Verse 1.  "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:"

It was late in 56 AD, and Paul was writing this letter with Timothy (acting as amanuensis or secretary to Paul); and it was sent to the Corinthians with Titus.   Paul later actually went to Corinth, where he wrote his letter to the Romans.

Notice Paul in this verse is an apostle by the will of God.  All too often, we are given office in the church through the will of men.  Some years ago, I spent an afternoon with a bishop from a certain denomination.  He wanted to know why I longed so much to minister the gospel of our Lord, and I gave him my testimony.  I told him Jesus died for me, personally touched me, and drew me to Him, when I was 15-years old.  Later, He unmistakably called me to ministry but I ran away, because I was afraid.  Back in His Arms, I am only fully alive when I serve Him, and I want to serve Him more.

I asked the bishop, a very personable man, how he came to be a minister, and he told me of a youthful struggle as to which profession he would enter.  Would he be a lawyer?  Following much thought, he became a minister.  He was "called" by his denomination, after he completed his studies.  Yes, we may be called by men, but we also must be called by the will of God.

From Paul’s perspective, by the way, Timothy, though much younger, and without Paul’s office, had the same standing with God he did ("Timothy our brother").  So did the Corinthians, who he called "saints."  The church is not a denomination, a place, or a name; it is a state of being within the Person and Body of Christ.  We are owned by Him, called by Him, and the highest office in the church is "saint" ("called out one").  ALL who are in Christ have attained that office.  When we are in Christ, we "have it all," for we have HIM (and He has us).  We are His "saints" and He loves you and me.

Verse 2.  "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

True grace is unmerited favor with God, obtained through the cross of Jesus Christ.  There are rare times in life when we experience a sense of peace.  Our cares fall away, as we stand in the presence of something or someone so beautiful that we are awestruck, taken by that which we see.  REAL peace is lasting, though, and it only comes from the grace of God. There is no grace without Jesus Christ, for His is "the only Name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

The cross, which was an ugly thing, becomes beautiful, when you understand that this cruel instrument was used by God to end death - forever.  For you.  Oh, your body might fall away for a time, but it is Him you want; more than money, more than success; more even than this form you walk around in.  You body will be restored, in His time, as will everything that is truly important to you.

You can be at peace, because through the cross, which ruined the body of Jesus Christ, you have been given LIFE.  You are offered His grace, and in Him, you are given the "peace of God."

Verse 3.  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,"

The key to this book (to this LIFE, for that matter), is here.  The word "blessed" is a form of the word "praise." We find that the comfort, the mercy we have hungered for, is given us when we start honestly giving praise to God (instead of seeking it for ourselves).  "Mercy" is the gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We became a race of rebels, who did not want God.  If we feel we are somehow "ethical" in our dealings with others, we still have the problem that we are a "self-ruled" people, who don’t want outside interference.  We were created to praise God (and be loved by Him).

"Comfort" is the key to our lives, because the word is "parakaleo" which is "to call along side of."  This was the promise of Jesus, to His apostles, in John 14:16, and 16:7, that the "Comforter" (the One called alongside), would be given to them.  It is also the promise to YOU.   In departing from this world, Jesus said "I will send Him to you." He has given us forgiveness in Christ, and we live within the comfort of the Holy Spirit of God.  We praise our God, for we are forgiven.  Also, we are truly WITH Him, like we have never been with anyone before, and even better, HE is with US.

Verse 4.  "who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

We are comforted (by Him) in our trouble.  The question is, why do we have trouble (tribulation) at all?  One of the answers is right here:  So WE may comfort OTHERS who are in similar distress.  And how we do this is interesting.   It is not so much our comfort we give them, but God’s!  How did we get through that horrible mess in our lives?  By the intervention and comfort of the Holy Spirit of God.  How do we REALLY comfort another person?  By sharing with them, through Christ, what the Holy Spirit of God has done for us.  Actually, it’s more.  We truly don’t have to say anything, for people tend to see the presence of God in our suffering, and gain courage.  Our greatest witness is to courageously and joyfully face (in His strength) whatever life sends our way.

We all know that the person who is devastated by loss, does not want our advice.   Instead, the current idea is to just "be there" for them, and that is good.  But also, PRAY for them - a lot.  And, it is in prayer, that the Lord is apt to remind you of that which may be precisely what that other person needs at that moment.  I don’t know what to say - but HE does.  Be there for them, which may help that other person.  Be there for them, but also be OPEN to the Lord.   HE has a great deal to offer the person who is in distress.

Verse 5.  "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."

We have certainly noticed there is much trouble in life, and we don’t like it when things are not as we want them to be.  A great secret is here, for there is never any lost with God, except you also receive much in return.  It has been my experience that I have always received much MORE than any loss, though not in ways I expected.

For instance, "trouble" is often curative in nature.  We are sinners (Romans 3:23) after all, and I don’t know about you, but through the years, I was often astonished by my stupidity (sinful thoughts and actions are stupid in nature).   All of us have negative tendencies, and we see that sort of thing in David (Psalm 51).  And like in the life of David, God allows not only suffering, but also amazing consolations in our lives.

The combination of the two, will lead to renewed faith in God.  You could well say there is a formula here, which is:  Suffering plus consolation equals Faith (S+C=F).

Part of our problem in life, is that we easily "see" our suffering, but often we don’t perceive the consolation of God, for many years.  Tragically, some NEVER see His consolation; but for those who do, it’s time to also discover the JOY of the Lord (within the suffering of this life).

Verse 6.  "But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;"

Our afflictions in life are often for other people.

We usually go through life without ever understanding that we are God’s gift to someone else.  The husband is selected by God, to LOVE his wife; but he typically decides SHE will serve HIM!  The wife often cooks, cleans, serves, etc., but misses his real need, deep in his soul.  He does the same to her.  Taking out the trash just doesn’t touch that deep ache within the one he is supposed to love.

The concept that you are God’s gift to others, carefully enclosed within the ribbon and gift wrap of suffering, is offensive to most.  We try to throw off the gift wrap - "Let someone else suffer - not me!"  This verse is so clear.   If we suffer, it is for others (perhaps far in our future), that we may comfort them in their distress.  Our suffering qualifies us for them, that they will listen to us about Christ (will see Christ within us).

The same with our consolations.  We have been given much in Christ, and they will want to hear about consolations, too.  But to the one who suffers, it is your suffering (like theirs), which will enable them to LISTEN about your consolations in Christ.

Verse 7.  "and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort."

Here’s a guarantee you can bank on.  Here’s a certain HOPE you can count on. Whatever sufferings you are experiencing, they are DESIGNED in such a manner that you will receive the consolations of God.  Here’s a good example - wheel chairs!

I hated being in wheelchairs, and as a boy, I was in them for years!   People looked at you with those pitying eyes (but bless them, Lord, for their concern), and sometimes they just plain got angry!  Like the little lady who placed her body squarely in front of the wheel chair, and wouldn’t let us proceed.  She shook her finger at me, and shouted, "That’ll teach you to run out in traffic," and then stomped away!  The fact that my problem was not from an accident, never occurred to her.  (And I became very obese, after years of inactivity, but that’s something else).

