2 Corinthians. May 26 th 2013

Transcription

1 2 Corinthians Paul s Final Defense, Charges, Greetings and Blessing May 26 th 2013 Introduction Open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 13 Inspiration: Christ can and will be formed in us as we yield ourselves to God s work being completed in our lives. Introduction: Subject: The provision of comfort and encouragement of joy in affliction and weakness as each believer becomes more and more like Jesus Christ Key Verse: 3:18, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Paul s Final Defense, Charges, Greetings and Blessing Paul s Final Defense o 2 Corinthians 13:1-4 o Paul closes off the defense of his ministry and apostleship with three assertions The truth will be known o 2 Corinthians 13:1 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. two or three witnesses = Either (1) Paul s third visit to them, or (2) the absence of meeting the legal standard, or (3) Those coming with Paul o Accusations can be made (0as they are) but when Paul comes to them, the truth will be known Those in sin will be punished o 2 Corinthians 13:2 2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, I will not spare = Those who sinned have the time of his absence to repent from their sin but when he comes there will be judgment 1

2 o Those in sin (sins addressed in the book) and those others (the ones roused up by Paul s adversaries) will be punished by Paul when he comes to them Christ s weakness and strength are in Paul o 2 Corinthians 13:3-4 3 since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. crucified because of weakness = If Paul is weak, then he is weak like Jesus during the demonstration of his love and sacrifice for others He lives because of the power of God = Paul is strong, as Jesus is strong in the demonstration of his power over and stand against sin o The weakness of Christ, in His love and sacrifice, and the strength of Christ, in His power and stand against sin, are in Paul Paul s last defense is that when he comes, the truth will be known, those in sin will be punished and all will see Christ in him Paul s Final Charges o 2 Corinthians 13:5-12 o Having finished his defense, Paul moves to his last admonitions or charges to those in Corinth Examine yourselves o 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Test examine yourselves = two Greek words the first is used to determine the character of something and the second to learn the genuineness of something o Does your character match those that are in the faith? Is your faith genuine as shown by the testing of your life? Do no wrong o 2 Corinthians 13:7-10 2

3 7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. do no wrong do what is right = The put off-put on principle of Ephesians 4 put off the wrong AND do the right o Do you struggle with doing something that is wrong? Find what is good and do that Idle hands Rejoice rejoice = Imperative (KJV s farewell doesn t really fit); be glad, be delighted, be joyful o If you examine yourself and find you are in the faith and you do no wrong, you will have every reason to rejoice Be made complete be made complete = KJV s be perfect or NIV s Aim for perfection ; prepare, make ready, complete o Are you settling? Are you striving for your life to be complete transformed into the image of Jesus? Be comforted be comforted = encouraged, cheered up 3

4 o While Paul s message has needed to be stern and forceful at times, it was for their good and he wants them to do what is right and by so doing to be encouraged Be like-minded be like-minded = have the same understanding, opinion but also to have a high regard for o Do you have enough regard for others to come to the same mind as they have? Live in peace live in peace = keep the peace or live at peace with someone o There will always be contentions, sin, disputes and strife among believers (cp. the first disciples) but each of us is commanded to keep the peace Greet one another with a holy kiss o 2 Corinthians 13:12 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. holy kiss = social greeting of those in the family of God o Are you friendly and hospitable with or to other believers? Paul s final charges are for those in Corinth to examine themselves, do no wrong, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace and greet one another with a holy kiss Paul s Final Greetings o 2 Corinthians 13:13 13 All the saints greet you. saints = those who have their salvation in and through Christ Paul reminds them that they are part of the larger Body of Christ who rejoices in their victories and mourns in their defeats Paul s Final Blessing o 2 Corinthians 13:14 4

5 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Trinitarian formulation perhaps early Christian blessing Paul wants the work of Jesus, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Spirit to be a blessing for them Response Christ can and will be formed in us as we yield ourselves to God s work being completed in our lives. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to strive to be made complete in His grace, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Spirit. If you have never come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then this morning I would invite you See Jesus See who you can become if you will follow Him As disciples of Jesus Christ Which of these charges are you seeing growth in your life? Which is there a need for growth in your life? Are you enjoying the blessing of the grace of Jesus, the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Spirit? 5