In our message, THE NEW CREATION (2 Cor. 5:12-17), Paul continued to give thanks to God for making Christians ministers of the New Covenant, and now explained what it means to become a creation of God. Jesus said in John 3:7, “You MUST be born again” to “enter” and even “see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5, 6-8, etc., caps my emphasis). When a person trusts God’s way of salvation (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, HAVING THE RIGHT AIM (2 Cor. 5:1-11), Paul continued to give thanks to God for making us ministers of the New Covenant, explaining why we should not “lose heart” or give up (2 Cor. 4:1, 16; 1 Cor. 15:58, etc.). It is because of His mercy and grace- (i.e. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, having been forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ of all our sin- past, present, and future), we should never throw in the towel (2 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY (2 Cor. 4:1-18), Paul continued to give thanks to God for Him making us ministers of the Gospel. Because “we have received mercy” having all of our sin forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ (past, present, and future) being saved by grace through faith, “we do not lose heart” (2 Cor. 4:1; 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 5:1-2, etc.). To “lose heart” means to ‘to become weary,’ ‘to become tired,’ ‘to despair,’ and even ‘to give up.’… Continue reading
In our message, GOD’S LIVING LETTERS (2 Cor. 3:1-18), we continued to look at Paul defending himself before the “false apostles” who attacked the truth of the Bible (2 Cor. 11:12-15; Gen. 3:1, etc.). These men not only used Paul’s changed plans on visiting Corinth to attack him, but they also brought “letters of commendation” to “commend” themselves as they argued Paul possessed no such documentation and should be ignored (2 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, BEING SHREWD ABOUT DECEPTION (2 Cor. 2:1-17), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.).
Paul continues to explain why he postponed his intended visit (2 Cor. 1:16; 2:1-4, etc.). It was because he had “made up [his] own mind” not to come to them again in sorrow (2 Cor. 2:1 NET).… Continue reading
In our message, PURE MOTIVES IN MINISTRY (2 Cor. 1:12-24), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry, and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.). In Second Corinthians, we see “false apostles” led and instigated an attack against the truth of God’s Word spoken through the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 1:1; 11:13-15, etc.).… Continue reading
In our message, THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT (2 Cor. 1:1-11), we started a new book in the Bible- Second Corinthians. Both First and Second Corinthians deal thematically with the church and church life. While First Corinthians focuses on several specific problems in a local church and how God says we are to approach those issues, Second Corinthians deals primarily with what ministry is all about and defending the Word of God.… Continue reading
In our message, THE CALL TO BE SPIRITUAL (1 Cor. 16:13-24), we completed our series on the book of First Corinthians.
The Holy Spirit summarizes the message of this book here: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14). The Greek word to “be brave” (andrízomai) is translated “quit you like men” in the old KJV and means literally “to make a man of… make brave,” to be courageous… This is the role of course of every godly husband to lead his house spiritually, strongly in the Lord, but it is also the role of every Christian to be “spiritual,” instead of “carnal” (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our message, BEING STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE… (1 Cor. 16:1-12), we looked at additional questions the church had for Paul (1 Cor. 16:1, 12). The first one deals with stewardship. In view of our certain future of being glorified and reigning with the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 58), we are called to also excel in the grace of giving (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8, etc.).
While this question from Corinth to Paul (i.e.… Continue reading
In our message, THE FINAL VICTORY (1 Cor. 15:42-58), we continued our series in the book of First Corinthians looking at the Gospel and specifically the time when Jesus will return for the church and Christians will be glorified in Him (Rom. 8:30, 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.).
Paul continued to explain what would happen to a Christian who had died before Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:42-49) and then transitioned to what would happen bodily to those of us who are alive when Jesus returns for the church (1 Cor.… Continue reading
