2 Corinthians 1:12-14 says,
Today's verses 2 Corinthians 1:12-14 which reads,
12 "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus."
Paul is proud but of what? Aren't we not suppose to be proud but to be humble? What is Paul being so bold about?
Paul is looking at how he conducted his life in the world and especially in relationship to his readers of this letter. That conduct was based not on his fleshly wisdom but upon the grace of God. That conduct is described as being consistent with what Paul said and what Paul did; he was not holding back anything from them.
Paul also shows mutual admiration. As they admired Paul, he also admired them in light of the day of our Lord Jesus. Because of the relationship they had with each other based on the relationship they each had with Jesus, salvation brought a bond of being proud of each other.
Paul is going overboard here to tell them "I am telling the truth and nothing but the truth." I find that today we have to go overboard on this issue too. I think it is because we have been so insincere at times and lied so much that when we are truly sincere, skepticism has to be wadded through. Sin has muddied up the water for people to experience true sincerity of our words and actions and sadly that happens also in the house of the Lord.
How do we correct this? Simply, our conduct needs to be consistent with the grace of God. Our salvation and the salvation of others needs to be in view when we speak or when we act. Thinking of the other rather than ourselves when we are tempted to sin by saying something that is not true or less than sincere for the benefit of ourselves instead of being in line with what God would have us say or do.
What I say is what I do. That is a challenge to consistently do but our inconsistency in this area has created a skepticism, even among the brethren, that we have to overcome by following Jesus example and instruction to "speak the truth in love" at all times.
Parting thought: If someone has faith or trust or is proud to know us, may it be because we have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and are living our life in light of Him rather than ourselves.
Pastor Adam
12 "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus."
Paul is proud but of what? Aren't we not suppose to be proud but to be humble? What is Paul being so bold about?
Paul is looking at how he conducted his life in the world and especially in relationship to his readers of this letter. That conduct was based not on his fleshly wisdom but upon the grace of God. That conduct is described as being consistent with what Paul said and what Paul did; he was not holding back anything from them.
Paul also shows mutual admiration. As they admired Paul, he also admired them in light of the day of our Lord Jesus. Because of the relationship they had with each other based on the relationship they each had with Jesus, salvation brought a bond of being proud of each other.
Paul is going overboard here to tell them "I am telling the truth and nothing but the truth." I find that today we have to go overboard on this issue too. I think it is because we have been so insincere at times and lied so much that when we are truly sincere, skepticism has to be wadded through. Sin has muddied up the water for people to experience true sincerity of our words and actions and sadly that happens also in the house of the Lord.
How do we correct this? Simply, our conduct needs to be consistent with the grace of God. Our salvation and the salvation of others needs to be in view when we speak or when we act. Thinking of the other rather than ourselves when we are tempted to sin by saying something that is not true or less than sincere for the benefit of ourselves instead of being in line with what God would have us say or do.
What I say is what I do. That is a challenge to consistently do but our inconsistency in this area has created a skepticism, even among the brethren, that we have to overcome by following Jesus example and instruction to "speak the truth in love" at all times.
Parting thought: If someone has faith or trust or is proud to know us, may it be because we have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and are living our life in light of Him rather than ourselves.
Pastor Adam
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