Sunday Morning Service

II Corinthians 13

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“A Warning And A Blessing” • 5.19.13 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- It's not hard to imagine each of us remembering Corinth for it's carnality and confusion. At the same time, we need to understand that not all of the church was corrupt.

- There was a vocal part of the church that had taken the side of some superstar Apostles over the Apostle Paul and this divisive fissure was threatening to expand to the whole!

- The stakes were high, as widespread acceptance of these False Apostles meant a wholesale defection from a simple relationship with God through Christ, to a legal responsibility to God.

- The Apostle has done his best to reason with the Corinthians and now finishes his words to them in the final chapter. We'll complete our examination of II Corinthians with two final sections.

I. Paul's Warning (v.1-10)

II. Paul's Blessing (v.11-14)

Text

I. Paul's Warning (v.1-10)

• II Corinthians 13:1-3 : "This will be the third time I am coming to you. 'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.' I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you." : Paul's third visit to Corinth will be the final piece of evidence necessary for a judgment regarding their fitness as a church.

- Paul's first visit lasted a year and a half, during which time he was instrumental in establishing the church. The second time was a shorter than expected visit with them.

- This third visit will be the clincher. He had written to them and addressed their concerns, as well as the issues of sin that plagued them. There was nothing left to say.

- That's the meaning of the quotation found here in verse 1. They wanted law? Paul could meet with them on those grounds, though that would not really benefit them.

- He quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 a text pertaining to civil matters that would come before the elders.  Nobody was to be convicted by the mouth of just one or two witnesses.

- The law required three for legality, for a matter to be fixed firm in the sight of God.

- The reality of the situation was that the burden of proof was now squarely upon them. It was not Paul that was on trial. It was the Corinthians that were on the hot seat!

- Paul didn't need proof of his Apostolic authority! They needed proof of their Christianity!

- The Apostle will have seen the story from three distinct time periods and be able to firmly fix a godly judgment on the matter.

- Paul is calling them to take his repeated word seriously. He was not going to spare those who refused to repent!

- The word for "not sparing" refers to not withholding, venting the full recompense toward another. The NEB says he'll "show no leniency!" Paul is coming with both barrels.

- They wanted a proof that he was an Apostle, sent by Christ himself? He could furnish them with it and would if he had to! They would see it in his ability to follow through on his words.

- Really, Paul himself was weak. But it was Christ speaking toward them that would provide the punch! He was mighty in them and would correct His church when Paul came.

- Paul is saying that the Spirit that was indwelling them would testify to the Spirit that would speak through the Apostle Paul. They would be united in truth.

• II Corinthians 13:4 : "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." : The Apostle Paul had precedent to point to. He seemed quite weak to them, but not everything is as it seems.

- Jesus, the Lord, had been crucified in His weakest moment. His body had been wrecked by an all night pounding, then He was scourged, then He was crucified.

- If the Corinthians had judged Jesus based on those moments, as they had judged Paul, they might not have been Christians at all! But they, and neither do we, regard Jesus according to flesh!

- We don't relate to Him based on His human form. We relate to a resurrected Christ!

- He is the One who ever lives out from the power of God! In the same way, the Apostles were weak, but would live with Him by God's power toward the Corinthians.

- Paul is saying that they would be united together in bringing about judgment in the house of God. The Apostles were not acting alone and the power of their calling would be at their disposal.

• II Corinthians 13:5,6 : "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified." : Paul commands the Corinthians to put themselves on trial. Look at yourself objectively, in light of God's Word and gather whether or not you are in the faith.

- The Corinthians had done what is easiest to do: Criticize and analyze another. They had become "experts" in ministry, but had failed to even notice their own failings.

- Paul tells them: Enough with looking at the Apostles. Apply your critical eye in your direction! Turn the attention back toward yourself! Ask yourself this: Are you in "the faith?"

- "The faith" refers toward the body of beliefs that all Christians believe and hold to. It centers in Jesus Christ being the Lord of your life!

- Do you trust entirely in the Jesus Christ of the Bible, the One who has always been God, who took on humanity and died in your place?

- Has that trust led you to lovingly obey His Word in public and in private, never arriving at sinless perfection, but certainly not living in sinful predicaments?

