The Blessings of Obedience

Review previous lessons on “giving”.

The call to generous giving

Do what you say you will do.

Finish what you start.

2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
¹³ As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. ¹⁴ And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. ¹⁵ Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Examine the scriptures:

The Blessings of Obedience.

If you give generously …

2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV (Another translation that was helpful to me.)
⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

• God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.              WOW! 

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 

Philippians 1:6
⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

It’s not ours, it all belongs to God.  He allows us to use it.

 ⁹ As the Scriptures say, (Psalm 112:9)
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

Psalm 112:1 & 9 NLT
¹ Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands. …
⁹ They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.

Proverbs 19:17 NLT
¹⁷ If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!

Matthew 25:40 NLT
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

• As the Scriptures say, our good deeds will be remembered forever.

¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

God provides.
God increases your resources.
God produces a great harvest.

• God provides. God increases your resources. God produces a great harvest.

¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. 

• As you give you will be enriched, as you are enriched you can give more and more.

And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 

Two results:

Physical needs are being met.

God is being praised.

¹³ As a result of your ministry, they (the Jerusalem Church) will give glory to God. 

• Two good things will result from your ministry of giving to believers—the needs of the believers will be met, and the believers will joyfully express their thanks to God (God will be praised). 

For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.  

• Your generosity is a display of obedience to the good news of Christ.

James 2:14-18 NLT
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

John 13:35 NLT
³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

• The generosity of the Corinthian Church is seen, by the Jerusalem Church, as evidence of a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ And they (the Jerusalem Church) will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.  

Overflowing grace – eternal salvation – spiritual riches.

Others will pray for you.

• The Jerusalem Church prayed for the Corinthian Church with deep affection 

¹⁵ Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

• Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

An indescribable gift!

How do we thank God for all He has done for us?

We love Him because He first loved us.

We serve the Lord

Psalm 100:2 NLT
²     Worship (serve) the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy. 

We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.

• How do we thank God for all He has done for us?
  • We love Him because He first loved us.
  • We serve Him.
  • We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

A continuation, and some repetition, of chapter 8.

Do what you say you will do.

 

2 Corinthians 9:1-7 NLT
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
¹ I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. ² For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
³ But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. ⁴ We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! ⁵ So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 9:1-7 NLT
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
¹ I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 

Repetition can be used to emphasize the importance of a point a person is trying to communicate.

Scripture frequently uses repetition.

Philippians 4:4 NIV
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Paul is repeating instructions from chapter 8.

2 Corinthians 8:11 NLT
¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.

Go all the way back to 1 Corinthians 16:1-3

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 NLT
The Collection for Jerusalem
¹ Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. ² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. ³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.

• Finish what you start.

² For I know how eager you are to help, 

and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. 

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

³ But I am sending these brothers

Titus and the two unnamed men sent by the church mentioned in the previous lesson. (8:18-24)

to be sure you really are ready,

Paul is sending some brothers to help the Corinthians fulfill their comments.

The confusion and lies spread by the false teachers had sidetracked the Corinthians.

Titus and his companions were sent to help the Corinthians get their financial house in order.

Proverbs 15:22 NLT
²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success. 

• Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

• Be willing to accept advice from Godly individuals.

 as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you.  

⁴ We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 

• It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

Proverbs 25:14 NLT
¹⁴ A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NLT
⁴ When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. ⁵ It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 

• Don’t commit to something you can’t finish.

Luke 14:28-30 NLT
²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 

• Don’t commit to something until you count the cost.

It can be embarrassing to brag about someone’s ministry, only to find out that they are not doing all that they profess to be doing.

⁵ So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. 

⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 Proverbs 11:25 NLT
²⁵ The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

• The one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

In case you need more motivation.

Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 

⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

• You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 

• God loves a cheerful giver.

Titus and His Companions

Traveling Together With Other Believers.

1 Corinthians 14:40 NLT
⁴⁰ But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 

• Be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 

• Do not set other people up for failure.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 NLT
Titus and His Companions
¹⁶ But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. ¹⁷ Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. ¹⁸ We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. ¹⁹ He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.
²⁰ We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. ²¹ We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
²² We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. ²³ If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. ²⁴ So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 NLT
Titus and His Companions
¹⁶ But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.  

