Sunday Morning Service

II Corinthians 6

Click above for audio access

“The Concern Of God's Servants” • 3.17.13 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Paul stood tall on the Apostolic Covenant of grace through faith in chapter 3. He explained Apostolic Character in chapter 4, as well as Apostolic Convictions in chapter 5.

- Today, as we examine chapter 6, Paul will speak to the Corinthians about Apostolic Concern! The Corinthians were in great danger and didn't seem to perceive it. Paul will help them!

Text

• II Corinthians 6:1,2 : "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." : Paul, though an eminently qualified Aposte, is not above begging and pleading.

- He does not order people around or issue commands. He earnestly pleads the Lord's case. They are not alone, as the Lord is pleading right along and through the Apostles.

- Paul demonstrates the type of heart necessary to minister to God's people. We are to love people enough to humble ourselves in calling them to righteousness. What was Paul's fear?

- That the Corinthians would have received the grace of God in vain. How is this possible?

- The Corinthians were being swayed by the "Super Apostles" who swore allegiance to the law.

- They said "Yes" to grace through faith, but then sought to have men add works to their faith. In that case, a person has made void God's covenant promise.

- Contextually, I believe this was Paul's chief concern. To add anything to salvation is to empty the Christian faith of it's power and to commit yourself to vanity!

- Paul brings them to the Word in Isaiah 49, a chapter expressing God's heart for the captives to return from Babylonian captivity.

- At the right time, God had heard them in Babylon and in that day, the day of salvation, they would turn to be delivered again. Paul tells the Corinthians that this is for them!

- Having been delivered from the captivity of sin and having been delivered from the death of the law, yield yourself now to the grace in Christ!

- Don't return again to that way of life! Don't let yourselves be put under the yoke! Live in the grace that has been afforded you through Christ.

- We might say that there is a day of salvation that is primary and introductory. Today, if you are not saved and you sense God calling you, you need to act, for today is the day of salvation!

- For those who have already received salvation, every new day, there will be choices to trust other sources or works of righteousness.

- In that case, today, renew your trust in Christ exclusively. Refuse any other suitor!

- Once you have trusted in Christ, let us never trust anything else! He is sufficient and will always be worthy of our full and undivided trust.

• II Corinthians 6:3-5 : "We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,  in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings," : There was no valid cause for offense or stumbling in anything that the Apostles had done.

- They lived to protect their ministry from being blamed or mocked. We have to be careful of the same thing as we minister in this world. Our personal ministry requires a life that is focused.

- The Apostles went to great lengths to be sure that that was the case. In all things, in every action, in every response, they revealed themselves as ministers of God.

- Their credentials were not seen in times of comfort and ease. They were discovered to be authentic in these scenarios. First in much patience or delberate steadied faithfulness.

- They bore up under extreme circumstances, well beyond what we will have faced.

- They were revealed as authentic in tribulations, pressure situations, in needs or dire straits, in distresses or narrow escapes, in stripes or physical beatings.

- The mental and physical sufferings that they faced were tremendous, but even in these moments, they pressed forward and revealed to the world a faithfulness to Christ.

- They had been imprisoned for their witness, in tumults or riots small and great. They had labored, the word indicating a labor that was frustrating in nature.

- They stayed awake at night, watching and waiting upon the Lord in prayer for people.

- That usually led to fasting for them, both the voluntary and involuntary kind.

- Understand this: Fruitful ministry to those that you love will require you to understand a bit of this list, at least in some degree.

- Your kids will try your loving endurance, your work will yield seasons of escalating tribulation. Choices you make for the sake of your love will cause you personal distress.

- There may come a time when you are physically abused for your faith, but until then, you can expect a tongue lashing on occasion! What parent hasn't lost a little sleep in prayer over children?

- If you will minister, you will need to minister in these conditions as well.

• II Corinthians 6:6-8 : "by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,  by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report;" : The Apostles ministered by a right life, the knowledge of scripture and being slow to avenge wrongs!

- "Oh, they were slow in avenging wrongs eh? But I bet they weren't very nice!" Quite the contrary, as the Apostles displayed kindness when confronted with ill treatment!

- They answered not of themselves, but by the word of truth, the Bible as they had it. They had at this time, just the Old Testament. Are we giving our word or God's Word to people?

- They answered not in their own power, but in the power of God. They did not retaliate with the weapons of carnal warfare, but by the armor or righteousness on the right and the left!

- Whichever way they turned, they wore the same thing! They didn't wear something here and then try something different over here. They wore righteousness every time!

