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Insights into the Life, Ministry, and Challenges of the Apostle Paul
by Samuel E. Ward
2 Corinthians
February 27, 2011
Review
I. Paul's Defense of His Conduct and Ministry, 2 Cor 1-7
The major sections thus far have contained the following:
A. Paul's Introduction,
B. The Best Laid Plans Are Subject to Change,
C. The Best Response to the Issue at Hand,
D. The Bothersome Circumstances that Lead Paul to Macedonia,
E. The Basic Explanation of Paul's Apostolic Ministry, 2 Cor 2:14-6:10.
The passage that will be considered next is in the section of 2 Corinthians that is summarizes some of . . .
F. The Basic Expectations Paul has for the Corinthians, 2 Cor 6:11-18.
Paul's expectations as noted in 2 Cor 6:11-18 are:
1. They needed to give back as much affection to Paul as Paul was giving to them, 2 Cor 6:11-13.
2. They needed to be single-minded in their commitment to God, 2 Cor 6:14-17.
3. They needed to understand that exclusive commitment to God is the only way God will allow us to relate to Him., 2 Cor 6:18.
Chapter seven continues the theme.
4. They, as all Christians must: (2 Cor 7:1)
(2 Cor 7:1 NIV) . . . purify [themselves] from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
a. Maintain purity in body and spirit.
(Rom 6:13 NIV) Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
b. Mature in holiness and righteousness.
(Rom 12:1-2 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
c. Do all of this out of reverence for God.
(1 Pet 1:15-19 NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; {16} for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." {17} Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. {18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
5. The support of the Corinthians is needed.
(2 Cor 7:2-4 NIV) Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. {3} I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. {4} I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
a. Any ill-thoughts concerning Paul are undeserved.
b. All of Paul's estimations of the Corinthians are indications of his confidence, pride, encouragement, and joy in them.
c. The actions of the Corinthians reveal their concern and care.
(2 Cor 7:5-7 NIV) For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within. {6} But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, {7} and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
6. Their repentance justifies Paul's blunt letter, 2 Cor 7:8-13a.
(2 Cor 7:8-9 NIV) Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while-- {9} yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
a. It proves a spiritual principle, 2 Cor 7:10.
(2 Cor 7:10 NIV) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
It is out of God's kindness that He is patient in giving us opportuniies to repent. Those who do not repent are only storing up God's wrath against them on the day of judgment.
(Rom 2:4-6 NIV) Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. {6} God "will give to each person according to what he has done."
b. It produces a spiritual response, 2 Cor 7:11.
(2 Cor 7:11 NIV) See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
1) It shows an earnestness and eagerness to clear yourselves.
2) It shows indignation toward false charges.
3) It shows alarm at false accusations.
4) It shows a longing, concern, and readiness for justice to be done
And ultimately,
5) It adds up to proof of your innocence.
c. It prepared them to become aware of their true feelings for Paul.
(2 Cor 7:12 NIV) So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.
It is true that we never know how much we love or appreciate someone until we suffer with them. Consider the scene of Paul with the Ephesian elders when he was departing to Jerusalem.
(Acts 20:17-19 NIV) From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. {18} When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. {19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.
(Acts 20:32-38 NIV) "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. {33} I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. {34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. {35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" {36} When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. {37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. {38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
(Acts 21:1 NIV) After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.
d. It provided encouragement to Paul and his team.
(2 Cor 7:13-16 NIV) By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. {14} I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. {15} And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. {16} I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
1) Titus was happy and refreshed by the Corinthians.
2) Paul's boasting to Titus about the Corinthians was confirmed.
3) Titus's affection of the Corinthians was multiplied due to their obedience and cooperation.
Applications
1. God demands nothing less than all of us in service to Him. He is not pleased with the "leftovers" of our lives.
(Phil 1:9-11 NIV) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, {10} so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, {11} filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
Let us give God the best of everything He has provided us.
2. Encouragement toward faith and love is an essential ministry of Christians toward one and helpful in times of distress and persecution when they offer it.
(1 Th 3:7-9 NIV) Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. {8} For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. {9} How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
Let us be encouragers and partners in each other's joys and sufferings.
3. Revelation 3:20 is not a "salvation" verse. It is in the context of a call to a church to repent from its complacency. Hiding behind masks of spirituality the Laeodicean church had become slave to their money, satisfied by their pleasures, and blind to the truth that could heal them. They were only "lukewarm" in their commitment.
(Rev 3:17-20 NIV) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. {18} I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. {19} Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. {20} Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