• The enthusiasm Titus had for the Corinthians came from God.

¹⁷ Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 

2 Corinthians 8:6 NLT
⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 

• Titus welcomed the request to serve.
• We should welcome opportunities to serve others. 

¹⁸ We are also sending another brother with Titus.

Unnamed.

All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. ¹⁹ He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 

²⁰ We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 

1 Corinthians 16:3-4 NLT
³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT
⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 Deuteronomy 19:15 NLT
¹⁵ “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
¹⁴ Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.

Galatians 6:1-2 NLT¹ 
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Genesis 2:18 NLT
¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

• A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. 

• Two people working together are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ^… Three are even better.

²¹ We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 

Philippians 4:8-9 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 

• Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

•  Do everything for the glory of God. 

²² We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. 

An additional “brother” was added to the traveling delegation.

He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. ²³ If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. ²⁴ So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified. 

• Christian community is not an optional part of the Christian life. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

 

 

 

A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. ¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. ¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. ¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

The Corinthian church most likely stopped the process because they were influenced by false teachers.

2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
¹⁷ You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. …

Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.

• Good intentions and eagerness are no substitute for good deeds.

James 2:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

 1 John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

Give in proportion to what you have. 

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

• The New Testament never mentions set amounts or percentages for giving.

• Give in proportion to what you have. 

¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. 

2 Corinthians 9:7
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.  

Don’t go into debt to give.

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 

The word equality used here could be translated “balance” or “equilibrium”.

Help other believers meet their basic needs.

• Scripture does not promote a welfare mentality.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NLT
An Exhortation to Proper Living
⁶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. ⁷ For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. ¹⁰ Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 

¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.  

• Balance: When you have plenty, help those who are in need. Later, when they will have plenty, they can share with you when you need it.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT
¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 

• Be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 

¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Exodus 16:16-18 NLT (Divine pattern)
¹⁶ These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”
¹⁷ So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. ¹⁸ But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Final thoughts:

Philippians 4:19 NLT
¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT
⁷ O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
⁸ First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
⁹ For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 

A Call to Generous Giving

The Patterns of Giving

Examples of Generosity (Liberality)

Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving
The Patterns of Giving
Examples of Generosity (Liberality)
¹ Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. ⁵ They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. ⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
⁸ I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT

A Call to Generous Giving

The Patterns of Giving

Examples of Generosity (Liberality)

¹ Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,  

Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church.

• Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7) 

what God in his kindness has done 

What God has done. 

through the churches in Macedonia.  

Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea

² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy,

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 NLT¹
 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
² We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. ³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul knew that the abundant joy of the Macedonian believers came from their relationship with the Lord.

Psalm 28:7 NLT
⁷ The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 

More about this in verse 5 

which has overflowed in rich generosity. 

Tested by many troubles and are very poor.

Filled with abundant joy.

Joy overflowed in rich generosity.

• Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.

³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.

• They gave far more than they could afford.

Biblical principles for giving:

Proverbs 3:9 NLT
⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce. 

Don’t give your leftovers!

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 

And they did it of their own free will. 

• They did it of their own free will.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  

• They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers. 

⁵ They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

• The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.

Romans 12:1 NLT
A Living Sacrifice to God
¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Mark 12:30-31 NLT
³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
³ …. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

• Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others. 

⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 

Paul’s challenge to the Corinthian Church.

Finish what you started.

Follow through.

⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

God has blessed the Corinthians church in so many ways, the least they could do is to give generously to Christians in need.

⁸ I am not commanding you to do this.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

But I am testing how genuine your love is 

Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving, there is no evidence that love exists. The only proof of love is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love.

• Giving is the action that demonstrates love. 

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

• For this is how God loved the world: He gave … 

by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 

Comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Comparing it with Jesus.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 

• Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7)
• Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.
  • They gave far more than they could afford.
  • They did it of their own free will.
  • They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers.
• The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.
• Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others.
• God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
• Giving is the action that demonstrates love.
  • For this is how God loved the world: He gave …

Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance

Introduction:

Review:

2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church)

Why was Paul making these statements?

• • The Corinthians were siding with (believing) false teachers and they were rejecting Paul.

Paul’s appealed for reconciliation.

Paul’s had a burning desire for a restored relationship with the Corinthian Church.

• • Paul’s rivals were cunning.

