Conflicts require courage. Because conflicts handled in a wrong way can damage or permanently destroy friendship and fellowship in the Body of Christ.

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1 Introduction In the 12th chapter of Corinthians Paul is proving his apostolic calling. Paul points to the revelations from Christ (vv.1-6); his thorn in the flesh (vv.7-10); apostolic signs and wonders (vv ); and now his willingness and courage in dealing with sin (vv.19-21). We are near the end of Paul s second epistle to the Corinthians. In the these last few verses Paul will make an appeal for repentance (vv.19-21); a statement of plans (vv.13:1-10) and a farewell benediction (vv.13:11-14). Paul s appeal to repent was preceded by reminders (vv.11-13) of his suffering and apostolic authority; by an appeal to friendship and relationship--his appeal as a loving father to his unloving children (vv.14-19) and regret; regret that he may not find them repentant--but rather unrepentant; unclean impure, still acting like pagans (unbelievers). Why does it take courage to deal with sin? Remember there has been a conflict between Paul and some in the Corinthian Church. Conflicts require courage. Because conflicts handled in a wrong way can damage or permanently destroy friendship and fellowship in the Body of Christ. Are all conflicts and problems rooted in sin? In the end yes! But some problems are at least in part due to language, culture, and misunderstanding. How are we to think about the conflict between Paul and the Corinthians? Was the conflict due in part to the fact that Paul was a Jew and the Corinthians were gentiles? I don t think so. Paul does not invite the Corinthians to become Jews or think like a Jew. Does the conflict lie--in part in the question of authority? I think so. Is Paul an apostle of the Lord Jesus? The answer is yes. But there are those who question his apostolic authority and his apostolic message. Do some in Corinth glory in miracles, revelations, position, power? Yes. Are some in Corinth guilty of following false teachers with a false message? It would seem so. Has the message of the false teachers kept some from maturation and led others into full blown carnality and sensuality? It would seem so. In the first book of Corinthians Paul discusses the problem of cliques (1 Corinthians 1:10-12); problems of carnality (chapter 3:1-9); and immorality (chapter 5:1-13). This led to accusations on the part of some to question Paul s credentials, credibility, and character. Paul s Appeal To Repent (v.19) 2 Corinthians 12:19 (NKJV)19Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 1

2 What does Paul mean? The Corinthians might think that Paul is engaging in divine rationalizations; plausible but untrue excuses for the letter or for his admonitions. Paul s desire is not to excuse himself or simply exonerate himself--paul is writing--as it were--in the presence of God. We speak before God in Christ. Paul is in effect conducting himself as if God is both judge and jury. Christ is present. God is present. Paul s attention turns back to them--to build them up! Edification. Paul has a keen sense of what it means to be accountable to God. We would do well to remember--when we have conflict with one another--to invite the Lord Jesus Christ to be judge and mediator. To speak our grievances honestly and openly and sincerely knowing that God is able to discern both the content and intent of our hearts. Proud people are quick to blame others. Broken people accept personal responsibility and are willing to sincerely search their hearts to see where they are wrong or what harm they have caused in bringing about the broken friendship, or relationship. In Psalm 51:17 David said, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Paul admits his motive and claims...we do all things, beloved for your edification. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote; Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower. Paul is in the business of building up--and sometimes in order to build up--the old must be torn down. But tearing down doesn t feel like building up. Paul s motive remains; strengthening the Corinthians in the Christian life. In Romans 12:9 Paul writes; Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (v.10) Be kindly affectionate to one another, with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.; (11) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (12) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer; (13) distributing tot he needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (15) rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (16) Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. (17) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. (18) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Paul admits peace is not always possible. But we are to work hard at peace. We are to be peacemakers not trouble makers. 2

3 Peace is not the absence of discernment or insight, it is not overlooking evil or claiming that evil is good. Peace requires insight, honesty, integrity and a commitment to biblical truth. We do not abandon truth in order to embrace peace--because it then becomes a false peace--a pretentious peace absent righteousness. Eric Sauer wrote; If you wish to be disappointed, look to others. If you wish to be downhearted, look to yourself. If you wish to be encouraged, look upon Jesus Christ. The Fruit Of Unrepentant Sin (vv.20-21) 20For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; What does Paul hope to find? Lovers and believers in Jesus happily going about their business in Christ! Paul hopes to find a church that has renounced the false teachers and the false teachings they have embraced. Paul hopes to find a church that has happily embraced his apostolic authority; he wants to come in joy--not judgment. Paul is not naive. I shall not find you such as I wish Paul does not wish to be grieved. Paul lists two kinds of sin; the social sins (v.20) and the sexual sins (v.21). The Social Sins (v.20b) The factions in the Corinthian church were listed in 1 Corinthians 1:10; ran the risk of exploding into full blown contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions etc. contentions-- eris-- strife (NASB) or quarreling (NIV) jealousies--zelos-- Cervantes noted that Jealousy sees with opera glasses, making little things big; dwarfs are changed into giants and suspicions into truths. Another person said, In jealousy there is more self-love than love. outbursts of wrath--thymoi--a boiling over selfish ambitions--eritheiai--suggests factions or disputes; 3

