2 Corinthians 1:15-22 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 1:15-22, which read,
v.15, 16 - In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.
The confidence that Paul has is in the outcomes of the grace of God on the lives of the Christians in the church in Corinth. Paul's confidence is in the spiritual growth of this group of Christians that he is communicating with by letter. His plan was to physically visit them twice after that first initial visit. He would leave Ephesus and then visit Corinth on his way to Macedonia and then visit Corinth again before heading to Judea.
Paul calls those visits a time to receive a "blessing." It was a blessing to be with each other and also a blessing to be able to help him with the offering to the saints that were being persecuted in Judea. Is it a blessing when we gather together? Do we see it as a blessing or is it a burden? Do we see what we can do together for the needs of our community and world as a blessing? As the song goes, "We are so blessed..."
v.17 - Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.
What is happening is that both of these visits to the Christians in the church in Corinth didn't happen. There was a change of plans and some opponents of Paul were using this to discredit the gospel that Paul brought. "He said he was going to come and he didn't therefore he can't be trusted" was there defense against Paul. Paul is just stating that plans change and these plans changed but not because of him but because of the direction and guidance of God. Paul's opponents against the gospel wanted to discredit Paul as someone who says one thing and then does another, his "yes" really means "no" and his "no" means "yes."
v.18-20 - But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us--by me and Silvanus and Timothy--was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Our plans may be changed and changed by God but God is faithful through it all and also are His promises. Paul's plans may have been altered by God but the gospel message of the Son of God, Jesus Christ preached to them by himself and Silvanus and Timothy is not altered. The gospel message is an "Amen." We say that word at the end of a prayer to let everyone know that the prayer has ended and we can commence to eat or to go onto the next element in the service but the word is a "yes" to all that was said before. It is a word to say together as agreement to the words presented and therefore saying "let it be so." Jesus is the "Amen" with a capital A to the gospel of God in the life of Paul and the life of the Christians in Corinth. It is not about if Paul made it there both times but it is about saying "amen" or "yes" to the Jesus and His faithfulness to His promises.
Paul's opponents are trying to get the Christians to put their focus on Paul's words and Paul is trying to get the Christians to keep their focus on God's words that never change.
v.21, 22 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Paul points to the Savior who continues to establish us. The Savior is doing the establishing and not Paul. It is the Savior who has anointed us or commissioned us. It is the Savior who has sealed us or put His seal on us to show His ownership of us. It is the Savior who has given us the Spirit within us as a pledge or a solemn vow or a down payment of what is to come. The Savior, not Paul, is the only one who can do all of this. The Savior establishes, anoints, seals and pledges. Paul is just the established, anointed, sealed, and pledged vessel that God used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
I intend a lot and many times way too much because I can't get to it all but I am thankful that my intentions are not the determining factor of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said that He would build His church. I intend a lot toward it but I am not the owner of the church and I am not the builder of the church. I get myself in trouble when I think I am more than I am and we get ourselves in trouble when we put any one human in that place in our response or continued response to the gospel.
"Lord, thank You for using us. Thank You for continuing to establish us. Thank You for anointing us for service. Thank You for sealing us with Your stamp of ownership. Thank You for giving us as a pledge, as a down payment, the Spirit of You within us for what is to come. Thank You for sending many of Your servants along my way but help me to realize that they are only humans who can be unfaithful speaking of the God who is ever faithful. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.15, 16 - In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.
The confidence that Paul has is in the outcomes of the grace of God on the lives of the Christians in the church in Corinth. Paul's confidence is in the spiritual growth of this group of Christians that he is communicating with by letter. His plan was to physically visit them twice after that first initial visit. He would leave Ephesus and then visit Corinth on his way to Macedonia and then visit Corinth again before heading to Judea.
Paul calls those visits a time to receive a "blessing." It was a blessing to be with each other and also a blessing to be able to help him with the offering to the saints that were being persecuted in Judea. Is it a blessing when we gather together? Do we see it as a blessing or is it a burden? Do we see what we can do together for the needs of our community and world as a blessing? As the song goes, "We are so blessed..."
v.17 - Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.
What is happening is that both of these visits to the Christians in the church in Corinth didn't happen. There was a change of plans and some opponents of Paul were using this to discredit the gospel that Paul brought. "He said he was going to come and he didn't therefore he can't be trusted" was there defense against Paul. Paul is just stating that plans change and these plans changed but not because of him but because of the direction and guidance of God. Paul's opponents against the gospel wanted to discredit Paul as someone who says one thing and then does another, his "yes" really means "no" and his "no" means "yes."
v.18-20 - But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us--by me and Silvanus and Timothy--was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Our plans may be changed and changed by God but God is faithful through it all and also are His promises. Paul's plans may have been altered by God but the gospel message of the Son of God, Jesus Christ preached to them by himself and Silvanus and Timothy is not altered. The gospel message is an "Amen." We say that word at the end of a prayer to let everyone know that the prayer has ended and we can commence to eat or to go onto the next element in the service but the word is a "yes" to all that was said before. It is a word to say together as agreement to the words presented and therefore saying "let it be so." Jesus is the "Amen" with a capital A to the gospel of God in the life of Paul and the life of the Christians in Corinth. It is not about if Paul made it there both times but it is about saying "amen" or "yes" to the Jesus and His faithfulness to His promises.
Paul's opponents are trying to get the Christians to put their focus on Paul's words and Paul is trying to get the Christians to keep their focus on God's words that never change.
v.21, 22 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Paul points to the Savior who continues to establish us. The Savior is doing the establishing and not Paul. It is the Savior who has anointed us or commissioned us. It is the Savior who has sealed us or put His seal on us to show His ownership of us. It is the Savior who has given us the Spirit within us as a pledge or a solemn vow or a down payment of what is to come. The Savior, not Paul, is the only one who can do all of this. The Savior establishes, anoints, seals and pledges. Paul is just the established, anointed, sealed, and pledged vessel that God used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
I intend a lot and many times way too much because I can't get to it all but I am thankful that my intentions are not the determining factor of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said that He would build His church. I intend a lot toward it but I am not the owner of the church and I am not the builder of the church. I get myself in trouble when I think I am more than I am and we get ourselves in trouble when we put any one human in that place in our response or continued response to the gospel.
"Lord, thank You for using us. Thank You for continuing to establish us. Thank You for anointing us for service. Thank You for sealing us with Your stamp of ownership. Thank You for giving us as a pledge, as a down payment, the Spirit of You within us for what is to come. Thank You for sending many of Your servants along my way but help me to realize that they are only humans who can be unfaithful speaking of the God who is ever faithful. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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