2 Corinthians 1:12-14 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:12-14, which read,
v.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.
What is Paul proud of here? He is proud of a confidence that the testimony they gave and the conduct that was presented to the world and to the Christians in the church in Corinth was of holiness and godly sincerity about the grace of God and not the fleshly wisdom of the world.
Paul's conscience was telling him that he and his companions had given the church the gospel of God in full and not something other than the gospel to appeal to their flesh to entice them to listen or join them. That conscience is feed to have this assessment not only by what Paul and his companions said but also by the conduct of their lives of godliness and holiness before them. He is proud of what God can and will do with the testimony and conduct of His grace, said and shown, by he and his companions.
The question is: Do I have a proud confidence in what God can and will do with my testimony and conduct about the grace of God to the world that is around me?
v.13, 14 - For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; 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.
As Paul continues to communicate with the Christians in the church of Corinth, he writes in this vain for them to understand and understand until the end. They are growing and will continue to grow until the Lord returns or they die in the Lord. Our walk with the Lord is a continual growth in Him from justification, through sanctification and unto glorification. Paul is continuing to communicate with them and the Bible is God's instrument to continue to communicate with us and given so that we will continue to understand more of the grace of God.
Paul uses the word "proud" again and if we can keep away from it's negative connotation, he has this thankfulness and gratefulness to be able to stand before the Lord on the day of the Lord Jesus to say "I am so thankful that I know the Corinthian Christians and of their walk with the Lord." The Christians in Corinth should also be able to point to Paul and his companions and have that same thankfulness and gratefulness toward them in the presence of the Lord.
Who were those people who pointed you toward Jesus? Who were those people whose testimony you heard and saw that gave you a clearer picture of the grace of God? Who did God use to call out to you? Should you and I let that person or persons know now how much that means to us prior to that day before the Lord? I think so.
"Lord, You have sent along my way different people with the testimony and the conduct of life that have shown me more clearly Your grace. You have sent people along my way that have helped me to understand Your word. May I see today that You are continuing to send people out with Your grace and I am one of them to be used by You. May my testimony and conduct among others be of the grace of God. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.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.
What is Paul proud of here? He is proud of a confidence that the testimony they gave and the conduct that was presented to the world and to the Christians in the church in Corinth was of holiness and godly sincerity about the grace of God and not the fleshly wisdom of the world.
Paul's conscience was telling him that he and his companions had given the church the gospel of God in full and not something other than the gospel to appeal to their flesh to entice them to listen or join them. That conscience is feed to have this assessment not only by what Paul and his companions said but also by the conduct of their lives of godliness and holiness before them. He is proud of what God can and will do with the testimony and conduct of His grace, said and shown, by he and his companions.
The question is: Do I have a proud confidence in what God can and will do with my testimony and conduct about the grace of God to the world that is around me?
v.13, 14 - For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; 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.
As Paul continues to communicate with the Christians in the church of Corinth, he writes in this vain for them to understand and understand until the end. They are growing and will continue to grow until the Lord returns or they die in the Lord. Our walk with the Lord is a continual growth in Him from justification, through sanctification and unto glorification. Paul is continuing to communicate with them and the Bible is God's instrument to continue to communicate with us and given so that we will continue to understand more of the grace of God.
Paul uses the word "proud" again and if we can keep away from it's negative connotation, he has this thankfulness and gratefulness to be able to stand before the Lord on the day of the Lord Jesus to say "I am so thankful that I know the Corinthian Christians and of their walk with the Lord." The Christians in Corinth should also be able to point to Paul and his companions and have that same thankfulness and gratefulness toward them in the presence of the Lord.
Who were those people who pointed you toward Jesus? Who were those people whose testimony you heard and saw that gave you a clearer picture of the grace of God? Who did God use to call out to you? Should you and I let that person or persons know now how much that means to us prior to that day before the Lord? I think so.
"Lord, You have sent along my way different people with the testimony and the conduct of life that have shown me more clearly Your grace. You have sent people along my way that have helped me to understand Your word. May I see today that You are continuing to send people out with Your grace and I am one of them to be used by You. May my testimony and conduct among others be of the grace of God. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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