December 5: 2 Corinthians 5-9

December 5, 2 Corinthians 5-9

2 Corinthians continued… “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

2 Corinthians 5 Our Heavenly Dwelling. What do we have to look forward to? It doesn't matter the hardships we experience here on earth as believers in Jesus Christ, because one day we will be at home with Lord in the home that He has prepared for us. This we can look forward to. God will be the one who clothes us and we will be in eternal glory when we are with Him. So be encouraged, says Paul! We are to live by faith and live our lives to please God here. Live that way, and when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ someday to be judged, we may “receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 

The Ministry of Reconciliation. Paul & his companions are reflecting on the efficiency of their ministry. He deals with some accusations and continued to stand firm in the fact that he has done all that he has done for the sake and glory of Jesus Christ. He concludes that we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ and because of Jesus, we can be reconciled to God. Without Jesus, we do not have access to God. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This ability was not an easy task or undertaking. Jesus became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God - to be made right with God because before we were not. 

2 Corinthians 6 Do not squander God’s grace and we must always push forward for Christ. No matter how hard it gets (and it gets hard) we are to strive for the goal of holiness and loving Jesus. Today is the day of salvation and we must not take that for granted but get that message out to as many as possible in love. Paul gives us a list of hardships that he has endured and makes it known that he was still pursuing the love of Jesus within that. We can follow that example… Trust that the Holy Spirit will help and guide you.

The Temple of the Living God. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” Simply put - Don’t ally yourself with unbelievers and have nothing to do with idolatry. We have here some Old Testament Scriptures about some of God’s promises that we are His children and part of His family. We are to have nothing to do with sin and to separate from it - don't play the game of sin/idolatry and expect positive results. Don’t ‘yoke’ yourselves with lovers of sin or sin itself. Yoke yourselves with Christ. Our portion is with Christ and believers share in that. 

2 Corinthians 7 Paul starts out this chapter concluding the last, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” Cling to the promises of God and cleanse yourself in the love and blood of Jesus Christ. 

Paul’s Joy. Paul truly loved the Corinthians and was willing to continue on with them to love them however he could. Remember back in chapter 2, how Paul was eager to see his ministry partner and friend, Titus? Paul was greatly encouraged by the visit of Titus because whatever sadness Paul had with the church was minimized because of the amount of joy he received when Titus told Paul about their obedience! Our faith has great effect on our fellow brothers and sisters. Here is what it comes down to: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” True conviction from God leads to salvation and earthly guilt leads to death… Live your life with intention and purpose. 

2 Corinthians 8 Encouragement to Give Generously. Bakers Commentary summarized this chapter this way, “The churches in Macedonia have shown an extraordinary measure of generosity by donating gifts for the poverty-stricken saints in Jerusalem. They gave even beyond what their resources allowed. Also, they pleaded with Paul to permit them to participate in the raising of funds to help the poor. These people devoted themselves to serving the Lord by yielding themselves completely to Paul and his associates. While Titus was visiting the Corinthians, he implemented a similar undertaking, but it stagnated. Now Paul gives him the mandate to return and complete that project in Corinth. The apostle is not encouraging rivalry between the Macedonians and the Corinthians. Instead he directs attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being rich in heavenly glory, became poor on earth to make poor sinners spiritually rich.

Paul counsels the Corinthians not only to give to the collection but also to have the desire to do so. He encourages them to complete the task and to demonstrate a willingness to help. He is not asking them to give more than they are able to afford, but to give of their abundance. He is interested in sufficiency for all, much as the Israelites in the desert received sufficient food.

God gave Titus the desire to return to Corinth, and now on his own accord Paul’s associate shows eagerness to go. Paul informs the Corinthians that a brother, known to the churches because of the gospel, will accompany Titus. Also, this brother, chosen by the churches, will be Paul’s fellow traveler to Jerusalem. The apostle protects himself from any criticism that may arise because of the collection.

Paul sends one other brother with Titus to Corinth. This person has often been tested, is enthusiastic, and has a large measure of trust in the Corinthians. Paul commends this trio to the believers in Corinth and pleads with the recipients of his letter to accept them in love and to prove to all the churches their eagerness to help.”

Prove your faith in Christ by living it out…

2 Corinthians 9 The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to continue in the path of Christ and their zeal for the Lord is great.

The Cheerful Giver. “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Give what God has placed on your heart. Further God’s Kingdom - do you want to do that or further your own kingdom? To break it down simply, Give to God for God not to get from God for you. 

To sum it all up: 

• Our lives must reflect a continual pursuit of holiness because we will be held to account and judged on our lives. Live your lives with no regrets then. Be resolute in your Biblical convictions and do not waiver.
• We are made right with God through Jesus, only. He is the only way to God.