The fact is, since I have been teaching at the convalescent home, I have observed that my years in the wheelchairs are actually a BENEFIT!  I do not know why it is a benefit in EVERY way, but I do know THIS one.  And that is, when you are speaking to an audience where ALL of them are in wheelchairs, they listen more attentively and with extra receptivity, when they know you were in one, too.  It is my whole LIFE that people will know our Savior, and if those wheelchair years will aid in that process, then I PRAISE Him for those years.

There ALWAYS is comfort, hidden within the sufferings of this life.

Verse 8.  "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;"

There is a prevalent teaching that "trouble will not come to us, beyond our ability to endure it."  While I recognize such teachers are attempting to comfort those in need, the teaching simply is not true.  Often, the idea is based on 1 Corinthians 10:13, where Paul correctly points out God "will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Unfortunately for that doctrinal belief, the key word in 1 Corinthians 10:13, is "temptation" rather than "trouble" or "tribulation."   We ARE tempted, but God is with us, and we no longer need to fall into sin.   Here in Verse 8, Paul relates to us a terrible mess he got into, which was so bad, so overwhelming, that it was completely beyond all reason.  We will study 2 Corinthians 11 (God willing), where, in the second half of the chapter, Paul relates trouble like our worst nightmare.  It is likely most of us could not emotionally or physically survive the trouble which came to those people - constantly.

And he was depressed, disheartened, overwhelmed - there is no other way to understand the phrase in this verse "we despaired even of life."  Remember, tribulation WILL come, but God is with us in all of our trouble.  As He was for Paul; so also He is for you.

Verse 9-10.  "indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,"

Trouble brings trust.

Here’s another great reason for suffering.  Perhaps the greatest of all:   Most people think that to die is worst of all.  Yet Paul, who thought (along with his companions) that he would die, many times, found a wonderful treasure in the sentence of death.  He learned to not trust in himself, but in God, Who raises the dead.

Death has no hold over you. In Acts 14:19-20, where Paul was stoned at Lystra, he was left for dead.  Many teachers have said that he WAS dead, and God returned him to life, for his work was not yet done.  That may be true, for God does indeed raise the dead.  He DID raise the dead, He WILL raise the dead, and He DOES raise them, more than we know.  Afraid of dying?  Give your life to Christ in God, Who raises the dead ).  Trust in Him.

Verse 11.  "you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many."

Trouble causes us to pray.

There are so many REASONS given for human suffering, in this chapter.  Another is here is this verse, and it is that, in the midst of trouble, we learn to pray.  Here in America, about the only time people give thanks, is to thank Him for food.  Not many do that, and even less believe that our food really comes from Him, anyway.  But it does.  And it is when we LACK the means to purchase adequate food for our children, that we really start to learn how to pray.  We often sat down to breakfast, not knowing what the children would eat for dinner.  And when the food did come, miraculously, I found myself uttering spontaneous phrases, like "Wow, THANK You, God," and "Hallelujah" (which, of course, means "praise the Lord).

Paul was OPEN in his trouble.  During the years of my wife’s severe mental illness, we kept it so secret, that people later asked, "why didn’t you TELL us?"  And we should have.  Real tribulation brings out prayer in other people, and when the answer comes, in response to the prayer (and it will), many will be able to give THANKS for this work that God has done.

Verse 12.  "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you."

Joseph Excell observed these remarks presuppose Paul was told he had been accused of "insincerity" by his opponents.  Paul opens his heart and shows the simple love of God, he had for these people.  My mother was a child prodigy on the piano, later playing on the radio, teaching lessons, and so on.  Now, she will not play, because she cannot "read the notes" and her "fingers are not good."   But she CAN play, for when I come up to her door (before she knows someone is there and stops), I am struck by the beauty of her music.  I encourage her to play, for it is her HEART that we long to hear.

Matthew Henry said, "the conscience is God’s deputy of the soul, and the voice of the conscience is the voice of God."  Paul had the clear conscience of one who does the will of God, out of love.  As J. Vernon McGee stated, about this verse, "by God’s grace, through suffering (see previous verses), simplicity and Godly sincerity (KJV) was produced in Paul’s life.  Suffering is a mercy of God, and it produces qualities in our lives that are to be shared.

Dr. McGee said, "My friend, if today, you are on a bed of pain, and you are in the will of God, that bed can become a greater pulpit than the one preachers stand behind."  Trouble is God’s opportunity to express His love through our lives.  Simply be open about your life, and let God do HIS work through you.

Verse 13.  "For we write nothing else to you than what you read and under- stand, and I hope you will understand until the end;"

Paul has no hidden agenda, and there is no "hidden message" in any of the Scriptures, for that matter (contrary to what some teach).  These verses have been about suffering, and it is obvious there is suffering in the world.  Pick up a newspaper from any day, any city, and you find suffering; but what is that suffering about?  These verses have been revealing the reasons for suffering, in your life and in mine.  Often we can’t figure it out, because the purpose of our suffering (verse 6) may be for the benefit of someone in our future; someone we may not even have met, & won’t, for many years.

Another series of truths in these verses, involves the Person of God. Pre- supposed here, is that 1) God exists, 2) He is Sovereign, 3) He has a purpose in allowing your suffering, and 4) it is a good purpose, for He is good (and He loves – you).  This is very simple, and God intends that you will understand.

Verse 14.  "just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus."

Our purpose in all of this suffering we have been discussing; all this LIFE we live, is that we might give something of God to one another.  We are to delight in one another, as God in Christ cares for us.  It is vanity (to recall Solomon in Ecclesiastes), to be "proud" of money, a prestigious marriage, social standing, importance in employment, physical beauty, and so on.  Such are a waste of time, if they become the focus of our lives.  Even good health is in this category, if it becomes our passion.

You are my purpose in living, and I yours (as God enables us), for we are one in Christ Jesus, given to love one another.  Even this, though, can be vanity, for mere philanthropy, without the power and love of God, can be a mask for bringing glory to ourselves.  Our glory in life is that the work of God may be done in the lives of that other person.

Verse 15.  "In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice   receive a blessing;

Paul longed to come to them; that he might give to them of the Holy Spirit of God.   This was his consistent desire (as it should be ours), as seen in his desire for the Romans (1:1) when he wanted to bring to them a spiritual gift.  Another place is Romans 15:29, where his intention was to come to them in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Our ability to help another person is quite limited.  We give the food, and they get hungry again.  The doctor who restores a patient to health, knows that surgery (wonderful and led of God it may be), will be followed by a need for MORE surgery in a few years.  Our physical blessings are transitory, at best.  Bring the Holy Spirit to a person, however, and you change them – forever.

Verse 16.  "that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea."

It is not wrong to receive help from another person, as led by the Lord.  Paul sometimes refused help from others, and as led by God, he would occasionally SEEK help FROM them.  To refuse all assistance, can actually become a problem, for the OTHER person has just as much right to give, as you do.

Notice the references in this section.  Paul is answering a letter or letters from them, and his statements are responsive in nature.  We do not have the letter(s) from Corinth and do not completely understand.  This is important for it goes to the authenticity of these writings.  These are real people and this is a real letter, much like the one found in the attic – you may not understand all your grandfather was writing, but you would see the authenticity of his love for the woman who was to become your grandmother.  A forger (writing many years later) would avoid the obscure at all cost.  As in verse 1, the author was Paul the apostle (as led by the Holy Spirit), and you are reading a letter written in the year 56 AD.

