December 8, 2024
Evening Service

As we come to the end of our study of both of these letters from Paul to the church at Corinth, it is like leaving an old friend.  We have been exposed to some very good teaching as far as the church goes and also challenged personally to draw closer to Jesus.

Review Ch. 12:

·      Paul continued to be very transparent as he subtly reveals to us of being caught up to the “third heaven” where he saw and heard things that are “inexpressible in worlds.”

·      He then spoke of his “thorn in the flesh” that was given to him “to buffet me lest I be exalted above measure.”  He revealed he had prayed three times for God to remove this thorn, but he was told; “My grace is sufficient for you for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

·      What that was we do not know, but Paul took the mindset to take pleasure in his infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions and distresses.  “For when I am week, then I am strong.”

·      He concluded the chapter stating that did not seek financial help to burden them but did “all things, beloved, for your edification” (building up).

2Co 13:1-2 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD SHALL BE ESTABLISHED."  (2)  I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare

            Paul inform them that he plans to visit them a third time and would use Deut. 19:15 as a tool to investigate the truth about the believers who were practicing sin and spreading doubts about his apostleship.  The warning has been given and his coming will not spare those who need to be held accountable for their sinful disobedience.  The church is to hold its members accountable for walking contrary to the truth which lead to discourse within the church.  We are better together and one of the aspects of that is holding one another accountable when we move away from the path God has called us to.  This is not a judgement, but a wakeup call that we are walking the wrong direction.  It is what true love is all about.

 

2Co 13:3-4 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.  (4)  For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

 Paul assures them in verse 3, that if they seek proof of his authority all they have to do is look at how his words of Christ’s salvation message changed them.  The results were not weak among them, but the Word moved mightily among them changing their lives drastically for the better.  That is the purpose of the salvation message, to change us from the inside out.  As he told us earlier in this letter:

 

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

            That result is a powerful one showing no weakness at all.  In saying that paradox of reactions of weakness and strength reminds Paul of Christ.  In verse 4, Paul mentions the great paradox of Jesus as He was “crucified in weakness, but yet lives by the power of God.”  The same paradox is shown in our lives that when we are weak, in submission to God’s Will, we are strong and powerful in Him.

Paul now challenges them here at Corinth, each of us, to what many people call a “come to Jesus moment.”  An honest look in our spiritual mirror as to where we are and where we should be in the Lord.  This points them back to verse 3, where he said the proof of the power of his words was the changes in their lives.

 

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified. (6) But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul challenges us to put ourselves to the test to see if we are really and truly “in the faith.”  We can do that by honestly answering these questions:

Do we look at others differently?

Do we truly hunger and thirst after righteousness?

Do we despise it when sin surfaces in our lives?

Are we choosing obedience over conformity even when it difficult and costs us something?

Are we in awe of God’s unconditional love for us?

            If we answer yes to these questions, then we are in the faith.  The Spirit is changing us to be more like Jesus and our lives are the proof of it.   Our outward reactions are not always perfect, as we still sin, but our heart belongs to God and we truly desire to please Him with all we do.

 If we answer no to any of these then Paul tells us we are disqualified.  The word he used here is for when metals were tested and found not to be pure they were disqualified.  If God is in our lives then we will have a “know so salvation,” where we know if our heart truly belongs to God or not.  As he says in verse 6, we will know if we are not where we should be.

            A sad truth is I have talked with people who are trying to “play church” and go through the motions of being a Christ follower on the outside, but are not buying into it on the inside.  They admitted to me that they were not ready to give of themselves totally, but wanted to have it both ways; ride the fence. They push most of their chips in placing them in on Christ, BUT they hold a few back not willing to give their all at this time.  It is not a comfortable place to be because as we know God calls us to be all in.  Jesus said it this way in Matthew’s gospel:

 

Mat 10:37-39 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  (38)  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  (39)  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

            To truly “in the faith” and following Jesus, we must be fully committed to put Him first in everything.  It does not mean we will be perfect, but we desire to be.  Paul continues with a prayer for the church in Corinth and for us here tonight.

 

2Co 13:7-10 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.  (8)  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  (9)  For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.  (10)  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

            He prays for us to “do no evil” showing that we truly honor the commitment we have made to follow Jesus and show we are “in the faith.”  He prays this faithfulness will become who we are not what we do as he says we “can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.”  We find it almost impossible to go against what God has called us to be and do. 

As Paul says in verse 9 that he is glad when his weakness makes them strong, we rejoice in the same concerning our weakness displays the strength of Christ.  Paul prays that we continue to grow seeking to be made complete.  Accepting that “we are complete in Him (Christ), who is the head of all principality and power.” (Col. 2:10) Our completeness comes in the growing of our dependence on Christ for everything we are and hope to become.

            He now concludes his letter with this:

 

2Co 13:11-14 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.  (12)  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  (13)  All the saints greet you.  (14)  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

            His final words emphasize us to become complete, be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace.  In doing those this the result will be the “God of love and peace will be with you.”  Pause for a moment and ponder what he just said.  If we do these thing (read), then God will be with us.  Notice He does not say we will be healthy, wealthy, without trials or persecutions, worry-free, experience no heart-aches and live a long fruitful life does he?  No, he tells us IF we live in this manner, the God who loves you promises that He will be with you.  That is the promise, isn’t it?

            Is that enough for you?  Does having God with you make you willing to go through trials, persecutions, worry, unrest, and stressful times in this life?  I say yes, yes it does.  He is all that I need and I trust you can say Amen to that as well.

 

Heavenly Father, tonight we want to reaffirm to you that we are indeed “in the faith.”  We commit to night to follow you through the fires of life with the single promise that You will go with us.  Lord, help us to remove the tentacles of this world that so easily cling to us and hold us back from giving our all for you.  Thank Your for loving us.