- Is there evidence of a hunger for His Word, a desire to serve Him with your life and a diligence to keep any and all deterrants at bay?

- For those who seek a thorough self-examination, I'd point you to the first epistle of John, where the Apostle John offers several tests of Christian authenticity.

- I would strongly recommend that you take some time to read that epistle and look for key phrases like "If we say" and "by this we know" and "this is." It's a book of definition.

- The Corinthians were to test themselves in these things, referring to the type of scrutiny that is applied to gems revealing their authenticity as rare and precious or false.

- "Don't you recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?" What a probing question indeed!

- This was true, unless upon observation, they were, disqualified, unapproved, or as the KJV renders it, "reprobates." What a scary thing to consider!

- Imagine that upon evaluation, you discovered that what you thought was genuine was actually a counterfeit! What a blow to the psyche!

- Yet, there are many who play this game. They come to church, they imitate what they see, but there is no reality. The leave the church and go back out living and talking the same way.

- They involve themselves in things that they should be struggling against, only to return the next week with no change and or desire for it!

- I urge you who are here: Don't be a fool. You might be fooling me and everyone else. You will never fool Him! There is nothing to gain by your game with God! He is Lord of all or not Lord at all!

- What the Corinthians would find about the Apostles was that they were not unapproved. They were genuine, authentic workers.

• II Corinthians 13:7,8 : "Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." The Corinthians should seek to be authentic believers in Christ, ever conforming to His image, not for the reputation of the Apostles, but for the sake of the truth.

- Their activities did not reflect upon the authority or the authenticity of the Apostles. The world may have believed the Apostles to be inauthentic, but that didn't make that the case.

- To the world, the Apostles seemed to be disqualified, inauthentic, because the world was, even then, being sold a false bill of goods!

- Even then, the world was being taught that Christianity was a source of gain and that God approved of those with reputation and appearance. Nothing could be further from the truth!

- Paul prayed repeatedly that they would do nothing according to a base nature. This was part of the test for authenticity. Are you doing evil? Can something evil be found with you?

- On the flip side of that, an authentic believer will seek to do what is honorable. The word refers to that which is beautiful and noble.

- Here is a standard to hold before you: Are you looking to live in the beauty of a walk with Christ that leads to beautiful things or is there evil to be found?

- Nobody can dispute the truth about us! These tests find us out and expose us for what we are! The truth will be served and the Apostles would stand on the side of the truth about them.

• II Corinthians 13:9,10 : "For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction." : The Corinthians believed that the Apostles were weak and that they were strong, but the opposite was true, though if it was true, then Paul would have rejoiced.

- It was just a few verses ago that Paul held out the philosophy that he would spend and be spent for their souls. If he were weak and they were strong, his goal would have been met!

- But this was not the case. Paul still held out hope and prayed that they would be made complete, to come to maturity.

- That's why he wrote the way that he did. He did not want to be harsh or severe with them when they were together. Who wants that? Isn't it better to be on the same page?

- The Apostle wrote in the hope that they would hear his words, sincerely look at themselves, repent of known sin and report a healthy change.

- That way, when Paul did come, his authority would not tear them down but would further build them up!

- Even here, at this final part of this long section of warning, Paul holds out the olive branch, letting them know that he would still rather see them built up in Christ! That was still possible!

- They are not resigned to continue with their foolishness. They could repent and walk back.

- In Numbers 16, a leading man named Korah gathered a group of people to rebel against the leadership of Moses. The chapter begins with Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On leading the charge.

- Moses lays out his case and warns the people of the impending doom that would befall the rebelling faction. When the morning comes, Moses tells them to clear away from Korah's tent.

- Conspicuous by his absence was On the son of Peleth. Somehow, he didn't make it to Korah's tent that morning, which was swallowed by a large sinkhole!

- While we don't read of anything more regarding On, the text seems to indicate that he was "OFF" somewhere else that morning, perhaps repenting of his rebellion!

- Paul is hoping for a similar response from the Corinthians here.

II. Paul's Blessing (v.11-14)

• II Corinthians 13:11 : "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." : Paul's closing comments contain four commands given to the Corinthians as a whole. The first of which was to become complete. Be perfected. It's one word in the original.

- The word speaks of being thoroughly sound and fit for the intended use. Be what you are supposed to be in Christ!