• • Paul experienced deep discouragement.

2 Corinthians 7:8-16 NLT
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. ¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
¹¹ Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. ¹² My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. ¹³ We have been greatly encouraged by this.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. ¹⁴ I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! ¹⁵ Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. ¹⁶ I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

Examine the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 7:8-16 NLT
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance 

⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you (with Titus), though I was sorry at first,

(Refer to the note at the end)

What was the issue?

Paul had to defend his apostleship.

Paul’s character was being assaulted.

 for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 

Hebrews 12:11 NLT
¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

• No discipline seems pleasant at the time. Later on, however, it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways.

A sorrow that led to repentance.

Pain or sorrow that causes repentance and change is a good thing.

• Paul talks about two kinds of sorrow.

It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.  

¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. 

There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.

2 Timothy 2:25 NLT
²⁵ Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 

• The first kind of sorrow is a sorrow God wants us to experience. It is a sorrow that leads us away from sin and results in salvation.

But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Sorry for getting caught.

• The second kind of sorrow is worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow lacks repentance and results in spiritual death. 

¹¹ Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! 

Such earnestness,

Earnestness, diligence, or eagerness to pursue righteousness and make amends.

such concern to clear yourselves,

To explain and clear yourselves of the charges that you tolerate sin. 

such indignation,

At sin (the man who opposed Paul)

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 NLT
Forgiveness for the Sinner
⁵ I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. ⁶ Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. ⁷ Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. ⁸ So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
⁹ I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. ¹⁰ When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹ so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

such alarm,

Fear of offending God.

such longing to see me, 

such zeal,

To do what is right. 

and such a readiness to punish wrong.

To punish those who sin and those who tolerate sin.  To see justice done.

 

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! 

Earnestness,      a concern to clear yourselves,      indignation,      alarm,

a longing to see me,     zeal,     and a readiness to punish wrong. 

You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 

 

¹² My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged.  (Paul may be referring to himself as the one who was wronged. 2 Corinthians 2:5) I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. 

• Paul’s primary purpose in writing the letter was to benefit the Corinthians. The primary focus was not on the one who did the wrong.

• Paul had a burning desire for a restored relationship with the Corinthian Church.

¹³ We have been greatly encouraged by this.

You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. (v.11) 

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. ¹⁴ I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! ¹⁵ Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. ¹⁶ I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you. 

• Overall, the outcome of Paul’s “severe” letter was positive.

 

 

 

Note added:

Four Letters, Three Visits

1^st visit

A.D. 48-51      1 ½ years
Acts 18:1 (NLT)
Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

1^st letter – now lost  From Ephesus – misunderstood by the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 5:9 (NLT)
⁹ When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 

2^nd letter  (1^st Corinthians)  From Ephesus –  A.D 53-55 

2^nd visit  A painful visit 

3^rd letter – now lost   Tearful, severe letter

2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (NLT)
³ That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴ I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. 

2 Corinthians 7:8-9 (NLT)
⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 

4^th letter  (2^nd Corinthians)  From Macedonia A.D. 55/56 

3^rd visit  A.D. 56 -57

Acts 20:2-3 (NLT)
² While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, ³ where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

ESV Study Bible                    NIV Study Bible                    The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Lindsell Study Bible               The MacArthur Bible Commentary

God Encourages Those Who Are Discouraged

Review:

2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church)

• • • • • Doing the right thing can be very painful.
        • Paul experienced deep discouragement.

God Encourages Those Who Are Discouraged

Paul’s Appeal for Reconciliation.

Paul’s Burning Desire for a Restored Relationship with the Corinthian Church.

2 Corinthians 7:2-7 (NLT)
² Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. ³ I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. ⁴ I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
⁵ When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. ⁶ But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. ⁷ His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 7:2-7 (NLT)

Review:

2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church) 

• The Corinthians were siding with (believing) false teachers and they were rejecting Paul. 

² Please open your hearts to us.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NLT
¹¹ Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. ¹³ I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! 

• Paul desperately wanted the Corinthian church to accept him as a spiritual leader. 

We have not done wrong to anyone,

2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
¹⁷ You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. 

nor led anyone astray,

2 Corinthians 4:2 NLT
² We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. 

2 Corinthians 6:3 NLT
³ We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 

 nor taken advantage of anyone.  

