2 Corinthians 10:7-11 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 10:7-11, which read,
v.7 - You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
Paul addressed in the previous paragraph about dealing with the false teachers who were speaking against God and discrediting himself. The false teachers were saying that Paul was walking in the flesh and he agreed that we all walk in the flesh but there is a difference. God gives us weapons to deal with the flesh. We take every thought captive and bring it before Christ and His word.
Paul instructs the Christians in the church in Corinth to look at these false teachers "outwardly." Look at their lives. Look at their background. Look at the facts surrounding them. What is happening is that both Paul and the false teachers are saying that they belong to Christ and some type of outward evaluation is needed to see who is telling the truth.
v.8-10 - For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible."
We finally hear what the false teachers are saying about Paul and his companions. Paul's boasting is that he has been sent by the apostles and he himself is an apostle of Christ sent by God with the gospel to the Gentiles. His actions before them were to build them up and not destroy them. He sent a letter of correction that the false teachers are twisting to say, "See Paul doesn't love you, look at the letter you received from him. Someone who really loves you doesn't sent you that kind of letter." The letter was one to point out sin so that it could lead to the repentance of the heart and a restored relationship with God. It was a letter of a father or mother loving correcting and retrieving a child who are wandered out into the street.
The false teachers of that day and many of us of this day have run with the worldly thought that if someone gives discipline than that is not in the definition of love. Their definition of love is to give you whatever you want no matter if it is going to hurt you. "We just want you to be happy" instead of "we are telling you this so that you can be holy." The person who cares enough to say "No, don't do that" or "God's word says" is in their eyes not showing love. How backwards is this if we lay that thought captive before Christ and His words that are forever warning us about the evil one. Paul was doing the most loving thing he could do by sending that letter and then following it up with a visit.
The false teachers then look at Paul's appearance and his delivery style and they have something to say about that. They are never satisfied and so is the world when it comes to pleasing itself rather than pleasing God. We can always see the faults of others if we look hard enough. I feel like this is a "pick on the pastor" session that the false teachers are having at the expense of Paul.
v.11 - Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
Paul is instructing them again to look "outwardly" at his life. What he wrote in the letter is he also living out in life before them? Is there a consistency in his life whether with them or away from them? He is telling them to take a good long look at himself and his companions and also the false teachers and make an evaluation based on words and deeds that the false teachers have brought up.
Who is feeding into your life? Who are you listening to? Can you outwardly evaluate their claims or are you attracted to them because of their charismatic and popular appeal? Are they just a phone call away? Will they come to your bedside and help you to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Teachers from afar are great and I listen to them also but don't overlook the many godly teachers that God has placed around you that day in and day out show you how much they love you through word and deed that you can actually touch and feel. The false teachers were all talk but Paul and his companions had the full package of talking and following that up with being life examples of their talk.
"Lord, we live in a glamour world that has crept into Your church. We pass by those You have put around us to seek out what the latest guru has said that we only know of through a screen of some sort. May we see the outward evidence of those You have put around us as living examples of truth in love. These may not be flashy in appearance but they prove through their words and actions that You truly are their God even when they have to say some tough stuff to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7 - You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
Paul addressed in the previous paragraph about dealing with the false teachers who were speaking against God and discrediting himself. The false teachers were saying that Paul was walking in the flesh and he agreed that we all walk in the flesh but there is a difference. God gives us weapons to deal with the flesh. We take every thought captive and bring it before Christ and His word.
Paul instructs the Christians in the church in Corinth to look at these false teachers "outwardly." Look at their lives. Look at their background. Look at the facts surrounding them. What is happening is that both Paul and the false teachers are saying that they belong to Christ and some type of outward evaluation is needed to see who is telling the truth.
v.8-10 - For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible."
We finally hear what the false teachers are saying about Paul and his companions. Paul's boasting is that he has been sent by the apostles and he himself is an apostle of Christ sent by God with the gospel to the Gentiles. His actions before them were to build them up and not destroy them. He sent a letter of correction that the false teachers are twisting to say, "See Paul doesn't love you, look at the letter you received from him. Someone who really loves you doesn't sent you that kind of letter." The letter was one to point out sin so that it could lead to the repentance of the heart and a restored relationship with God. It was a letter of a father or mother loving correcting and retrieving a child who are wandered out into the street.
The false teachers of that day and many of us of this day have run with the worldly thought that if someone gives discipline than that is not in the definition of love. Their definition of love is to give you whatever you want no matter if it is going to hurt you. "We just want you to be happy" instead of "we are telling you this so that you can be holy." The person who cares enough to say "No, don't do that" or "God's word says" is in their eyes not showing love. How backwards is this if we lay that thought captive before Christ and His words that are forever warning us about the evil one. Paul was doing the most loving thing he could do by sending that letter and then following it up with a visit.
The false teachers then look at Paul's appearance and his delivery style and they have something to say about that. They are never satisfied and so is the world when it comes to pleasing itself rather than pleasing God. We can always see the faults of others if we look hard enough. I feel like this is a "pick on the pastor" session that the false teachers are having at the expense of Paul.
v.11 - Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
Paul is instructing them again to look "outwardly" at his life. What he wrote in the letter is he also living out in life before them? Is there a consistency in his life whether with them or away from them? He is telling them to take a good long look at himself and his companions and also the false teachers and make an evaluation based on words and deeds that the false teachers have brought up.
Who is feeding into your life? Who are you listening to? Can you outwardly evaluate their claims or are you attracted to them because of their charismatic and popular appeal? Are they just a phone call away? Will they come to your bedside and help you to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Teachers from afar are great and I listen to them also but don't overlook the many godly teachers that God has placed around you that day in and day out show you how much they love you through word and deed that you can actually touch and feel. The false teachers were all talk but Paul and his companions had the full package of talking and following that up with being life examples of their talk.
"Lord, we live in a glamour world that has crept into Your church. We pass by those You have put around us to seek out what the latest guru has said that we only know of through a screen of some sort. May we see the outward evidence of those You have put around us as living examples of truth in love. These may not be flashy in appearance but they prove through their words and actions that You truly are their God even when they have to say some tough stuff to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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