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” (Psalms 51:1) This Psalm is the result of Nathan’s proclamation to David concerning Bathsheba. David knew the One with forgiveness and mercy was God.

God is “the God of all comfort”

I have a favorite t-shirt that I just love to wear. It is not pretty and my wife doesn’t care for it at all but I love it. When I put it on, I am comfortable. I have a pair of shoes that I really enjoy wearing because when I do, I don’t feel like I am wearing shoes at all. They are comfortable. Paul addresses God as being the “God of all comfort” and His comfort is a lot better than my shirt and shoes. He is the author of comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Where do you turn to when you are afflicted? When the bottom falls out of your life, where do you go? In what direction do you look? As we have learned, Paul has had his share of horrible events and disasters in his life. But in all these, he is quick to point out that God is the one “who comforts us in all our tribulations.” He is the one with his arm around our shoulders. He is the one that has taken our hands in his and gives us solace. He is the one kneeling with us in our times of prayer. God is the author of comfort. Paul does not focus on the tribulations nor in why they happen. Instead Paul addresses the reason that tribulations happen to the children of God and that is that “we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.” Instead of questioning God why things happen to us, Paul insists that these troubles happen so we can help others that are going through troubles. Perhaps our perspective would change when the troubles come into our lives by knowing that God will use us to help others. And the way we can help others is that “by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” We can tell others of our problems and that God gave us mercy and peace in the trying times. God brought us through the event and God will do the same for them. Look unto God, the God who comforts.

Let’s take a minute to look at this word comfort. What comes first to your mind when I say the word? Don’t we usually think of giving relief or support in times of great sorrow? But the use in the New Testament has a much wider meaning. It refers to acts of “solace, consolation, exhortation, entreaty on another’s behalf. It is an act of encouragement and exhortation from another who is right there beside us in time of need. Since I have been pastor of this church, we have seen many in our congregation that have been in the hospital or passed from this life. Many avoid either of these places but they are by and far the greatest places to show comfort as defined above. We should look forward to being the comforter for those needing comfort. In many cases you don’t have to say a word. A shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, a whisper of encouragement is a real help. We should follow the words of Paul; “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Conclusion

Paul was such an encourager. He begins this letter with encouragement to the Church at Corinth by telling them that God is the God of;

Grace and Peace

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

the Father of mercies

and the God of all comfort

Paul in writing to the Church at Thessalonica said; “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)