A history of “hurt” with the Corinthian Church.

Some misunderstandings resulting from “the missing letter”.

2 Corinthians 2:1 NLT
So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.

Paul is defending his actions. 

³ I’m not saying this to condemn you.

Paul did not blame the Corinthians for their vacillation.  His rivals, the false teachers, were cunning.

Cunning: having skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.

• Paul’s rivals were cunning.

2 Corinthians 11:3-5 NLT
³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.⁵ But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. 

2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT
¹² Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

• Paul’s rivals are described as wonderful, important, “super apostles”. 

I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.  

⁴ I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.

• Paul was confident that God was at work in the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NLT
Paul Gives Thanks to God
⁴ I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ⁵ Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. ⁶ This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
⁵ When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest (no peace of mind) for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.  

• Paul experienced deep discouragement.

⁶ But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 

• God encourages those who are discouraged.

⁷ His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you.

2 Corinthians 2:3-4 NLT
³ That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴ I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!

• Doing the right thing can be very painful.

Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today’s lesson does not focus on the message of the Gospel.  The focus of today’s lesson is presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:3-13  (NLT)
Paul’s Hardships
Paul’s Faithful Ministry
Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
³ We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. ⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. ⁵ We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. ⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. ⁷ We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. ⁸ We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. ⁹ We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. ¹⁰ Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
¹¹ Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. ¹³ I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (NLT)

Paul’s Faithful Ministry

Paul’s Hardships

Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT
¹⁸ The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

2 Corinthians 2:16 NLT
¹⁶ To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.  

• The Gospel may be offensive or foolish to many people.

³ We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us,

Matthew 18:6 NLT
⁶ But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 

1 Corinthians 8:9 NLT
⁹ But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. (This verse was talking about eating certain foods.) 

1 Corinthians 8:9 Amplified Bible
⁹ Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].

• We must live our lives in such a way that no one will stumble because of us.

and no one will find fault with our ministry.  

• We need to avoid behaviors that would negate our effectiveness as an ambassador for Christ. 

⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. 

This principle does not just apply to Paul and his co-workers.

Philippians 1:27-30 NLT
Live as Citizens of Heaven
²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. ²⁸ Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. ²⁹ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. ³⁰ We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 

• Live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. 

The following is a description of Paul’s experiences.  We should anticipate some similar experiences. 

We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.  

⁵ We have been beaten
,been put in prison,faced angry mobs
,worked to exhaustion
,endured sleepless nights,
and gone without food. 

2 Peter 1:3-7 NLT
Growing in Faith
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
⁵ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 

• Patiently endure troubles and hardships remembering that God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. 

⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity
,our understanding
,our patience
,our kindness
,by the Holy Spirit within us,
and by our sincere love.  

• Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

⁷ We faithfully preach the truth.
God’s power is working in us.
We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 

2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
⁴ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Ephesians 6:10-11NLT
The Whole Armor of God
¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

• God’s power is working in us.

⁸ We serve God
whether people honor us or despise us,
whether they slander us or praise us.
We are honest, but they call us impostors.
 ⁹ We are ignored, even though we are well known.
We live close to death, but we are still alive.
We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
¹⁰ Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.
We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.
We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 

• Living for God is challenging.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

• Remember who you are serving.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 

¹¹ Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.  

¹³ I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian Church.  Open your hearts to us.

• Invite others to be a part of your life.

Don’t Team Up With Those Who Are Unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (NLT)
The Temple of the Living God
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
7  ¹Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (NLT)
The Temple of the Living God
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. (This is a summary of this entire lesson) 

• Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. 

Interesting verses from the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 22:9-11 NLT
⁹ “You must not plant any other crop between the rows of your vineyard. If you do, you are forbidden to use either the grapes from the vineyard or the other crop.
¹⁰ “You must not plow with an ox (clean) and a donkey (unclean) harnessed together. *
¹¹ “You must not wear clothing made of wool and linen woven together.

*You will end up with crooked rows.

Leviticus 19:19 NLT
¹⁹ “You must obey all my decrees.
“Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. 

• Some partnerships, between believers and unbelievers, just do not work.

God knows what He is talking about!

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. 

This is not saying that we should end all associations with unbelievers.

We interact, we do not become yoked together.

