In our message, CLEANSING OURSELVES (2 Cor. 6:11-7:1), Paul continues his discussion of the Gospel, but now focuses on the PLEA- not to the lost- but to Christians (1 Cor. 4:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:6-9; 6:1-2, etc.).
The statement, “Oh Corinthians!” is one of only three times where Paul addresses his audience directly and personally in the middle of a letter (2 Cor. 6:11a -see also Gal. 3:1 and Phil.… Continue reading
In our message, THE DOUBLE PLEA (2 Cor. 5:18-6:10), the ministry of the New Covenant is defined in one of the clearest passages in the Bible. Because Christians have been born of God with “all things” becoming new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:7, etc.), the Lord has also “given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). We are to declare the message of the Gospel- that God “in Christ [is] reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Cor.… Continue reading
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