Verse 17-18.  "Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I?  Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no."

We often tend to plan lightly, for what we are doing.  Let’s go out to dinner, we may announce, at the last possible moment.  Our minds are easily changed and we often care very little about what we do.  Paul was a different kind of man, who did everything on the basis of answered prayer, and because of the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God.

Paul not only teaches us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but was a man who DID exactly that!  As he spoke, he was always submitting his words to the Lord - what we (and the Corinthians) hear in these verses, is from God.  Paul did not share "according to the flesh" but based all on God (Who is faithful to us).  WE vacillate, but God does not; and we can trust the words of Paul, because he looked to God.

Verse 19.  "For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us – by me and Silvanus and Timothy -- was not yes and no, but is yes in Him."

Paul (and Silvanus and Timothy) had spoken a clear, simple message among these people, and that message was Jesus Christ.  He said to them, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  This was utterly clear, simple and profound – What we need is Christ, and what we are given is Christ "Who died for our sins, according to the Scriptures."  Paul had only one message to give (as should we), and he gave it (Him) consistently, at all times.

Verse 20.  "For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us."

Now Paul (and Silvanus and Timothy) was consistent, because Christ in God (of Whom Paul was ambassador) was also consistent in every way.  We’ve all had the experience of asking someone something, and the answer starts, "Well, yes and no…"   Not so with our Lord; not so with Paul.  "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), and His response to the need of your heart, is "Yes."

Our Lord, as stated, is utterly consistent in His message to you.  You need to be "born again" (as Jesus said to Nicodemus, in John 3:3, 7); "born in the Spirit" (John 3:8), and when you look to Him, you will find Him, for He has promised that you will.  The "Son of Man" (Jesus) was to be "lifted up" (crucified – John 3:14), and in His death, you CAN be made new.  There is no "yes and no" but only "yes" for you and for me.

Verse 21.  "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,"

Question:  Who told Paul he could say such things to you?  By what right does he speak to us?  Because he spoke not only to the Corinthians, but like your grandfather’s letter you found in the attic, he speaks to you, also.  Who told him he could do this?  The answer is – God!  Paul was given us by Christ, and establishes our Lord in us.  He was appointed, ordained, selected – to speak to you, right now.  To such a man, we must listen; for he was sent to you and
me - by the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth.

Verse 22.  "who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge."

In real estate sales, we find the concept of "earnest money."  When the seller of the property receives a contract from a potential buyer, he is justly concerned – what if the buyer does not follow through and buy the property?  Should I take my property off the market for him?  How do I know the buyer can afford to buy my property?  So the buyer, understanding this, not only offers a signed purchase contract, but also pledges something of great value to the seller, which is to belong to the seller, should he not follow through.

In our case, the purchase contract was written in the Blood of Jesus Christ.  He died for you, and WILL follow through on all He has pledged.  But, since there is a little TIME left before "close of escrow," and since we tend to become afraid and doubt, He has given us more.  Our "earnest" is the Holy Spirit of God, this Precious Gift, Who is with us and IN us, all the days of our lives.

Sign the contract!  Say "yes" to Him.  "Sell" yourself utterly to Him, and you will not regret that decision, now, or at "closing," or in all eternity.  All that is of value in life, and in eternity, is given to you.

Verse 23.  "But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to   Corinth."

Paul is explaining why he did not go to Corinth, at a certain time.  If he had, he would have done so to CORRECT them, as we see in the first letter (1^st Corinthians).  "I wanted to spare you all that," he is saying.  He prayerfully sent the first letter, and had been praying for them, ever since.  With that letter and with prayer, they had all that was needed.  If Paul was to come to them now, he would not come in correction, but he would come in love.

Verse 24.  "Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for   in your faith you are standing firm."

We do not Lord it over one another.  The "minister" is the servant of all, and we minister to one another, in order to HELP the other person.  Paul had told them to "imitate" him (1^st Corinthians 4:10), and the answer to what he meant by that, is found right here in this verse.  We are to imitate him, by becoming ourselves people OF FAITH IN GOD.  They too, now had such faith, and therefore were imitators of Paul.  We need to do the same.  For our trust in God is not based in the faith of some other man, but we directly entrust our lives to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In FAITH, in His grace, we stand in Him.

2 Corinthians Chapter 2
Commentary by Ron Beckham

Verse 1.  "But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again."

As Joseph Excell pointed out, the division of chapters (between 1 & 2), is unfortunate, because this (and the next three verses), belong to the paragraph which started at 1:23.  When Paul said "I would not come to you…again" it is noted there is one visit recorded for him (in Acts), and that is Acts 18:1-18, where he encountered the delightful Priscilla and Aquila.  For some reason there is endless debate here, as to how many times Paul went to Corinth, and the argument is better left alone (for it detracts from the Word of God, and accomplishes little).

As to the "sorrow" part, Paul had written them (1^st Corinthians) a very strong letter, in which he censured them about divisiveness, personality cults, immorality in the Church, lawsuits, selfishness, abuses of the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and even about denials of the Resurrection.  He called them (insulted them, actually) "babes" (babies) in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1).   He did not wish to do this to them again.

In some ways, when you and I minister to one another, we are like parents, one to the other.  We encourage, share, admonish, and yes, discipline among ourselves, in the Name of Christ.  Yet, notice that the parent who acts in love, disciplines - but acts also with reluctance, out of love for his child (just like Paul).

Verse 2.  "For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made  sorrowful?"

Paul was not willing to pain those who made him glad; just as we must not discipline the one who has done no wrong.  He would not visit them, when to do so, would cause pain to them both (to Paul and to the Corinthians).  As Excell points out, the "I" is emphatic in the Greek, and carries none of the strange selfish meaning, which some attribute to this verse.

Our normal state, with one another, should be love, in the presence of our Lord, in the company of one another.  Paul did not wish to be made glad by their sorrow, much like the parent is not pleased at the sobs of his little ones.  I was in a hospital recently, and saw the tears in the eyes of my pastor, as he comforted the parents of the child who had just gone to be with the Lord.  Those tears capture the heart of Paul, in relation to the people to whom he wrote.

Verse 3.  "This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my  joy would be the joy of you all."

As stated in relation to verse two, the heart of every child of God, should be filled with love.  Something else we should feel is – joy!  We are to have this joy for others, as though they were our own child, who just won the big game!   We delight in the success of others!  That’s precisely the way Paul was in relation to the flock of God.

The typical condition of those in the world is (instead) sorrow, interrupted by periodic bouts of elation, which is sometimes confused with joy.  Paul was open with these people, and he would respond as he was led by God.  They had written to him (1 Corinthians 7:1), with concerns about the actions of certain people in the church, and Paul had responded with the letter we call 1^st Corinthians.

Paul had already heard reports that the majority of the Corinthians had responded well to his letter.  However, some still opposed the freedom we have in Christ, and evidently the opposition was led by a group of "Judaizers" (see Paul’s responses in Chapters 10-13).  The real source of joy in life, by the way, is found in the Holy Spirit of God, and it was in Him, that Paul wrote these letters.

Verse 4.  "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have  especially for you."

If we had the manuscripts (the originals) of 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, they would be stained with the tears of Paul.  We will see the originals in eternity, by the way, for much like the ark is preserved (Revelation 11:19), and our tears are kept (Psalm 56:8), the Word of God is alive (Hebrews 4:12) – forever (Isaiah 40:8).