- The Apostles were the same when they were honored as when they were dishonored. In glory and disgrace, these men were the same.

- You might think that this is a very easy thing, but the honor or dishonor of men is a severe test of character. They didn't use the flattery or the insult to their advantage or as an excuse.

- If there was an evil report or a good report about them, they were unaffected. They still spoke faithfully the truths of God.

• II Corinthians 6:9,10 : "as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." : When they were thought to be deceivers, they stayed true.

- When they were unknown, they acted as though they were well known, meaning that they didn't take advantage of a situation to act in an inappropriate way.

- They lived as though they were known wherever they went, which is a great piece of wisdom for us today. How would your choices change if everyone knew who you were?

- They lived as though they were dying, but yet they lived. They seemed to be under the discipline of God, but they weren't killed.

- The looked to the world as men filled with the ache of grief, but in everything they rejoiced.

- They were destitute, but their lives brought great riches to all around them. They had nothing in this world, but they had everything that they needed!

- The Corinthians needed to hear that these sufferings were not a sign of God's abandonment or displeasure. That which had been observed, did not tell the whole story.

- Their faith had been given to them through these experiences. Don't let it go to waste!

• II Corinthians 6:11-13 : "O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open." : There was nothing hidden between the Apostles and the Corinthians. Literally Paul says, our mouth and our heart is open to you. Everything was accessible to them.

- The Corinthians believed however, that they were being restricted, constricted, held back by the Apostles, which is how every person in sin views their brothers and sisters.

- They feel that people around them are too narrow with their opinions. This however is not the case. Paul tells them you feel like you are in a cramped space because of your affections.

- Literally, it's your bowels that are restricted! The bowels, the gut in Greek thought, is the seat of human emotions and decisions.

- "Do you feel that I am cramping your style by calling you out on your sin?" That has nothing to do with me or God's Word. It's your wayward heart!

- Walking with Christ is not a problem, until you hold out your hands to the passing pleasures of sin and your eyes are averted toward the deceitfulness of riches!

- Paul says, "reward us for our openness by being open toward us!" Welcome our input into your life again. Hear what God would say through us to you.

• II Corinthians 6:14-16a : " Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God." : What will the Apostle say to the people of Corinth? What does Paul want them to receive as loving instruction?

- "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." This is one of the most oft repeated and well known verses in the Bible, yet the one that seems so dispensable among believers.

- Why is that so? Because we are so thick headed! Without even hearing any more, be sure that you hear the Spirit of God speak this afresh to you: Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers!

- Let's take a moment and quickly get rid of what this doesn't teach. This does not teach that you should divorce a spouse or leave a job because of a relationship to an unbeliever.

- Some came to Christ while already married or having been employed in such a relationship. Paul addressed that in I Corinthians 7 when he told them to stay if the unbeliever was willing.

- Second, this does not refer to living a life that segregated from non-Christians. Paul says, "If that were the case, you'd have to leave the planet!"

- This verse before us refers to influence and pulling together toward a goal, such as two animals would have to do in the field of service.

- An unequal yoke. This is the only place in scripture where this word is found. It's made up of two words. "Heterozugeo" means "yoke of another kind."

- Agriculturally, one would look out into a field and see two animals of similar size, with a yoke that was fit for both animals.

- To put a yoke on a strong ox and a strong donkey would have been an unequal yoke. Both are strong animals, but that ox pulls forward and the donkey likes to pull back!

- Christians, you are alive in Christ, healthy and strong in your faith. You have an appetite for His Word, a desire for fellowship, a hope to hear His heart.

- None of that is true for an unbeliever! They are dead in their sins. They have no desire for God's Word, unless it agrees with or endorses their latest desire.

- Paul therefore commands that the Corinthians abstain from being in a dependant relationship with unbelievers, literally, those without faith.

- You can't control being around unbelievers. In fact, that's a good thing so long as you maintain a view of your mission! What you must control is linking your heart emotionally to them.

- What kind of unbeliever was Paul talking about? The people of Corinth were yoking themselves with people who believed that true Christianity was perfected by works of the law.

- Any addition to salvation by God's grace in Christ through the exercise of our faith is a non-faith. It's not the faith once delivered. It's not the faith found in the Bible or given through the Apostles.

- Any subtraction from this is a non-faith as well. Both sides of the coin describe non-believers!

- A yoke with an unbeliever in business begins in excitement but ends in misery! There is no amount of money worth a loss of Christian dignity and witness!

- A yoke with an unbeliever in a dating relationship begins with great promise and excitement and might even extend to the early years of marriage. Wait till you have kids!

