1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Paul s Hardships Being Unequally Yoked 2 Corinthians 6:1-18 2 Corinthians 7:1
2 Paul s Hardships Being Unequally Yoked Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-18, 1. We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3. Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6. By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned. 7. By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8. By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, 11. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13. For for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
3 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 7:1, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Introduction: I. In the previous chapter(s), Paul said he was an ambassador of Christ. A. As an ambassador of Christ, he was working with God on behalf of man. B. He preached a message of reconciliation. C. Some in Corinth were having a hard time believing/accepting this. D. The reason was because they were influenced by those who had no interest in Paul and the message of God he brought. Commentary:
4 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2, We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. I. Since Paul was an ambassador of Christ, he made clear that he is a worker with Him, not against Him. A. How does man work with God? B. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, you are God s building (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). II. Paul said it was quite possible to receive the grace of God in vain; that is, receive and not act upon it. A. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12). B. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:18-20).
5 C. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:33-36). D. These passages make it certain that God s Gift to man can be refused. III. The passage Paul cites is Isaiah 49:8. A. It is a passage pertaining to the Messiah; the messiah would come and proclaim the day of salvation. B. Paul is saying, now, that the day of salvation has come to the Corinthians. C. He is not restricting this day to that particular time, but every day since that time and each day now is a day of salvation. D. God, who at various time and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, (Hebrews 1:1, 2, emphasis added, RT). 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by
6 the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. I. Paul has already had to address this matter of those asserting Paul s self-appointment accusations. A. It is something not true and anyone with knowledge would know that. 1. Paul s work in the proclamation of the message of God has never been hindered by any action that the Holy Spirit would consider to be offensive. 2. Now, this is important to note. B. Man may have considered some of Paul s actions to be offensive, but the Holy Spirit did not. 1. We need to be continually considering what is really offensive and what is not. 2. Simply preaching the truth of God, in love, is not and cannot be offensive from the Holy Spirit s point of view. 3. Unfortunately, there are many men who will take this phrase ( truth in love ) and have a berating and denigrating spirit about their proclamation.
7 4. All one has to do is look at the manner in which any of the apostles (not to mention, our Lord) preached and he will note there is nothing berating or denigrating about it. II. In any case, to demonstrate what he means, Paul speaks of all the experiences he has had. A. You will notice that Paul s experiences in this commentary are broken into three groups. B. As you read what he said, you will note a pattern; that: 1. Hardships in the preaching of the Gospel. a. in much patience, b. in tribulations, c. in needs, d. in distresses, e. in stripes. f. in imprisonments. g. in tumults, h. in labors, i. in sleeplessness, j. in fastings; 2. Motivations and blessings in the reaching of the Gospel.
8 a. by purity, b. by knowledge, c. by longsuffering, d. by kindness, e. by the Holy Spirit, f. by sincere love, g. by the word of truth, h. by the power of God, i. by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 3. The good and bad to people s responses. a. by honor and dishonor, b. by evil report and good report; c. as deceivers, and yet true; d. as unknown, and yet well-known; e. as dying, and behold we live; f. as chastened, and yet not killed; g. as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
9 h. as poor, yet making many rich; i. as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. III. The preaching of the gospel of Christ can bring a variety of responses. A. Sometimes, these responses can encourage a person to react in a certain way. B. This is what occurred for Paul and his encouragement was to continue preaching. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open (2 Corinthians 6:11-13). I. In these words you can envision the emotion on Paul s face as he appeals to them concerning all the things he experienced. A. Are they still wondering whether he has their interest in mind? B. How could they if they would just consider what he is saying, not to mention what he went through for the Lord s cause? II. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were open books; the Corinthian church knew that whatever was on the heart of these men could be seen in their actions and heard in their words. A. Yet, they did not reciprocate. 1. Why? Paul asked.
10 2. Because some of them did not want to be open (as Paul, Silas, and Timothy were). B. Paul said they were restricted by their own affections. 1. For whom or what did they have affection? 2. Given the content of the letter, there were two things that some struggled with in Corinth. a. First, there was the matter of being carnally minded. This is simply putting one s attention on what this world offers and not on what the Lord offers. b. Second, this carnally minded attitude allowed teachers of error to influence the congregation. c. So, Paul said, Unless you want us to return to you what you are giving us, be open to us in your attitude and demeanor, because, we are to you. 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
11 I. The struggling Corinthians. A. The reason the Corinthians were struggling with those things was that they were struggling with being carnally minded. B. They were struggling with being carnally minded because worldly-minded people influenced them. C. Worldly-minded people were influencing them because they were unequally yoked. II. To be unequally yoked is to have an association that is far more than mere acquaintance. A. What Paul says is a command! We, as Christians, are not to be mismatched with those who walk, on purpose, against the will of God. B. Note the series of questions Paul asked. How are they to be answered? All in the negative! 1. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? There is NO fellowship! 2. And what communion has light with darkness? There is NO communion between the two! 3. And what accord has Christ with Belial? There is NO accord between Christ and the devil! 4. Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? There is NO part between a believer and an unbeliever!
12 5. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? There is NO agreement between contrary things! III. Paul cannot make it any clearer than this. A. Since all of these questions are answered in the negative, why would the Corinthians want to be associated with what would influence them away from God? 1. Of course, they were confused spiritually and they did not need to be confused because the Lord has made it clear what He expects: a. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people (Leviticus 26:12). b. Again, Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord (Isaiah 52:11). IV. It is always helpful for Christians to remember that we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus. A. Paul told the Ephesian elders: Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28, emphasis added, RT). B. To purchase the church of our Lord with His own blood is to purchase each individual. 1. Peter said: And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in
13 fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:17-19, emphasis added, RT). V. This recognition, understanding, appreciation and application will make our walk with Christ that much easier.
14 Questions 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1 1. How can people receive God s grace in vain? 2. What are the functions of ambassadors of Christ? 3. In quoting Paul wrote, In the time of my I will you, and in the of I will help you. 4. How can the gospel be preached without giving offense in anything?_ 5. Unfortunately, there are many who claim to preach the gospel in love who do so with a and spirit. Is this sinful? If so, how is it sinful? 6. How did Paul preach the gospel in times of hardship?
15 7. What factors motivated and blessed Paul in the preaching of the gospel? 8. What good and bad contrasts in people s responses did Paul observe to his preaching of the gospel? 9. In what way were the lives of Paul, Silas and Timothy open books to the Corinthians? Are our lives open books to all who know us? 10. Do you really want your life to be an open book? Why or why not? 11. How can Christians be unequally yoked with unbelievers?
16 12. What has with? What has with? What has with Belial? What has a with an. What has the of with. 13. Why were the Corinthians struggling with this principle of separateness? 14. Peter said, And if you call on the without according to each one s, yourselves throughout the time of your here in ; knowing that you were not with, like or, from your received by from your, but with the of, as of a without and without. 15. Do the character, attitude and behavior of all the Christians you know clearly differentiate them from non-christians? Can you tell Christians from non-christians by how they conduct themselves or do we need for some Christians to distinguish themselves by wearing a sign around their necks?
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