It is with this very kind of anguish and love, that Jesus Christ died for you.  He died that you might know Him, and know the love which our God has so freely given – to you!

And if your life is difficult, He is simply allowing a work within you.  He says to you, "My son (My daughter, My child), do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12).  So should we love our children, and so God loves you and me.

Verse 5.  "But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some  degree -- in order not to say too much -- to all of you."

Paul now begins to address the situation of the man who had committed sexual immorality with his father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5:1 & forward).  He had told them "deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" (1 Corinthians 5:5 – throw him out of the church).  They had actually been previously "glorying" (1 Corinthians 5:6) in the situation, and Paul had told them "your glorying is not good."

They had been "puffed up and had not mourned" (1 Corinthians 5:2 – do we mourn that sin is in our land; in our church?).  But now they had indeed mourned and had cast him out.  They had then become saddened by these events, and so had Paul.  He gives them the advice, by the way, that we should give, as parents, as pastors (we are all, to some extent, pastors to one another) – to not be too severe.

Verse 6.  "Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the  majority,"

When you have provided discipline, in whatever context it may be necessary (perhaps as an employer, in relation to a worker who will not work), enough is sufficient.  In all discipline, the aim is to achieve a desired result, and it is never to bring harm needlessly to that person.  The sentence for this man had been excommunication, which may not seem severe in our society of many churches, but in that context, it brought that which was needed for them all.

Note (as Excell comments) that this man’s name is never given.  Paul reflects the Jewish attitude of the time, that "there is a criminal cruelty in needlessly calling a blush of shame into a brother’s face."  As led by God, we protect those around us, in every possible manner, including the reputation of our brother, our sister, our neighbor, friend and even our enemy (who may later become more than a friend).   There are lines with other people we must not cross, and only the Holy Spirit can show us where those lines are.

Verse 7.  "so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise  such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow."

Forgiveness ought to be the norm among Christians.  Indeed, however, it (forgiveness) is so rare in this world, that we are considered abnormal, when we do forgive.  A form of the word "crestians", which means "kind hearted", was used among the Galatians in relation to the early Christians.  The word reached the language by accident (for Christians) in their culture, for they found the earliest believers to actually BE so kind hearted, they thought the word "kind hearted" was their name.

Are we kind hearted?  Are we forgiving of others?  Paul was our model in this regard.  He told us to work (or not eat) in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, noting that some were disorderly and did not work (3:11).  He commanded them to work (3:12), and then told others to not associate with those who will not work (3:14).  But then he concluded, "yet do not count him as an enemy, but treat him as a brother" (2 Thessalonians 3:15).

We are to be strong and firm, but also gentle and kind, loving one another in the power of God.

Verse 8.  "Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him."

Keep in mind here that the offender within their midst, had performed incest with his father’s wife.  There are those who teach this was his step mother, but the Greek actually does not support that.  In a church I attended, years ago, an exuberant man who really seemed to love the Lord, was suddenly accused of sexually abusing his grand children.  I left that church but later was told he went to prison for what was done.

Incest is a terrible crime and prison is reasonable – a right place for the person who commits the crime of incest, which is a violation of trust at a basic level.  But can we truly forgive such a person and welcome them back into fellowship, into our church, into our homes, into our hearts, when they honestly repent of what they have done?  That is precisely what Paul tells us to do.  And J. V. McGee reminds us, "We are all capable of any sin."

We had a lengthy conversation about this verse, during this morning’s Friday Study, and caution was urged, as to accepting certain offenders back into our midst.   As Don Araiza urged, "Love them, and also be cautious about (premature) association...wait for (true) repentance and change in their lives."  Yes!   In the same place that Christ urged us to be "harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16), He also cautioned us to be "wise as serpents."  We are given brains and we should use them.  After using our brains to protect our little ones (and after much prayer) we are to RECEIVE our truly repentant brother.

Verse 9.  "For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are  obedient in all things."

You (your faith in God) will be tested.  This is not "tempted" but tested and it will happen to each one.  The aim, in our walk with God, is that we will become truly responsive to His Spirit; which is to say, to express His love and His will to all we meet.  As gold is tested for purity, so we will be tested in the fire of God, until we are found pure in His love, pure in Him.

Paul was entrusted with the Gospel, not as pleasing men, but "God, Who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4 – it is our impure tendency to please ourselves).  The blind Milton said, "My vision Thou hast dimmed, that I may see Thyself, Thyself alone."  We will be tested until we see God alone.   We are to see Him in the face of that homeless person over there; in the countenance of our spouse, who hurt us beyond measure; and upon the brow of our enemy, who stabbed us through.  We will be tested and we will see God.

Verse 10.  "But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have  forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,"

Paul now knew these Corinthians had become obedient (2 Corinthians 7:6 & context – Titus had told him).  It really didn’t matter to Paul, by the way, that they followed him, but he had told them the will of God, and they (we) must follow Him (God).  Obedience is an expression of faith in God, and they were now trusting in the Lord.

Paul would accept their decision about forgiveness (as in this verse), for to know someone is truly a compassionate (forgiving) person, you can trust your back to them and you will be safe.  You can depend on their judgement, in areas like – forgiveness.

Verse 11.  "so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant  of his schemes."

A key reason for forgiveness is given here.  We are to be full of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus – and the enemy wants to take our love – away.   Our love (His love in us) is to be expressed in forgiveness.  And just as surely as the mirror reflects light, so we should reflect the forgiveness of Christ, to the one who repents.  Just as God receives them, so should we.  The enemy is subtle, but our lack of love is like the alarm clock in the morning – it should wake us up.

If we don’t forgive, we have the problem of the Ephesians in Revelation 2. – We may be doctrinally correct, but if we are lacking in love, we have missed it all.   Additionally, the repentant person (who is already in a state of grief at what he has done) can be sent back into sin by our rigid and severe response (the enemy would like that).  This is the observation of Matthew Henry, and if you think for a moment, it is our observation, too.  We need to become a people of the forgiveness given in our God.

Verse 12.  "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was  opened for me in the Lord,"

Paul is at this time completing his thought about the painful circumstances in which he had written 1^st Corinthians.  He wanted to come to them, but instead stopped in Troas, at the direction of the Holy Spirit.  (This is where we must stake our lives – in following God).  Just like Paul, we have desires which are sometimes good, sometimes less good, but we must learn to follow God (and not merely our own desires).

This, by the way, was the city Troas (not the district by the same name), and the name of the place had been recently changed by the Romans from Antigonia Troas to Alexandria Troas.  It was well known by them, because the Romans thought it represented Troy, which they thought was the "cradle of their race" (Excell).   Paul had stopped there during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:8-11) but left because of the vision which led him to Macedonia.

He now stopped there on the way from Macedonia to Corinth, and found this "open door" which was a flourishing Christian community (Acts 20:6-7), where he could minister to them.  He stayed there at least once more, before he was to be martyred (2 Timothy 4:13).  Excell is among those who thought it was probably at Troas where his final arrest would take place (the one that led to his execution).

Verse 13.  "I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave  of them, I went on to Macedonia."