- That Christian lives in a constant state of tension, conflicted in matters of schedule, financial commitments and general direction in life. It's never God's plan for you. No exception.

- It doesn't matter how nice, smart, wise and well intentioned they are. It's Satan's trap to send an imitation before Jesus sends the authentic! Wait for the real thing!

- Let me go a little further. You had better be sure you have a good definition of what an equally yoked believer is. What does their life confess about their love for Christ.

- Do they want to read the Bible as much as you do? Do they want to be around God's people as much as you do? Do you ever hear them talking about Jesus and their love for HIm?

- What excites them? How do they spend their money? What are their dreams and goals?

- Final question: Do they push you to be a more faithful lover of Jesus Christ?

- If they aren't more faithful to Christ than you, and if they don't love Him as much as you do, then that is a yoke you had better not put on! Why?  Because the two simply do not mix!

- Paul uses 5 rhetorical questions here describing believers and unbelievers. Can righteousness and lawlessness share together?

- Would you go into a venture with somebody that you knew was a crook? Would you stand alongside of that person for very long, much less actually lend your hand to their pursuits?

- No fellowship. He says next, "No communion." Light and darkness do not exist in the same place at the same time. They are mutually exclusive to each other.

- What partnership can light, a Christian who is the light of the world, have with darkness, one who is lost within the world system?

- No fellowship, no communion, no agreement. The word comes from the Greek word for symphony. Do Jesus and Belial or the Devil, ever sing the same tune?

- No fellowship, no communion, no agreement and no portion! There is no sharing between a believer and an unbeliever.

- Finally, Paul tells them that they have no approval, or a joint deposit together. The temple of God does not go into the bank and share funds with the temple of idols!

- They have separate bank accounts! They have separate interests and financial goals!

- If you are yoked to an unbeliever, there is being faithful to God or faithful to your feelings. Which will win out? If it's your feelings, then you have already lost!

- But today, if you hear His voice, don't harden your heart. Trust that He has a better business decision, a more amicable arrangement and a better boy or girlfriend! Trust Him!

• II Corinthians 6:16b-18 : "As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'" : Paul has leveled them with his plain logic. He finishes them with scripture. God has said this. This is His Word, His promise.

- This is a multi verse vitamin package, beginning with Leviticus 26:12. The verse preceding, Leviticus 26:11 speaks of the tabernacle that would be built.

- That tabernacle in the desert was where God would meet with His people in the center of their camp and lives. God would walk among their camp and have an intimate relationship with them.

- Think back to what was lost in Eden. In the cool of the day, God would walk with Adam and Eve. Here, He promises to the wandering Israelites a similar privilege based on sacrifice.

- Alternatively, the same phrase is found in Jeremiah 36:38. The context there is occupation and the life that was about to be lived in Babylon.

- God makes a promise that He will bring the captive out of captivity and that they will united to Him again. What is Paul saying to you?

- Your walk is at stake! Most who are going outside of any boundary line that the Lord puts up for our safety have lost the significance of this privilege.

- He is your God and He wants to walk with you, to be rightly related to you! On that account, because that is the reality, therefore, "Come out and be separate!"

- Paul quotes here from Isaiah 52:11. He is prophesying of the end of their captivity and God calling the people to come back out from Babylon, to return to the land.

- Those who are involved in a relationship with an unbeliever are like those who are in captivity again to sin. God says one thing: "Come out!"

- You want to have a relationship with the Lord? It won't be in context with a life of slavery!

- Finally, Paul quotes from II Samuel 7:14, which speaks of the word of God to David regarding Solomon. He would be a Father to all of David's son, as He was to Solomon.

- He is Your Father believer! He will act toward you as a Father. Of Solomon, He promised that He would chasten or discipline him. Will He not do the same to you?

- He disciplines those that He loves and a person who calls themselves by the name of Christ, yet disobediently goes out into this territory can expect some difficult, but love motivated discipline!

Conclusion
- In the end, Paul's concern is that they would lose out on the joy and simplicity of their salvation. When my heart is tied to ideas that do not come from Him, He is not the problem!

- Today is the day of salvation! Will you trust Him? Will you believe that He is enough for you? Will you trust Him to bring you into the right career? Will you trust Him to bless your business?

- Will you trust Him with your love life, believing that a boyfriend/girlfriend who is not a friend of God's, no matter how nice and well intentioned they are?

- Today is the day of salvation! He is your Father. He wants what's best. He knows what's best. Will you receive His best and have joy or will you settle for less and face His discipline? Your choice!