2 Corinthians How We Conduct Ourselves

Review

Our Salvation is Our Encouragement

Not Referring to Initial Salvation

Salvation from Situation We Face in Life

Encouragement Works Our Patience

Patience is an Aspect of Godliness

Trusting God, Not Ourselves

The Troubles Paul Faces for Speaking the Truth

The Jews Seeking to Kill Paul

The Gentiles Seeking to Kill Paul

God Delivering Paul

We Do Not Know What Tomorrow Brings So Let’s Us Live Today To the Will of God, Not Our Own

How We Conduct Ourselves, 2 Corinthians 1:12

Our Conduct, 2 Corinthians 1:12

2 Corinthians 1:12

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness and sincerity of God, not by fleshly wisdom, but by grace from God we conducted our lives in the world, indeed abundantly towards you.

The Conscience

It Accuses or Excuses, Romans 2:15

Romans 2:15 NASB95

in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

Subjection to Authority for Conscience Sake, Romans 13:5

Romans 13:5 NASB95

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Those with a Weak Conscience, 1 Corinthians 8:7

1 Corinthians 8:7 NASB95

However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Keeping the Faith with a Good Conscience, 1 Timothy 1:19

1 Timothy 1:19 NASB95

keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Those who have a seared Conscience, 1 Timothy 4:1-3

1 Timothy 4:1–3 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

Keeping a Good Conscience in Our Actions, 1 Peter 3:16

1 Peter 3:16 NASB95

and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Singleness - Have A Pure Motive

Giving with Singleness of Motive, Romans 12:8

Romans 12:8 NASB95

or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Satan seeks to Lead us Away from the Singleness in Heart, 2 Corinthians 11:3

2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB95

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.

Serving with Singleness of Heart, Ephesians 6:5

Ephesians 6:5 NASB95

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;

Sincerity - Unmixed

The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth, 1 Corinthians 5:8

1 Corinthians 5:8 NASB95

Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

A Godly Sincerity, 2 Corinthians 1:12

2 Corinthians 1:12 NASB95

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

Not Peddling the Word of God, 2 Corinthians 2:17

2 Corinthians 2:17 NASB95

For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

Not in Fleshly Wisdom

Because of Bitter Jealousy and selfish ambition it lies against the truth, James 3:14

James 3:14 NASB95

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

It is a demonic wisdom, James 3:15

James 3:15 (NASB95)

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, soulish (ψυχικός), demonic.

Where Jealous and Selfish Ambition are there is disorder and all fallow accomplished deeds, James 3:16

James 3:16 (NASB95)

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil (φαῦλον) thing (πρᾶγμα).

It is a wisdom that relates to the soul

Soul is our emotional part

Our soul is not yet saved, 1 Peter 1:9

1 Peter 1:9 NASB95

obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Through the Soul is How the Sin Nature Attacks us, 1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 2:11 NASB95

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

A Soulish Man Cannot Receive the Things from God, 1 Corinthians 2:14

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Those of the last times that are mockers as soulish and devoid of spirit, Jude 18-19

Jude 18–19 (NASB95)

that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”

These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded (ψυχικοί), devoid of the spirit (πνεῦμα μὴ ἔχοντες).

By the Grace of God

God’s Attitude by Which We are Given a Benefit Without Consideration of Merit

It instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, Titus 2:11-12

Titus 2:11–12 (NASB95)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

instructing (παιδεύουσα) us to deny (ἀρνησάμενοι) ungodliness (ἀσέβειαν) and worldly desires (κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας ) and to live sensibly (σωφρόνως), righteously and godly in the present age (ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι),

Paul is Not Adding to What They Were Already Taught, 2 Corinthians 1:13

2 Corinthians 1:13

For we are writing nothing else to you, but either that which you read or also you fully experientially know, but I hope that until the end you will fully experientially know

He wants them to Experientially know

Experiential Knowledge Requires Using Salvation

Produces Fruit, Colossians 1:6

Colossians 1:6 (NASB95)

the one that came to you, just as also in all the world, bearing fruit and growing even as also among you from that day you heard and have come to fully experientially know the grace from God in truth,

One Who Has Full Experiential Knowledge Can Turn From the Truth, 2 Peter 2:21

2 Peter 2:21 (NASB95)

For it would be better for them not to have known (ἐπεγνωκέναι ) the way of righteousness (τῆς δικαιοσύνης), than having known it (ἐπιγνοῦσιν), to turn away (ὑποστρέψαι) from the holy commandment ( ἁγίας ἐντολῆς) handed on to them.

Impacted by False Teachers, 2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1 NASB95

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

They forsake the right way, 2 Peter 2:15

2 Peter 2:15 NASB95

forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Promising Freedom while being slaves to corruption, 2 Peter 2:19

2 Peter 2:19 NASB95

promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

Being again defiled by the world, 2 Peter 2:20

2 Peter 2:20 NASB95

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Conclusion

How We Conduct Ourselves

Our Conscience

Having Pure Motives

Being Unmixed

Not in Fleshly Wisdom

By the Grace of God

Maintaining a Full Experiential Knowledge