Marks of the ministry- Pt II
Apostolic Defense - 2nd Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:41
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This marvelous ministry reminders
This marvelous ministry reminders
Last week we did not finish our lesson on the Marks of the Ministry so we want to continue this week on that same lesson. I think we will give some reminders first so we are all fresh where we are at.
This marvelous ministry that brings comfort, brings deliverance (2Cor1)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
This marvelous ministry that brings forgiveness and triumph (2Cor2)
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
This marvelous ministry that displays the increasing glory of the gospel of grace (2Cor3)
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.
11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
This marvelous ministry that encourages not to lose heart, regardless of circumstances (2Cor4)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
and add to that
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
This marvelous ministry that gives assurance of the resurrection and the reconciliation with God through Christ (2Cor5)
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Paul in our section makes a couple of appeals:
An appeal for appreciation (2Cor6:1-10)
As workers with Christ, Paul pleaded not to receive the grace of God in vain (v.1)
They faced many things on their behalf, vs. the trouble makers who had suffered nothing for them. Maybe we better touch on this section a little more but there was another appeal too and that is what we will focus on today in just a few minutes.
An appeal for separation (2Cor6:11-18)
An Appeal for Appreciation
An Appeal for Appreciation
Paul and the apostles faced many things for the cause of Christ and the marvelous ministry of reconciliation that had been entrusted to them. May we quickly look at the passage again?
1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
We looked at the the Who is the He, we, and you in (vv.1-2) It is Jesus, the apostles, and the church at Corinth.
We looked at the word commending, or commend. Commend: (v) 1. Praise formally or officially. 2. Present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend
We looked at the great list of things that Paul says he, they, endured in this marvelous ministry in (vv.4-10)
We noted a change in (v.6) from what they endured (vv.4-5) to how they endured (vv.6-7) and then some paradoxes in (vv.8-10).
Paul was not confident that everyone who says they are a Christian was a Christian (see 2Cor13:5) and why he goes and quotes from (Isa49:8) as his appeal. Because of Christ’s reconciling man to God through the cross, today is indeed the day of salvation (2Cor5:18-19), so seek Him now before it is too late, while he can be found (Isa55:6)
I think you can agree that many people claim they do not come to church because it is full of a bunch of hypocrites. Claiming Christianity but not living as Christians. Paul did not want there to be any excuse found in him or the apostles for the marvelous ministry to be discredited because of behavior that was unbecoming a Christian.
He reminded them what he had endured for them. Remember his motto it is always too soon to quit. He endured and put up with many things for them and for the marvelous ministry. He made some sacrifices for the sake of the ministry.
He reminded them of the trials he endured for them (2Cor6:4-5)
He reminded them of the tools he used in the ministry (2Cor6:6-7)
He reminded them of the testimony he bore (2Cor6:8-10)
Unappreciated, had unadulterated attacks on him and the apostles he had sorrow but always rejoiced in Christ Jesus. He became poor that they might become rich. Rich in the gospel of His mercy and His grace.
Paul refuting the Judiazers malicious accusations, how much did they sacrifice for them, how much did they suffer for them, what price did they pay for them?
We briefly brought up that all like to be appreciated and to know they have value.
(Transition) From the appeal for appreciation now to an appeal for separation due to the marvelous ministry entrusted to the apostles, shared and believed by them. So, in other words the application section.
Appeal for Separation
Appeal for Separation
This is where we left off last week without much time to dig in any, so may we look at this portion of scripture and then we can dig in some more.
11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also. 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Gleaning from the scripture:
Paul’s (apostles) heart(s) are open wide (v.11)
Paul’s appeal is for them to open wide to us (apostles) too (v.13)
Paul makes an appeal in (v.14); Do not be bound together with unbelievers
In (vv.14-16) you can see Paul draws some comparisons and then in (v.16-18) we see why, look at these verses and see the promises and note those down.
Whew, that is a lot, to finally get to where we left off last week so now lets get back to the scripture glean some more and go on.
Question: Paul draws some comparisons in (vv.14-16) and then in (vv.16-18) we see why, look at (vv.16-18) and see the promises and note those down.
I will dwell in them, walk among them, be their God (v.16)
I will welcome you (v.17); I will be a father to you (v.18)
Divided hearts, the Corinthians had divided hearts, the false teachers, the accusers were stealing their hearts (see 2Cor11:1-3; ref: Php1:9-11).
The Corinthians were compromising with the world and being enticed, maybe even think of being seduced by the world like an unworthy suitor.
1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
He appeals to them to be a faithful wife, separated to the One husband, Christ! Be devoted, not divided!
(Transition) When you look at (v.14) it has been blown out of proportion at times and then countered back taking it out of proportion too.
One extreme led to isolation, be separated from any non-believer
The other extreme was to be so accepting of everyone and everything regardless of how a person lives or what a person believes.
Christian love must exercise discernment
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Paul in his appeal for separation offers three arguments to compel separation from things that are contrary to God and God’s known will.
Paul’s appeal for separation
Appeals to the nature of the believer (2Cor6:14-16; 2Cor5:17; 2Pt1:3-4)
We have already read (vv.14-16) but let me put (v.16) back up in front of us as a reminder
16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
A pig has a pigs nature, it will return to the muck and the mire even if you clean him up; a Christina has a new nature as a new creation
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
And that new nature is a divine nature
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
And as having a new nature, being a new creature we should want to associate (fellowship) with that which pleases the Lord.
I’m not trying to passover the unequally yoked verse (v.14) that actually is nothing new, it is seen in Deu22:10
10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
The ox was a clean animal but the donkey was an unclean animal so it would be wrong to yoke them together. So Paul’s appeal was do not be yoked with unbeliever for you have different natures. God wants us to have harmony (v.15) and that can only happen when we have things in common.
The very nature of the new creature, new creation, the believer demands that he be separated form the unholy.
Oh wait, hold on, we better go back again and look at (v.16) notice who Paul is referring to, is it the person or the church?
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
The local church, the body of believers is the church of the living God and we are to be separate from the unholy because we are the people of God.
Appeals by the command, authority of the scripture (2Cor6:17)
This is again coming from Isaiah and referenced in Ezekiel, note down (Isa52:11 and Eze20:34, 41)
to come out is the command, it is an active choice and devotion to be separated for God.
Warren Wiersbe says on this
“Separation is not just a negative act of departure; it is also a positive act of dedication to God”
When you look at the totality of scripture there is the command for separation and when it was not adhered too there was trouble. It led to captivity, slavery, it led to false gospel demanding adherence to the Law.
Some noteworthy scriptures regarding separation:
Due to time I am not going to get into these scriptures but invite you to on your own.
Rom12:1-2, 16:17-20
Col3:1-2; 1Tim6:10-11; Tit:2:14
1Pt4:3-6 and 1Jn4:6
John records the words of the Lord in the vision that is very strong warning about separation.
14 ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
(Transition) Whew, I know that is a lot, but Paul still have one other appeal to make
Appeals by the promise of God’s blessing (2Cor6:17-7:1)
God blesses those who are his through Faith in the Son.
God blesses those who separate themselves from sin and unto the Lord.
Now because of God’s gracious promises, His marvelous promises there comes some spiritual responsibility, let me give you one verse and stop there and will pick up next week.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Cleaning and perfecting, something we will continue to learn about, grow in. It is a process as we grow in grace and knowledge of the truth (ref: 2Pt3:18)
(summary to close) May we bear the marks of the marvelous ministry spiritually and physically in our lives and how we live as new creations! And with that we will get more into this next week if you want to read ahead, read 2Cor7:1-12, though we may get through the chapter, we will have to wait and see.
(Prayer) (Exit)