It was Titus who was to bring word to Paul about the Church in Corinth, and I can imagine Paul "beside himself", waiting for information.  He paced around, probably for days, looking for Titus, but then he went to Philippi, in Macedonia.  It was there Paul found Titus, this younger man of God
(2 Corinthians 7:5, 6), and learned the Corinthians had dealt with the man who had committed incest.  Paul was elated.  The man had repented and turned from his sin, and yet Paul was concerned, because the man had not been allowed back into fellowship.  Love forgives and does not "keep score" of previous wrongs.

Verse 14.  "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and  manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."

Matthew Henry correctly stated, "A believer’s triumphs are all in Christ.   In ourselves we are weak, and have neither joy nor victory; but in Christ, we may rejoice and triumph."  We are "more than conquerors" through Him Who loved you and me (Romans 8:37).  Our accomplishments are small and do not last, and like the child who delights in the work of his father, we delight in God, Who leads us in His Triumph in Christ.

J. Vernon McGee relates this to the many triumphal entries of the Roman armies (they won a lot of battles, and this happened often – Paul would have seen these processions.  After a great victory, the procession would last from early morning until late in the night.  First they would see the people (captives) who were going to be released.  In the back were those to be executed.  In between, were the strange animals and trophies of victory, taken in battle.

Verse 15.  "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved  and among those who are perishing;"

Running all through these triumphal entries of Roman armies, were clouds of incense, burned to "gods" credited for the victory.  Sometimes the procession was so obscured by these thick clouds of incense, that people could not see. We are the fragrance of God, as He expresses His utter victory in Christ (through ordinary people, like you and me).  We’re amazingly like plain, brass lamps, filled with the fire of God.

Note that we (or rather, God in us), can be perceived, both by those who love Him, and also by those who choose to NOT receive our Lord.  I have been amazed, down through the years, by the many who have inquired, at one time or another, "You’re a Christian, aren’t you?"  My amazement is reasonable, for I’m ordinary in every way, except one – God is in me - even me.  And both the "lost" and the "saved" will perceive Him in you, as well, when Christ is in you.  His sweet savor of victory will be manifest through you, just like incense will permeate a room.

Verse 16.  "to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to  life. And who is adequate for these things?"

J. Vernon McGee observed that in the Roman triumphal entry, there were those who were going to be set free, and those who would be executed, but all of them were in the triumphal entry (Jesus died for us all).  Bishop Wordsworth made the delightful comment about this verse – "In them that are saved, and in them that perish, the odour is fragrant to God, though those who breathe it may be variously affected by it."

To some (Acts 4:11, Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8), Jesus (the Chief Corner Stone) becomes a Stone of Stumbling, which grinds to powder, those on whom it falls.  To others, He is Life!  The rabbis also spoke of the Law as "an aroma alike of death and of life."

Years ago, when I was in an intensive care unit, they could not understand why I was dying; because the medicine they gave was designed to give life – but I was dying.  It turned out the large quantities of penicillin-derivative had created an allergy, and to this day, the easiest way to kill me, would be to give me penicillin.   That which gives life to the one, will kill another.  In the case of our Lord (Who gave Himself for the sins of the world), there are those who will not receive Him, literally will themselves to eternal death.

Verse 17.  "For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity,  but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God."

Paul asked, in the preceding verse, "Who is adequate for these things?"   The answer is – none of us.  Our whole relationship with God is "In Christ, in the sight of God," as in this verse.

A key concept for me, these many years, is from Matthew 10:8, "freely you have received, freely give."  This statement was made to the "twelve" when they were sent out by twos, in a "practice run" to the "lost sheep of Israel" (10:6).  As I look on our lives, I see in retrospect, that we have experienced many "practice runs", designed to bring us into conformity to Him, as He always intended.

I was in sales, and sometimes did quite well; but other times were financial disasters, during which I thought about "bad luck", regretted that I was ever born, took (and practiced) all the "success" classes ever invented, worked 60- to 70-hours a week; often to little avail.  It was like I was a faucet, which was turned on and off, at surprising, unexpected, and disturbing times.

Yet God wonderfully provided, even as I failed to do the job.   Time-and-time again, God gave what was needed.  And He did not only do this with money and with food, but He provided amply what was needed inside as well – Enabling us to understand the Word of God, receive His Son, and be given abundantly of His Spirit.

Freely, abundantly, each one of us has received – and let us also give the good things of God, to everyone who comes our way.

2 Corinthians Chapter 3
Commentary by Ron Beckham

Verse 1.  "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?"

In a file cabinet, in my closet, I have "letters of reference," which extend back some 40-years.  Such letters have been customary in our society, and that was also true in the Roman Empire.  If you are my potential employer, you will need more than letters from 30- or 40-years ago - you need to know who I am (and it’s a good time for us to become acquainted).

As to Paul’s situation, there were plenty of guys running around to the churches of that time (like Corinth), with "credentials" in the form of letters of recommendation.   Many of them were "judaizers" who had the outward credentials but lacked God’s heart for people.

Paul had given these people - Christ!  Under his ministry, they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  He taught them and nursed them, with the good things of God.  Of all people, they should have been satisfied with his ministry, and yet there were those of the law who had planted seeds of doubt, and the Corinthians WONDERED about him.

Verse 2.  "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;"

Paul was the "midwife" who had "birthed" these people into Christ.   In 1953, I was attending a meeting at Hume Lake, in California, and the speaker was my pastor, Howard Ervin.  (As I wrote this, Howard was in his 80’s and still taught a Bible study on Friday evenings).  He always clearly spoke of my (our) need to receive Christ, and touched inside by the Holy Spirit, I went forward and received our Lord.

I have no trouble recognizing Howard as my "father" in the faith, who led me to the Lord.  If he had called me on the telephone, I would NOT need some kind of letter (perhaps faxed to me), authenticating him and his ministry.  Because of Howard’s faithfulness (and the work of the Holy Spirit through him), I am changed.   I have become Howard’s letter (and the Lord’s), written on my humanity, in the blood of Christ.  The ministry that is authenticated by changed lives, reveals the presence of God.

We are made alive in Christ, and the promise of His life is extended to those we meet - expressed through you and even through me.  Since this writing, such a short time ago, I have learned Howard is now with the Lord.  But Howard is ALIVE in Christ, and because of his faithfulness, so am I.

Verse 3.  "being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of   human hearts."

We have read a lot of letters (epistles) and many are part of the Bible. Paul wrote such letters, as did Peter, John, Jude, and James. Paul himself was a "letter" (as were the others), written by God, addressed to you and to me.

The surprise is that you and I are also such letters, written by the Son of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and sent to the world.  "Dear…(fill in the name), this is Ron (or your name, if you are in Christ).  Receive this person as My child, because they are in My Son.  Give them every consideration you would give to Me…"  YOU are a letter from God.

Jeremiah related (31:33) "I (God) will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts."  Ezekiel reported (11:22) "I will take the stony heart of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh."  These verses are fulfilled for us, when we receive the Lord, the Son of God.

Verse 4.  "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God."

The trust that we are given to receive Him, also brings confidence IN Him.

"Trust" is faith, and I love the entry verse into the "faith" chapter of Hebrews (11:1), "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  This "faith" is not of ourselves (Hebrews 12:2), but is wrought in Christ, imparted to us; the gift of God.   If it was of us, it would not be evidence of Him.

