2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:4 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:4, which read,
v.23 - 2.1 - But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
Paul said he was going to come to them twice but then made a decision to come only once. Paul's opponent's took this opportunity to use it as an attack on Paul's character because he said one thing and did another. Paul then explained that the message of the grace of God was not depended on him and his attendance but was based on God who is always faithful who they spoke of with the confidence of the outcome of preaching of that grace.
Now Paul gives some more background on the decision not to come twice but only once. His reason for holding off on coming was to give the Christians in Corinth time to repent and correct the ways away from God's way that he detailed in 1st Corinthians. Instead of Paul coming in with "guns a-blazing" in regards to their unholy behaviors, he decided to wait a little longer so they could turn around and be walking with God when he returns to them. The decision was for them but also for Paul who didn't want to make another visit to them in sorrow but in joy.
v.2, 3 - For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? This is the very things I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
"The cookies need a little more time" is Paul's reasoning for skipping a visit to them. If he came now, it would be another sorrowful visit, but he was looking for repentance so that the visit could be one of joy. The Word of God was given and now the waiting had commenced to see if the Christians in Corinth would obey based on it rather than based on Paul's presence.
Who are you when no one else is looking? Is your obedience to the Lord based on the Word of God and your relationship with Him or is it based on who is around you or the pressure to measure up to some human church influence in your life? Joy does not come when we are just following the orders of other humans. Joy comes when we follow God and God's ways totally based on Him though we have heard of His ways and words through others. Paul is waiting for that transformation in the lives of these Christians.
v.4 - For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
All that Paul is doing with the writing of the letters and the visits and the non-visits is out of love for the Christians in Corinth. He does all of this with tears in his eyes not to make them more sorrowful but so that they can know of that joy of living and serving Jesus. There is a true heartache for those who we have been able to share the gospel with positively and then see them lured to walk in the ways of the enemy or to live a double life depended on the situation they are in.
Paul's heart breaks for them to know and experience the joy of a genuine walk with the Lord that is based on Jesus and Him alone. Paul's heart breaks for them to stand firm in the gospel that was preached to them that they heard and not be swayed by the gospels of the world. Paul's heart breaks for the outcomes on others in the church when Christians abandon the ways of the Lord. The church can "wound" people when it doesn't live and act according to the ways of the gospel. The church can also "convict" people to listen, accept and obey it when we do live and act according to the ways of the gospel. The second way is our goal and the goal that Paul is giving time for the Christians in Corinth to realize.
"Lord, how will we impact our community and those who come in direct contact with the church and our witness of who You are and Your giving of Your grace through Jesus Christ? Will they be wounded by our disobedience to You or will they be convicted of a love that can transform lives? May we repent of wounding others with disobedience and may we get on with lives of obedience that produces a love of God and others which leads to the message of God's grace transforming more lives. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.23 - 2.1 - But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
Paul said he was going to come to them twice but then made a decision to come only once. Paul's opponent's took this opportunity to use it as an attack on Paul's character because he said one thing and did another. Paul then explained that the message of the grace of God was not depended on him and his attendance but was based on God who is always faithful who they spoke of with the confidence of the outcome of preaching of that grace.
Now Paul gives some more background on the decision not to come twice but only once. His reason for holding off on coming was to give the Christians in Corinth time to repent and correct the ways away from God's way that he detailed in 1st Corinthians. Instead of Paul coming in with "guns a-blazing" in regards to their unholy behaviors, he decided to wait a little longer so they could turn around and be walking with God when he returns to them. The decision was for them but also for Paul who didn't want to make another visit to them in sorrow but in joy.
v.2, 3 - For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? This is the very things I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
"The cookies need a little more time" is Paul's reasoning for skipping a visit to them. If he came now, it would be another sorrowful visit, but he was looking for repentance so that the visit could be one of joy. The Word of God was given and now the waiting had commenced to see if the Christians in Corinth would obey based on it rather than based on Paul's presence.
Who are you when no one else is looking? Is your obedience to the Lord based on the Word of God and your relationship with Him or is it based on who is around you or the pressure to measure up to some human church influence in your life? Joy does not come when we are just following the orders of other humans. Joy comes when we follow God and God's ways totally based on Him though we have heard of His ways and words through others. Paul is waiting for that transformation in the lives of these Christians.
v.4 - For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
All that Paul is doing with the writing of the letters and the visits and the non-visits is out of love for the Christians in Corinth. He does all of this with tears in his eyes not to make them more sorrowful but so that they can know of that joy of living and serving Jesus. There is a true heartache for those who we have been able to share the gospel with positively and then see them lured to walk in the ways of the enemy or to live a double life depended on the situation they are in.
Paul's heart breaks for them to know and experience the joy of a genuine walk with the Lord that is based on Jesus and Him alone. Paul's heart breaks for them to stand firm in the gospel that was preached to them that they heard and not be swayed by the gospels of the world. Paul's heart breaks for the outcomes on others in the church when Christians abandon the ways of the Lord. The church can "wound" people when it doesn't live and act according to the ways of the gospel. The church can also "convict" people to listen, accept and obey it when we do live and act according to the ways of the gospel. The second way is our goal and the goal that Paul is giving time for the Christians in Corinth to realize.
"Lord, how will we impact our community and those who come in direct contact with the church and our witness of who You are and Your giving of Your grace through Jesus Christ? Will they be wounded by our disobedience to You or will they be convicted of a love that can transform lives? May we repent of wounding others with disobedience and may we get on with lives of obedience that produces a love of God and others which leads to the message of God's grace transforming more lives. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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