We should not be:

yoked together, coupled, connected, hooked, interconnected, interlinked, joined, linked, partnered

This relates to:

Mixed marriages (Spiritually)

Improper business associates

False apostles

How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness?

How can light live with darkness? 

¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?

How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 

¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? 

• It is impossible under certain partnerships for things to be done to God’s glory. 

For we (the church) are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 

Leviticus 26:12 NLT
¹² I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.

Ezekiel 37:27 NLT
²⁷ I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

John 14:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

• Believers are the temple of the living God.

• The temple of the living God cannot team up with those who are unbelievers.

• “You must not plow with an ox (clean) and a donkey (unclean) harnessed together.

It just won’t work! 

¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you. 

This applied to the Israelites.

Isaiah 52:11 NLT
¹¹ Get out! Get out and leave your captivity,
where everything you touch is unclean.
Get out of there and purify yourselves,
you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord. 

This applied to the church in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NLT
³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. 

But I (Paul) fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted.

This applies to us, today. 

• Believers must separate themselves from unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT
³³ … “bad company corrupts good character.” 

• “Bad company corrupts good character.”

¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” 

Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT
Spiritual Blessings
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 

Galatians 4:5-6 NLT
⁵ God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. ⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 

• Believers are God’s children, adopted into his family. 

7  ¹Because we have these promises, 

1. 1. 1. 6:16 & v. 6:18 

dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit.

1 John 1:9 NLT
⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2 Timothy 2:19-22 NLT
¹⁹ But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
²⁰ In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. ²¹ If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
²² Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 

Romans 12:1-2 NLT
A Living Sacrifice to God
¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT
Growing in Faith
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 

Progressive sanctification:
2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 

• “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

 

God’s Ambassadors (Part 2)

2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2

Paul constantly faced criticism and accusations from fellow Christians who doubted him as a leader.  Paul wants the Corinthian Church to accept him and the role God has given him as a spiritual leader.  In this passage, Paul continues to defend himself.  He opens his heart to the Corinthian congregation to a degree not found in his other letters.

As Paul shares his story, there is a great deal for us to take from this passage and apply it to our lives.

In this passage, Paul is describing a role God has given to him.

God has given us a similar role.

2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2  (NLT)
We Are God’s Ambassadors (Part 2)
¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
^6:1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. ² For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

 Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2 (NLT)
We Are God’s Ambassadors (Part 2)

 ¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God,

Previous verse:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

• Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

“All of this” simply put is salvation.

Ephesians 2:8
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT
⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 

• God saved us by his grace. And we can’t take credit for this.

(God) who brought us back to himself through Christ.  (True reconciliation)

God (Christ) does the work.

1 John 4:10 NLT
¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

1 Peter 2:24 NLT
²⁴ He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed. 

Ephesians 2:11-19 NLT
Oneness and Peace in Christ
¹¹ Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. ¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. ¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. ¹⁵ He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. ¹⁶ Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
¹⁷ He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. ¹⁸ Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 

Romans 5:9-11 NLT
⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. 

• Reconciliation: a broken relationship restored. 

And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 

What an assignment!

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. …

Luke 2:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 

We have the message of a Savior, a message of reconciliation.

• We have been given the wonderful message of reconciliation.

Remember, God does the work. 

²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors;

A “messenger” (not a Savior) 

God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 

• We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Romans 3:23 NLT
²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23 NLT
²³ For the wages of sin is death, (separation from God) 

²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

^6:1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 

We are both a messenger and an encourager.

Do not ignore this marvelous gift.

An initial, apparent acceptance of God’s grace was not real.
or
Saved, but hindered by false teachers.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT
⁵ That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

Matthew 13:1-23 NLTParable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
¹ Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. ² A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. ³ He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. ⁴ As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. ⁸ Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! ⁹ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
¹⁰ His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
¹¹ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. ¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. ¹³ That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
¹⁴ This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
¹⁵ For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’
¹⁶ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

¹⁸ “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ¹⁹ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. ²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ²² The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. ²³ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

² For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Isaiah 49:8 NLT
Promises of Israel’s Restoration
⁸ This is what the Lord says:
“At just the right time, I will respond to you.
On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
as my covenant with them.
Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel
and assign it to its own people again. 

• Do not accept the marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 

the “right time” is now.

James 1:22
²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

• But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.