- But wait Paul!? Didn't you just say that this was what you were praying for them? Now, just a few sentences later you are commanding them to be completed?

- On the one hand, Christian leaders, authority figures, those who disciple, can pray all day long for you and for me, that we would grab ahold of the life that God intends for us.

- There comes a time though when you and I must cooperate by actually engaging ourselves in the process. We must do what it takes for those prayers to be effective!

- Remember that these are commands, meaning that the Corinthians held a volitional response. They must yearn to be perfected, to be fit for God's use, by practicing our faith.

- Are you following that Word from the Lord or are there distractions and divided loyalties keeping you from that state? An honest answer will be a good start.

- Second, Paul commands them to be of good comfort. The sense seems to be that they were to be refreshed in what they knew. "Let God refresh you in who He is!"

- For those who had not fallen prey to the false teachers, this was a good word. Keep a fresh perspective on who God is and who you are in relation to Him!

- Keep reading your Bibles. Keep examining the text without prejudice, without imposing your 20th century viewpoints upon His ancient actions.

- As you focus on Him, you can't help but be refreshed! When your focus is on you or on others, you can't help but be confused and sometimes, depressed!

- For those who had embraced the false teachers, this is equally an invitation back to where their relationship with God could be mended, a fresh view into the nature of God.

- Third, Paul commands them to be of one mind. Have the same opinion. Be unified in your thinking together. Cherish the same views.

- A church divided in mind is a church that will not stand together in any way!

- If I do not decide to love, to look out for another's interest and seek to properly obey God's command, I can be assured that there'll be trouble in the church.

- Fourth, Paul commands them to live in peace. Cultivate an environment that makes for peaceful living together.

- This will not mean that there will not be disagreements. There will be disagreements that we will must love each other in spite of.

- This does not mean that there will not be difficulty due to personality. There will be, but we must overcome in Christ's love!

- What he means is that the main thing, our love for God and our desire to see Him honored and known in our generation, centers our peaceful lives together.

- Threats to that position within us personally, must be subject to that spiritual ideal.

- When these commands are heeded, the God of love and peace will be with you. God will dwell where these things are the goal of the whole!

• II Corinthians 13:12-14 : "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." : Paul ends this letter with a call to Christian love and fellowship. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

- We saw this in Romans and in I Corinthians. It refers to a kiss on the cheek, an expression of warmth in the ancient world, akin to a hug today.

- Wherever Paul went, the saints, those that loved God and were a part of His Kingdom sought to greet them. This was a loving salute, a reminder to the Corinthians that they were not alone.

- The church in any region or city is just a local branch of the body of Christ.

- While logistically, it would be impossible to gather all believers together under one roof, that doesn't mean our hearts should not long for that!

- What are Paul's very last words to the Corinthians? Given the climate of self centeredness among some, a falling to false teachers among others, you'd imagine a final rebuke!

- Paul though leaves them with a reminder of the triune God. The One in whose grace they stood! The grace, the unmerited favor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let that be with you.

- The love, the endless powerful love of God the Father, be yours. And the communion, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be all yours! Let it be so!

- What a healing salve that the Corinthians needed! They needed the grace of Jesus, that moved first toward them when they were yet sinners. They needed to extend that grace to each other.

- They needed the love of God, powerful enough to transcend time and space and to work out from them toward each other.

- Human love will not affect heavenly change! But heaven's love!? That's another story.

- They needed the warmth of the fellowship of God's Spirit, to remind them that their divisions were blocking that environment. Remember what it was like when things were right?

- The Holy Spirit wanted again to make them brothers and sisters, family in the sight of God!

Conclusion
- Paul has warned them. He will use his authority and speak clearly when he comes. In the meantime, they needed to examine themselves, to prove their genuine conversion to Christ.

- In our case, Paul is not coming. It's Jesus whose coming! Like the Corinthians, we'd be wise to consider ourselves, to see whether we are in the faith!

- Paul wanted it to be a joy when he came. Jesus wants the same thing for us!

- Paul concluded with a blessing for those who were wanting to walk correctly. Become mature. Keep your eyes on God. Be agreeable with each other. Live peacefully together.

  - Then God will be in your midst. You'll experience His grace, love and fellowship. Isn't that what you want? I pray it would ever be so in our church!