II CORINTHIANS- A LETTER OF LOVE AND GREAT CONCERN
October 19, 2003 PM
Sermon Outline
2 COR 6:11-13 & 12:20,21
INTRO: While there are very familiar sections of the New Testament book of 2nd Corinthians, there are sections which are probably unfamiliar to many of us. The two letters to the church in Corinth are filled with apostolic concern. Here was a church which owed its beginning to the preaching of Paul. In 1 Cor 4:15 he tells them, I have begotten you through the gospel. But it was a church which struggled with so many perils. It was a church which someone had convinced that Paul was not the man they thought him to be. In fact, could they even be sure he was a apostle? In this second letter there is frequent reference to such questions. He must remind them, Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you... (2 Cor 12:12). Some things to see here?
I. JESUS IS THE YES TO ALL OF GODS PROMISES
A. 2 Cor 1:17-20 - The message is not in doubt!
1. apparently there were some questioning Pauls sincerity, credibility
2. and if the messengers credibility, motives were uncertain, could his message be trusted?
3. so, at the very outset Paul is defending himself ... and his message
B. And the great truth is this: Jesus is the yes to Gods promises!
1. in other words, Jesus coming, His death, His resurrection confirm all of Gods promises as true, dependable
2. Jesus is the amen - the let it be so of all that God has revealed
3. because Jesus came, there need not be any uncertainty, doubt
II. REALITIES OF LIFE WITH/IN THE LORD
A. 2 Cor 4:7-9 - Handling the hard realities
1. at v. 2 the apostle seems to be answering more critics
2. at v. 5 he reminds them that he has been their servant for Jesus sake
3. when we are the servants of Christ, when we serve others for the sake of our Lord, there may come some realities which are difficult to bear
B. But the wonderful thing is that we can bear them with the future in view
1. troubled, but not distressed - perplexed, but not despairing
2. persecuted, but not forsaken - cast down, but not destroyed (Ps 27:10)
3. what is the secret? 2 Cor 4:17,18 & 5:1 - we must learn to look beyond this moment in time to outcomes - how? by keeping the great YES in view ... He will not forsake us in the hard realities which come our way (see 2 Cor 6:4ff)
III. LIVING WITH NEW STANDARDS
A. 2 Cor 5:14-17 - Here is another reality in Christ
1. the Corinthians lived in the very seat of immorality
2. acting the Corinthian was an expression describing a life of shameless immorality!
3. but Christians are no longer living to themselves! (v. 15)
B. In fact, we are new creatures in Christ!!
1. and in Christ there are new standards for life and behavior (note 5:9,10)
2. his judgments are not made by the worlds standards; his values are not those of the world
3. the great truth: the love of Christ constraineth us - whether it is His love for us, or our love for Him ... that love molds, shapes, directs along new standards
IV. THE RECONCILED LIFE
A. 2 Cor 5:18-20 - Estranged? Or reconciled?
1. the old life was certainly one of estrangement - Eph 2:1
2. people given to self will, self indulgence quickly move away from God
3. but God moved to overcome that separation (Rom 5:8 & 1 Jno 4:19)
B. So, reconciliation - a wonderful word
1. but keep in mind who moved - it was not God, but man
2. so it is always man who must be reconciled to God
3. Col 1:21-23 - and reconciliation in through Christ - the great YES!!
V. TENDER APOSTOLIC CONCERN
A. 2 Cor 11:1-5 - Godly jealousy!
1. these were not just any Christians - they were people he knew personally
2. these were people whom he had espoused to Christ
3. I well know exactly the feelings of the apostle, the concerns ... when I hear of people whom I taught becoming unfaithful, of marriages in which I have officiated being broken by divorce, of children I have helped to rear leaving the Lord, I am personally devastated
B. He was afraid they would find false teachers appealing
1. why would they? because of questions about his apostleship, perhaps
2. and they were subtle, deceitful - note 2 Cor 5:13-15
3. tragically, the reason for his concern is just as real now - this is not a piece of ancient history! Teachers in the Lords church, appealing and attractive, are leading people away from the truth ... and without much challenge or opposition
CLOSE: Near the close of this letter is this piece of advice - examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Cor 13:5a). I suggest that this apostolic advice is needful even now.
Cecil A. Hutson
October 19, 2003