June 14, 2015
Morning Service

II Cor. 1:1-24

 

            Since Paul’s first letter, the church at Corinth, has been swayed by false teachers, teaching against the Apostle, and his authority.  Paul sent Titus to Corinth to deal with these problems.  Paul is writing this letter to thank the ones who have repented, and to encourage those who have not, to accept his authority.  The first letter was sent by Timothy, and he returned with the events that were going on in Corinth.  This is what prompted the Apostle to write the letter from Ephesus, to encourage the leadership of the church to discipline the leader of the opposition.  Titus carried this letter to the church at Corinth.  Upon Titus’s return, he reported that steps were being made to correct the problems.  Paul was much relieved.  This took place around 56AD.  Then the Apostle made a trip to Corinth, and this is when he wrote his letter to the Romans.  It appears Paul thought this church needed two letters, as did Thessalonica.  Both of these churches are located in the land of Macedonia, where when Paul was in Asia Minor, he received a vision saying “come over to us.”  This is when he started his work in Macedonia.   You can read all about this in the book of Acts.

 

Let’s begin our study of II Cor.

2Co 1:1-24  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in the whole of Achaia:  (2)  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

·         The salutation of Paul as in all his letters.

(3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;  (4)  who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  (5)  For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.  (6)  But whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:  (7)  and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. 

·         Paul speaks here of affliction, and comfort.  There will be affliction in your life at one point or another, and only a close walk with God, will bring you the comfort you desire.

·         I’m talking about being in a sold out relationship with God Almighty.  Him first, and none other.  The things of this world taking a back seat to anything that pertains to God.

·         We all need comforting at times, and it is only God, and your confidence in your walk with God, that will bring this comfort you desire.

(8)  For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  (9)  yea, we ourselves have had the answer of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  (10)  who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 

·         Paul’s affliction in Asia, that is, Asia Minor, or Turkey today.  This is where Paul had great confrontations with men that he referred to as wild beasts in his last letter.  But it wasn’t time for him to be taken out this world, God delivered him from all this tribulation.  Only God can do these things.  But, you must be walking close to God.  He must be your all, and all.

·         I know of God’s delivering power.  God has mercifully allowed me to continue on in my ministry.  The last time I had stints put in they coded me twice.  He has since delivered me from a blood clot in my right lung.  He knows that I will continue to praise Him, and tell of His excellent greatness, and His delivering power.  However, when He chooses, He will take me out of this world, but His church will continue to prosper.  The gates of hell shall not prevail against her.

NOW NOTICE:

(11)  ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf. 

·         Paul thanks the Corinthians for their prayers for him, and let’s know this helped give him the gift of life from God.  AGAIN I can relate to this.  Prayer changes things.  Hold on.

(12)  For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you–ward. 

·         Do you feel Paul speaking of the importance to be sold out to God, and have nothing to do with the things of this world. 

·         His conscience if free from guilt.  I served You in holiness, and sincerity o God.  The world saw the way we lived, and it was not after the things of the world, but of God.

(13)  For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:  (14)  as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 

·         Keep what I have written unto you unto the end.  You accepted what I wrote, and taught you, in that you lifted me up before God, and hopefully you will continue to do so until Jesus returns.

(15)  And in this confidence I was minded to come before unto you, that ye might have a second benefit;  (16)  and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 

·         The second benefit, or coming to you to preach concerning the gospel one more time.  Then you would send me on to Macedonia, and then come back to you, before I travel to Judaea.

(17)  When I therefore was thus minded, did I shew fickleness?

·         This is one of the things the false teachers were accusing Paul of being, fickle.

or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?  (18)  But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.  (19)  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.  (20)  For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 

·         Everything concerning Jesus Christ is yea, and amen.  There is no nay, or negative teaching concerning Him.  He is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end.  He is the Almighty.  All of His promises are yea, and yea.

(21)  Now he that stablisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;  (22)  who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 

·         Eph 1:13  in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,––in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

·         Eph 4:30  And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

(23)  But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. 

·         Paul says, “I didn’t come to you right away, for if I did, I would have been very sharp in my rebukes to you.”  He didn’t want to have to do that.

(24)  Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

·         I am not Lording over you, but I only want to help you grow in your faith, and experience the joy that it brings.  Only by faith do you stand. 

·         I can’t do it for you, you must do it on your own, but I can help guide you in the right direction.

ALMIGHTY GOD, GUIDE US INTO THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION, THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD.  AMEN.