4 Paul in Philippians 2:3 writes; Do nothing out of selfish ambition. Spurgeon wrote; Ambition is an enemy to peace in the church. Diotrephes loves to have the pre-eminence, and that fellow spoiled many a happy church. backbitings--katalaliai--the act of speaking against whisperings--psithyrismoi (only here in the NT) gossip? conceits--physioseis--(only here in the NT) in its singular form--a puffing up--and so here swelling with pride tumults--akatastasiaai--literally disorders or disturbances (NASB). Who wants to go to church and find that? What do we do when we find these sins in our church? We might find the root causes in the cliques that Paul has already criticized (I am of Paul, Cephas, Apollos). We might find some of the problems in the false teachers and their false teaching; we might the problem in hyper criticism and a divisive spirit. Paul has given us hope! Some appear to have already repented and experienced revival! But what about those who have not repented or experienced revival? What about those who cling to their party spirit, their critical spirit and continue to embrace the false teachers and their false teachings? The fruit of their immaturity, insecurity, carnality, will eventually erupt and spread its poison in the Body of Christ. The Sexual Sins (v.21) 21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. Paul loves the Corinthians. Paul does not want to find them in a condition that would cause Paul shame (William McDonald p.143). Neither did he want to come and be compelled to grieve over many of those who had sinned and not repented of their uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness (p.143). 4

5 J.N. Darby points out the chapter begins with a vision of the third heaven and ends with a picture of sin on the earth. Between the two--there is a remedy--the power of God in Christ resting on the apostle. Once again we are given insight into both the character of Paul and the contrast between those who are truly proud and those who are truly broken. Proud people are concerned over the consequences of sin. What will happen if people find out about my sin? Broken people are concerned over the cause of sin--and the root of sin--and want to address the issue in its root. Who are the many who have sinned before and have not repented? Paul doesn t say. But there actions speak for themselves. Who are they? One compelling answer might be those who have refused Paul s words; embraced the false teacher s false doctrines; doctrines that invite carnality and sensuality. False teaching often leads to false living. Paul adds three more sins to the dirty laundry list; Uncleanness akatharsia--the word means impure, indulgent, unclean--it may refer to a kind of full immersion (think embedded) in the world system. fornication porneia--every kind of sexual sin lewdness aselgeia--sensuality and indecency, uncontrolled, undisciplined, unrestrained lust and passion (see Preacher s Outline & Sermon Bible p.351). But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints (Eph.5:3). For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; (I Thess.4:3). My friend Josh McDowell said, Love can wait to give; it is lust that can t wait to get. Elizabeth Eliot said, The love of a man and a woman gains immeasurably in power when place under divine restraint. Andrew Murray said, All the sin of heathendom, and all the sin Christendom, is but the outgrowth of the one root--god dethroned, self enthroned in the heart of man. 5

6 have not repented What are our options? Repent or discipline. Paul loves them. Paul has done everything he can to turn them from factions, divisions, carnality and sensuality. Now it s up to the Corinthians to turn from their sin and turn to the Lord. George Whitfield the famous preacher of the Great Awakening said, It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher. What are the elements of repentance? It always includes a change of mind. It always includes not just a willingness to turn from sin--but to change our mind about sin--and then change our direction--away from sin and towards the Lord. We allow the love of Jesus and the presence of Jesus and not the love of sin and the presence of sin to guide our decision making and behavioral direction. We understand that repentance may include the decision to turn from sin--but even that decision must be empowered by the act of God whereby he gives us a new heart, and new spirit (Ezek. 18:31). We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and it is God who both wills and works in our hearts according to his good pleasure (Phil.2:13). This change of mind and heart results in a change of life. This is how we demonstrate that our repentance is real and true (see Speaker s Quote Book--p.264--under the section REPENTANCE). Conclusion One of the beautiful things about Paul the Apostle is his willingness to initiate the path to forgiveness and repair and reconciliation. Remember Paul is writing the letter. Remember Paul is making every effort to get to Corinth. Paul is willing to go to the cross of calvary and point the Corinthians to the cross of calvary as the basis of forgiveness and friendship. One of the signs of the immature or the carnal believer--is his or her unwillingness--to initiate the healing, the forgiveness, the wholeness and the wellness of a broken friendship or relationship. The immature are waiting for the other person to come clean, to come forward, to admit wrong, to confess sin or admit wrongdoing! Paul refuses to wait. What can we learn from this short but powerful section of Scripture? Conflicts are inevitable. But not all conflict need be regrettable. Paul is gentle--even gentle to sinners--but Paul is never gentle with sin. Sin hurts people. 6

7 What will you do when you face a conflict? Try for a moment to put yourself in the other person s shoes. Ask-- Do I bear some personal responsibility for what has happened? Instead of arguing, ask questions. What is the root of this conflict? What are we arguing about? Are my motives pure? Am I concerned about building up? Respond as if Jesus were sitting or standing right next to you. Am I really seeking peace? Do I want to do what is right? Am I being totally honest? Am I acknowledging my role in whatever is going on? Am I interested in retaliation or restoration? Am I treating this person as a lifelong friend or an enemy? Have I wronged this person? Am I truly looking for a reason to forgive and restore or am I content to lose this person s friendship and fellowship? Remember the verse in Romans; If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). Let s be honest. When Paul wrote these words--he had less than a perfect peace with at least some of the people in Corinth. But Paul was not willing to abandon his love for the Corinthians so easily. Paul persistently pursued them; searching for ways to heal and mend the broken fellowship. 7