We understand all these things about laws, covenants, letters, and so on, not because we are somehow skilled in understanding God or in having faith, but through the Son of God, Who gave us the Spirit of God.  All we do is receive the finished work of Christ, the Son of God, and in Him, we are given the capacity to have faith in Him.   His Spirit is planted deep within our hearts, and much like we are given eyes that see, He has given us His Spirit, that we might understand.

We have confidence in Christ, in God.

Verse 5.  "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from   ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,"

If we are unable to understand this verse, or we feel like failures as Christians, it is explained in John 15:5:  "I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing."  It is Christ Who has done the work - our job is to be - in Him.  The branch does not produce the fruit – It is the Tree that produces the fruit, through the branch.  We are never "failures" – we need to relax, and let Him express Himself THROUGH you and me.

We are merely flesh, and cannot save, or truly love, or trust, or do any good and lasting thing, except Christ (the Vine) expresses Himself through us (the branches).   We can baptize, perform the Lord’s Supper, teach His Word, and lay hands on people - but without Him, these are mere rituals done by people.

We are not sufficient in ourselves.  Do you sometimes feel - incomplete?   Without Christ, you will always have that gnawing emptiness; a sense something is missing (because you ARE incomplete).  Sufficiency is from God, through Christ.  In Him, you can rest, because you are now more than adequate - in Him.

Verse 6.  "who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but   of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

The New Covenant is as high as the heavens (the far flung galaxies) are, in relation to the earth; and indeed the Old Covenant, though holy, is designed for this time, this earth.  When we stop at a red light, it is commendable, and the lives of those in cross traffic are saved because we stop.  When we respond to "Thou shalt not commit murder," It is a good thing and certainly does protect our neighbor.

The moral teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), can be summed up by the phrase, "Do not do harm to one another," and when you add to that, "Honor God and do not blaspheme His Name," you essentially have the Old Covenant.  Commendable, but inside we know it (keeping the law) is insufficient to save.

Each of us knows our thoughts, intents, and our past, and recognize we need a Savior.   To leave the realm of the law (which reveals our sin), and enter the realm of the Spirit, we must be changed.  In the one, we are (from God’s perspective) pronounced dead, and in the Other, we are made alive (in Christ).

What is our authority to minister?  Is it because we graduated from a certain college, have some kind of title, or wear a certain uniform?  It is none of these.  We only are sufficient as ministers IN HIM.  If we give one another the letter of the law (don’t do this; don’t do that), we lead others only into the conviction of sin.  We need the Spirit of Christ, who gives us life.

Verse 7.  "But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,"

How was (is) the law (the ministry of death) glorious?  In relation to the law (in the Book of Exodus), we see the ocean split into dry land; a pillar of fire and smoke; water coming out of rocks; food from nothing, right outside their tent flaps each morning, and Moses was transformed from a man of human effort, into a man of faith, a servant of God.  His face (Exodus 34:29) shone with the glory of God when he talked with the people.  But the greatest glory of the law is that it "kills" (2 Corinthians 3:6) by letting us discover our bankruptcy of the soul and our need of God.   Moses saw his need of God, and so should we.

Verse 8.  "how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?"

How is the ministry of the Spirit, greater (more glorious) than the ministry of the law (preceding verses)?  One aspect is certainly discussed in Psalm 147:5 (& context):  "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite." You see, our attempts to keep the law, will reach right down inside of us, and declare us to be sinners - and then just leave us there!  And we are given ultimately, no permanent remedy for our sin in the law!  (The sacrifices in the Law were illustrative of Christ but for those people, they were only conditional and temporary).

From your encounter with the law, you will have no place to go, but up, for the law cannot bring you up, but only reveal you for what you are.  Jesus pointed out that our problem with the law, is that it does not merely consider our outward actions, but our inward attitudes.

If you are angry with someone, or think he’s "nuts" (Matthew 5:22); if you are furious at that other driver on the freeway - you have sinned and are guilty before the law.  If you address the merest thoughts of adultery (or fornication), you’re guilty (Matthew 5:28) in the sight of a Holy God.

God understands (Psalm 147:5) your limitations and He loves you personally, so much, that He wants you to - live!  The law understands and makes you die.   Understanding in the Holy Spirit of God, is limitless, filled with love, and you will live in JOY - forever!  Do you see how the One is higher than the other?

Verse 9.  "For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory."

The law is beautiful.  Can you imagine how this world would be, if people did not murder one another, anymore?  What if we did not steal from each other?  What if people stopped lying?  Even if we all lived in the harshest desert, life would be better, because we would become at peace with one another.  Wouldn’t that be glorious?  Yes, it would be, and the law is glorious!  The only problem - we are not glorious.  For, when we receive the information from the law that we are not perfect, we typically respond by hiding our flaws, and pretending we don’t have them!

The ministry of righteousness, on the other hand, from outside of us, and in the heart of God. He brings His heart, His love, in Christ Jesus, and plants the good seed of faith - deep inside of you and me.  The seed begins to grow, and in amongst our stony ground, will grow the most beautiful "flowers."  These are "flowers" such as love, purity, faith, gentleness, etc.  That which we could never do on our own, begins to happen, because He who loves us and died for us; now lives in us, and He will bring it to pass.

Verse 10.  "For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it."

For years after I quit smoking - oddly enough the times I wanted to smoke, were when I was confronted by a "No Smoking" sign.  The law is like that, for it tends to reveal the deep rebelliousness within us all.  Now, I did not quit smoking because of "No Smoking" signs.  It was rather that I could not quit, for literally years, and then I prayed that one more time, and God delivered me.

"No Smoking" signs are good and they have a fine purpose, but to actually quit smoking is better.  So much better, the one cannot be compared with the other.  The moon is glorious but the sun is much more so.  If the moon suddenly disappeared, we might have earthquakes and flooding, but many would live.  Without the sun, everything would quickly die.  So is the Spirit infinitely greater than the law.  The one is good, but it kills, and the Other gives life.

Verse 11.  "For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory."

The law is passing away.  There will not be any "No Smoking" signs in eternity, because no one would want to smoke.  It is unnecessary to say "Thou shalt not commit murder" in a setting where death is unthinkable.  You don’t steal when you have everything, and even more important, when you are enabled to really LOVE that other person, you don’t hurt them.

The incredible thing, is that eternity has already begun for us - right now!  It is not that we have to somehow wait for sin to be put away, for Jesus has already done what is needed, and more!

Paul said "we were dead" (Ephesians 2:5).  We are already sitting "in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus" (2:6).  Because of His grace, through faith (2:8-9), "good works" have been created in us, in Christ Jesus (2:10).  We no longer need to be under law, because we have received the Spirit of God.

Rejoice - for Someone glorious has come and is imparting His Life; right inside of you.  The "old" begins to fade - when you receive the New.

Verse 12.  "Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,"

The law is like the black velvet (of a jewelry store), upon which the diamond ring is placed.  She (the bride-to-be), will receive the ring with joy, but will give little thought to the velvet, for it merely points to the ring.  Receiving the ring (itself a promise), she experiences a reasonable onset of joy, and typically wants to talk a lot about her husband-to-be.  She has the hope of a more complete life, and wears that ring, if you think about it, because of the promise of so much more.  We have great hope in Christ, our Beloved, and more-and-more, we will want to share our love of Him.

Verse 13.  "and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away."

