June 14, 2015
Evening Service

II Cor. 2

 

            The Apostle Paul finished chapter one by telling the Corinthians that he did not want to come to them, and have to be critical of their actions.  He knew that if he went to them the way they were, he would have to be harsh in his words of correction, and punishment.  He didn’t want that.   So we continue with this thought as we begin chapter two.

 

2Co 2:1-17  But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.  (2)  For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? 

·         Words of correction, and punishment are never easy, or desired, but sometimes it has to be done.

·         Paul loves all the people that have been won to the Lord through his ministry, and he doesn’t want to speak words of judgment on them. 

(3)  And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.  (4)  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly unto you. 

·         You can feel the love, and concern the Apostle has for this flock.  He wants them happy, and joyful, not sorrowful.

(5)  But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all.  (6)  Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;  (7)  so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.  (8)  Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. 

·         Many believe that the one spoken of here is the one in chapter 5 of the first letter.

·         1Co 5:1  It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father's wife.

·         In this same chapter Paul gave them some guidelines to deal with this person.  1Co 5:9-11  I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;  (10)  not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world:  (11)  but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

·         It appears by Paul saying that this one’s punishment was done by many, that they excluded fellowship with this person.  Now he is telling them lest this person gets overwhelmed with grief, show him that you love him, and care for him.

·         Paul told the church at Galatia; Gal 6:1-2  Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

·         Jas 5:19-20  My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him;  (20)  let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.

·         Correction, and discipline are not for destruction, but repentance, and life.

(9)  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things. 

 

·         Whether you are obedient in all things.   OBEDIENCE – When we look at church history, the leaders of the church were held in very high esteem.  And they also held power over the people.  It wasn’t until the reformation, and the beginning of Protestantism that the power of the church was broken over the people.  In the 1500 the printing press was invented, and they began printing the Bible, and the saying of Jesus, “ye shall know the truth, and truth shall set you free”, was coming to pass.

·         The church dealing with this person’s sin is only right, but it is to win him back to a closer walk with God, not to drive him away permanently.

·         Remember what Jesus said, “all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, except the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.”

(10)  But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the presence of Christ;  (11)  that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

·         It would be satan will to loose this person completely.  For the correction to drive him away from the church, and be lost.  But, it is not God’s will for this to happen.  God’s love stands with open arms awaiting for the sinner to come back home.  That’s God’s will.

(12)  Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord,  (13)  I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia. 

·         I mentioned this morning that you can read of this calling in the book of Acts 16.  Paul at first had been forbidden to go into Macedonia, but now God is opening the door.

(14)  But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.  (15)  For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish;  (16)  to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?  (17)  For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

·         Paul confirming his calling of Apostleship, and speaking the true word of God.

 

When we think of how God has faithfully, but not without cost, preserved the church, and the Bible, it should give us great confidence in our Savior.  I keep thinking of the souls under the altar in Revelations:  Rev 6:9-11  And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10)  and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  (11)  And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.

 

Sometimes I think, God what are you waiting for, but then I think that there have been much more terrible times than what we are living in today, so I remember He said, “rest yet for a little time”, and I know we are to keep on keeping on till Jesus returns for His church.

 

FATHER, GIVE US THE PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE, TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE END, THAT WE MIGHT OBTAIN OUR CROWN.  AMEN.