Nov. 8, 2008
When we left off last time, we were looking at Paul explain his purpose to the church in Corinth.
He began by claiming we should be longing for our reunion with Jesus when we put on our immortal bodies, but that we also had a job to do while we are here and that job is to strive to please Jesus Christ, because in the end we will all face judgment.
Now, let's pick up from there.
“Since, then, we know what it I to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.” — 2 Corinthians 5:11-13
Let us look at our lives from the perspective of verse 11. If we look at the word fear, from the Greek work phobos, we can understand what that means. One of the meanings of course is fear, dread, and terror, which God can bring upon people if He so wishes, but it also means, “reverence for one's husband.”
What are we as the church? Christ's bride of course. That is the love we should have for God, adoring love that knows no bounds.
Now, if we have that in our hearts, why would we try and hide it? Paul's answer is we wouldn't; we would go out and tell of that wondrous love to others.
If we hold these truths in our hearts, then it doesn't matter what others may think. There are a lot of beautiful buildings our churches are housed in, but while the pews may be full, the church is empty inside because the gospel isn't being preached. If the gospel isn't being preached in church where people are being called to repentance before God, then that church is dead.
As Paul said, they are taking pride in what is seen, rather than what is in their hearts. If we are full of the gospel, then the Holy Spirit will go before us, convicting people and revealing the truth of the gospel to them.
Do not dumb down the message of Christ. He died and rose again. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The road to God is a one-way street and no fancy building, or slick presentations will open another path.
Moving on, Paul is about to get to the meat of the matter.
“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.” — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
To paraphrase Matthew Henry, it is the love of Christ that makes us strive to show others what Christ accomplished upon the cross.
“They (apostles) were under the sweetest and strongest constraints to do what they did,” Henry wrote. “Love has a constraining virtue to excite ministers and private Christians in their duty. Our love to Christ will have this virtue; and Christ's love to us, which was manifested in this great instance of dying for us, will have this effect upon us, if it be duly considered and rightly judged of.
All humans everywhere are under the sentence of death. There is no escaping it, but we have a way out. Jesus Christ took up our cause and our sins upon himself at the cross, and in so doing, set us right with God, if we put our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us.
Now, if we believe in Christ, then our death sentence has been commuted. More than that, we have been taken from this horrid life and given a place in heaven.
At this point, there should be no more self. That old part of our lives has been put to death and we should have a singular purpose.
“That those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Look at it like this. If someone came up to you and gave you a million dollars, no strings attached other than believe that it happened, then wouldn't we at least want to take them out for lunch?
Where is the gratitude for what Jesus did? It's hard to find in many who call themselves Christians, but for those who seek to serve Christ, it is what motivates their every action.
We need to ask ourselves these questions. Next week we'll continue our look at 2 Corinthians 5.
He began by claiming we should be longing for our reunion with Jesus when we put on our immortal bodies, but that we also had a job to do while we are here and that job is to strive to please Jesus Christ, because in the end we will all face judgment.
Now, let's pick up from there.
“Since, then, we know what it I to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.” — 2 Corinthians 5:11-13
Let us look at our lives from the perspective of verse 11. If we look at the word fear, from the Greek work phobos, we can understand what that means. One of the meanings of course is fear, dread, and terror, which God can bring upon people if He so wishes, but it also means, “reverence for one's husband.”
What are we as the church? Christ's bride of course. That is the love we should have for God, adoring love that knows no bounds.
Now, if we have that in our hearts, why would we try and hide it? Paul's answer is we wouldn't; we would go out and tell of that wondrous love to others.
If we hold these truths in our hearts, then it doesn't matter what others may think. There are a lot of beautiful buildings our churches are housed in, but while the pews may be full, the church is empty inside because the gospel isn't being preached. If the gospel isn't being preached in church where people are being called to repentance before God, then that church is dead.
As Paul said, they are taking pride in what is seen, rather than what is in their hearts. If we are full of the gospel, then the Holy Spirit will go before us, convicting people and revealing the truth of the gospel to them.
Do not dumb down the message of Christ. He died and rose again. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The road to God is a one-way street and no fancy building, or slick presentations will open another path.
Moving on, Paul is about to get to the meat of the matter.
“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.” — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
To paraphrase Matthew Henry, it is the love of Christ that makes us strive to show others what Christ accomplished upon the cross.
“They (apostles) were under the sweetest and strongest constraints to do what they did,” Henry wrote. “Love has a constraining virtue to excite ministers and private Christians in their duty. Our love to Christ will have this virtue; and Christ's love to us, which was manifested in this great instance of dying for us, will have this effect upon us, if it be duly considered and rightly judged of.
All humans everywhere are under the sentence of death. There is no escaping it, but we have a way out. Jesus Christ took up our cause and our sins upon himself at the cross, and in so doing, set us right with God, if we put our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us.
Now, if we believe in Christ, then our death sentence has been commuted. More than that, we have been taken from this horrid life and given a place in heaven.
At this point, there should be no more self. That old part of our lives has been put to death and we should have a singular purpose.
“That those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Look at it like this. If someone came up to you and gave you a million dollars, no strings attached other than believe that it happened, then wouldn't we at least want to take them out for lunch?
Where is the gratitude for what Jesus did? It's hard to find in many who call themselves Christians, but for those who seek to serve Christ, it is what motivates their every action.
We need to ask ourselves these questions. Next week we'll continue our look at 2 Corinthians 5.
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