There’s a minor controversy about this verse (from Exodus 34:33-35), for some teach Moses was simply afraid people would see the glory of God was fading away (as this verse appears in some translations).  Others teach something along the line that he was protecting them from the glare.  I think a wider look at this verse is better, for it is not merely an isolated statement, but part of a context.  The whole of Moses’ life (and that of Israel), is, by the way, a parable to help us understand God’s intentions for mankind.

Most of the people Israel (as most of the world) were not believers, though outwardly, they were of that nation.  Many go to Church but do not personally know Christ.   There is a "veil" over what people see, and tragically, many indicate a lack of understanding by trying to approach God merely though "good" works or POSITIVE intentions.

Paul was bold (verse 12), and compared his approach with Moses (verse 13), who instead veiled the glory of God.  It’s not that Moses did something good or bad, right or wrong (as some teach), either - again, his act was a parable that we might understand why some do not believe.  They do not believe because they do not see, and the glory of God remains veiled because people generally do not want to see God.

Paul offered the Spirit of God, and was open, because the Holy Spirit gives life.   Moses offered the law, which was beautiful, but to the faithless, it kills.   There was that aspect of Moses’ dealings with the people, which was like a funeral.  Depending on the culture, those at a funeral might wear black, or white, or are veiled, or whatever.  Paul operated boldly, openly, because he offers life - to you.

Verse 14.  "But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ."

Years ago, my wife referred to me as "Hard-headed", because I did not see (or adopt) her point of view (and she had a point).  But this is more than just a change in a way of looking at things – Paul is urging us to a whole new LIFE in Christ Jesus.  We are to be made NEW, different, in Him.  This is the way of faith in God, that it leads to Christ - HE is the One given for the sins of the world.

To be "hardened" is to refuse to receive God the Son.

There are those who will not see.  Something that is veiled cannot be seen (because it is veiled).  But Jesus Christ is openly offered to you.  Is it your problem that you do not understand God? - Turn to Christ; abandon yourself to Him.   Take the risk, and we who receive, will perceive more than we ever dreamed – We will understand His love.

Verse 15-16.  "But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."

It’s incredible to me, that at one time, I read about the sacrifices in Leviticus (a part of the Books of Moses) and did not see Christ.  As the author of Hebrews correctly pointed out, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).  Then what was the meaning of all those sacrifices of bulls, goats, and other animals, in the Book of Leviticus?

They were historical parables, revealing to the people of that time, and to us, in picture form, our need of Christ.  "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).  Moses, in every way, was more than just a man; he was a parable, and he pointed to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

There was a time when I looked into Scripture, and did not see, because there was a "veil" on my heart.  Thanks be to God, the veil is now taken away – and in Christ, we can SEE.  Paul said, "Awake sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." (Ephesians 5:14).

Verse 17.  "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

When you turn to God in Christ, the Holy Spirit becomes the Lord of your life, leading you and guiding you, in every good and perfect way.  In Him, we have freedom, like we never before dreamed.  People often think of "freedom" as the right to do "whatever we want."  But if you and I each have that kind of "freedom", we will eventually infringe on the rights of each other, and find we do not have "freedom" after all.

Paul taught us we are "called to freedom (only) do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).   There is true freedom when we are enabled to love one another more than ourselves.   If we only stand up for OUR "rights", we can never, ever be free.   Freedom is abandonment to the love of God, and sharing His love with one another.

Verse 18.  "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

We are transformed, in Christ.  As Joseph Excell pointed out, people are "singularly UNLIKE Christ - by nature like Satan; by grace like Christ."   It is astonishing that we who are NOT like Him, gradually BECOME like Him, because of the power and love of God.  From glory to glory, His people, acquire His character: nobility (to those who are not noble; peace to the restless; joy to the unhappy; and usefulness to the one who formerly would not follow God.

It’s like we become some kind of mirror, dim and pitted we may be; reflecting Him, His glory - the very glory of God. How are we to be "light" (or "salt" for that matter – Matthew 5:13-16)?  We don’t have a clue.  It is the LORD, the Spirit of God, Who transforms us into the very image of God.  We don’t even know, really, what that "image" is about, but He is doing that precise and wonderful work, IN those who simply BELIEVE - in Him.  He imparts HIS glory to ordinary people; just like you and me.

2 Corinthians Chapter 4
Commentary by Ron Beckham

Verse 1.  "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,"

Whatever ministry we have, it is by the mercy of God, and is undeserved.  God does not need us, as He has demonstrated in my life, over-and-over again.  Not to my hurt, but to my joy, for it is important to recognize this, that to minister in His Name (to have that privilege), is to receive mercy - and it is a clear sign that He loves us, without limit.  Because of the mercy of God, we can have courage and hope - we do not lose heart.

The outward circumstances of our lives are less relevant, as we perceive the inward work of God, often (but not always) manifested in prayer, in service, teaching, or a comforting touch for the one in need.  It is the Holy Spirit Who enables us and prompts us to help one another, and it is not a burden to serve, but a gift from God.

Verse 2.  "but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

To have a double motive is the natural state of mankind.  To become honest (as we are drawn to do in Christ), should be a surprise to every one, for deceit (often disguised as the "white lie"), is the way of humanity.  All too often, the " minister" performs a ritual, or gives a talk - out of duty, and not out of love.   I have visited with a number of clergymen who do not believe, yet the ministry is their job, and they cannot stop (for they would not have a job).  Mark Behrens pointed out this verse is like the old covenant, which pointed to Christ, but became a mere ritual, because they chose to not have faith.

For years, I was distressed by a young man I met in seminary, who was already ordained; but he LEFT the ministry after graduation, choosing to become a funeral director, instead.   (The door to ministry was closed to me at that time, and I was distressed by his choice).  Actually, I have come to accept Dan’s decision, because it was the leading of God, and it is the will of God we must seek.  None of this should be done from the efforts of a man. If the ministry is not right for you – work elsewhere, just like Dan.

To "minister" is not for money, or fame, for a career, or any other secondary motive, but for the benefit of that other person, and for the glory of God.  We are to have no other motive than to love and follow the will of God.  He knows what we should be and do; even when we do not.  Look to Him.

Verse 3.  "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,"

Joseph Excell has the understanding of this verse, and he asks "How can a ‘veiled’ truth (this verse) be a ‘manifested’ truth (verse 2)?"   And the answer is, "the gospel is bright, but the eyes that should see are willfully closed."

WHY do people so often close their eyes to the reality of Christ?  I believe the answer is in the words "sensuality" and "denial."  The drinker denies that he is a drunk, because he ENJOYS the sensual experience of drinking (alcohol).   There is a temporary relief from fear, and there are momentary flights into elation.  If the drinker realizes "I am a drunk," addicted to the numbing effects of this substance, he is in great danger - for he has taken a step toward stopping the use of that which temporarily makes him less afraid.

To acknowledge Christ is to understand we truly are insufficient in ourselves; and to SEE that we are always on the edge of losing - everything!  Scary.  We often deny Him, Who would set us free, and give us peace.  The drinker keeps on drinking, and people enjoy the sensuality of certain thoughts and actions, which TEMPORARILY make think they feel better.  We need the permanence of salvation in Christ.  We need joy instead of elation, and His love in the place of fear.

