Open Your Hearts Wide

Be Reconciled

Paul tells us, as he first addressed the Corinthians, do not accept the grace of God in vain. “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (2 Co 6:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The New Revised Standard Version Chapter 6

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

How do we accept grace in vain? Can you answer that question? I pause shortly to give you a minute to ponder the ways that we can take grace for granted. Paul is begging us to not turn away from the grace offered to us.

But the logical response to God's grace is to offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

The New Revised Standard Version Chapter 6

We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance,

Look at the great list of ways that Christians live out the call in their lives, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God;

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (2 Co 6:4–7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Take a look at the tools of grace at our disposal, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (2 Co 6:7–10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

I want you all to hear this, Paul is speaking to us.

2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary 3. An Appeal for Reconciliation (6:1–13)

The RSV rightly provides the word him in translation, indicating that it is God with whom Paul works, and this is made even more explicit in the NIV (‘As God’s fellow-workers …’). Although the party with whom Paul works could conceivably be understood as one or more of his colleagues, the context here (5:20) supports the RSV and NIV renderings.

We entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. In 5:20 God is said to have made his appeal through Paul, but in this verse the apostle himself makes the appeal as one working together with God. These are but two different ways of expressing the one reality of divine involvement in Paul’s ministry. The grace of God may be understood as all that was proclaimed in the ‘message of reconciliation’ (5:19), what God in his love has wrought through Christ and offers through the preaching of the gospel. Paul’s readers had accepted his gospel and experienced something of the grace of God of which it speaks. Now he exhorts them to make sure their acceptance is not in vain.

My heart is wide open to you this morning as we discuss Paul’s words. As Paul instructs We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (2 Co 6:11–14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Take homes for today: 1. vain worship-God’s Grace will supply

2. We will be afflicted by many things, but God’s Grace is sufficient.

3. Open your hearts