Verse 4.  "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

The "god of this world" is the character we know as "Satan," or the "adversary."  He is the enemy of the true God, and the enemy of mankind.   He hates you, and would kill you in a moment, if he could (our Lord protects you).   Many follow him, though, for much like the drunk (commentary on verse 3) can become temporarily elated by the substance that is killing him, Satan will, for a time, allow sensual pursuits to mankind.  You can indeed find "pleasure" for a time, but then be ruined - forever.

Note that Jesus Christ is the "image of God."  He created man and woman alike in that image (Genesis 1:26-28), and there is no need for the endless speculation about the NATURE of that image.  What is it?  The answer is right here - CHRIST is the Image of God (see also Hebrews 1:3 and Colossians 1:15).  To the extent we contain Jesus Christ, we are in that Image, and the Image is in us.  If we do not receive Him, we are like the drinking glass - Designed to hold water and satisfy thirst, we become only an object of frustration, when we are empty of Him.

Verse 5.  "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake."

My ideas, my speculations, my theories about life, are useless to you, just as yours are ultimately not useful to me.  I have written a novel, called "Achaia" which was a lot of fun to write, and allowed me to express endless speculation about what I consider was the nature of the pre-flood world.  But I have not been able to get publishers to read it, and it occurs to me the world may not NEED more speculative ideas.   Yes, we are to LISTEN to one another, but our SATISFACTION will not come from a mere philosophy of life.

You need Christ!  Knowledge is valuable, but you need Christ, deep in your soul.   You need to be SATISFIED at the depths of your being, which will not be reached by sensual experience (verse 2), or mere knowledge - no matter how interesting that "knowledge" may seem to be.  We need the Lord.

I am your servant, to the extent these words give Christ to you.  And we are servants to one another, in the body of Christ.  It is not our MINDS that need to be changed, it is our hearts that need Jesus Christ.  If you and I give Him to one another, we satisfy the purpose for which we were created, and re-created - in Him.

Verse 6.  "For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Jesus tells us that we "are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) and defines that "light" as "good works" which "glorify your Father in heaven" (5:16).  John the Baptist had a specific function given by God, which was to bear witness of the Light, that all might believe (John 1:6-8, and forward).  John’s "job" was to introduce the need for repentance ("make straight" the hearts of men), so that people would be ready to receive Jesus Christ (the Light).  Yet Jesus referred to him as a "burning and shining lamp" (John 5:35).

If you asked the moon about "his" light, "He" might correctly reply, like John the Baptist, "It is not my light, it is his," and he would point to the sun.  (Yet, the moon, from our perspective, seems to have light).   Our minds and hearts are illumined (made to understand) by our Lord, and people might look to us and talk about "our" light.  But I, like you, can only point at Christ, and with wonder in our eyes, we say "It is Him; He is the Light."  And He is.

This week's study:    2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Verse 7.  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;"

Two things are very personal (to me) about this verse:  1) The more acquainted I became, down through the years, with men who had titles like "pastor" or "priest" or "minister," etc., the more puzzled I got, because they have flaws, just like me.  And, 2) I finally decided to avoid the ministry (after first seeking it for a long time), because of my OWN flaws - there is enough trouble and confusion in the world - why add to it?

What I did not understand, is that we are ALL "earthen" vessels.  The word "earthen" brings to mind a common, rough, clay, brown-colored pot, for common use.  And that is exactly what Paul had in mind.  He had become a kind of rough, "blue collar" worker - a tentmaker.  Truly, we are all just human beings, and we have nothing lasting in life to offer - except Him, Who died for us.

Now, the surprise is that we find the obvious power of God, in a very ordinary person, and that is exactly the point - The excellence of the power is of Him, and not of you and me.  The person used for the glory of God, is like the gold coin found inside the earthen pot, hidden there for just this moment - for the person who is in need.

Verse 8.  "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;"

"Pressed (afflicted) on every side," is what it says, and I really don’t particularly care for that imagery, for we like to be FREE.  Paul was afflicted, pressed, in every way.  From a human perspective, Paul was like a shirt on an ironing board – pressed flat by circumstances too great to bear.  Yet in the Spirit, Paul was FREE, like few of us will ever know in this life.

Circumstances pressed Paul but he was not crushed by them.  Life is overwhelming, many times, but we do not have to be taken by life to the point of despair.  (We have a secret) – we have HOPE in Christ.  The troubles we experience, though they press us down, are temporary in nature.  We too often forget that Christ is with us, and when all is done, we will be with Him, who truly LOVES you and me.

Verse 9.  "persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"

Jesus promised us, "If they persecuted Me" (and they did), "they will also persecute you" (John 15:20).  But the most wonderful promise is in this verse:  You will not be forsaken.  After they persecuted our Lord on the cross, He physically left our midst.  Before He left (and in the same context as John 15:20), He continued, "If I do not go away, the Helper" (the Holy Spirit) "will not come to you; but if I depart" (and He did), "I WILL send Him to you" (John 16:7).   He (the Holy Spirit) has been sent to you, and He loves you.

We are not forsaken (not alone in our suffering).  Life often knocks us down, but we are not destroyed.  Do you see this? - You cannot die!  They can kill the body, for a time, but "to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).  If you are in Him, the most important part of what you are, will never die.  Your illness (any illness you have) is only temporary, and so is any "death" you might experience.  Give yourself to Christ - You will never die, and you will truly LIVE, here on earth.

Verse 10.  "always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."

Philo commented, life is like "the daily carrying about of a corpse."   We tend to object that kind of imagery, but there is a great truth, here.   Paul commented, "If we be dead in Him, we shall also live with Him" (2 Timothy 2:11), and that is exactly what baptism pictures, in relation to our life in Christ Jesus.  We are dead to this world, but ALIVE to God.  Where it counts, we have LIFE.

Paul teaches us, "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death?  Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).  Verse 5 continues, we are "united together" in the likeness of His death" (and His life).

If you go to a store where they sell plants (nursery), and buy a little packet of seeds, it might occur to you they (the seeds) are dead.  Leave them in the packet, and sure enough, nothing will ever happen.  But you buy them, because you know that if you put them in the ground (like Christ was in the tomb), and water them (like the Holy Spirit gives you "living water"), they will GROW into something wonderful!   And so will you - in Him.  Others will see Him in you, and they will want Him, too.

Verse 11.  "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."

It’s the normal human response to avoid any suffering.  We often want to be well, and handsome, tall, intelligent, young, slim, strong, and with just the right touch of "cute" so others will be drawn to us.  Yet life is really not about us; it’s about Christ IN us.  If we are ordinary, short, maybe somewhat sickly, and a little overweight…If we are old, and not so cute, and not as bright as we might hope…Yet there is SOMETHING about that person, and we wonder, what IS it about them?  Then we discover; it is Christ!

Our "disadvantages" are actually wonderful; for when Christ works in us and through us, others can look and see, and UNDERSTAND it is not us who do the work, but Christ in us!  Our weakness makes people look for another Cause, and this Cause is Him.  A teacher of the Word of God is like a dead man (the imagery in these verses); for instance, any life in this study, on the Friday Study website - is Christ.  I have nothing to offer you, and yet He, on the other hand, has EVERYTHING to give to us both.

Verse 12.  "So death works in us, but life in you."

This verse puts everything in life, into its’ proper focus.  Life, for us, is not about us, at all; it’s for the other person., I was not born (and reborn in Christ) for me - I was born and reborn for YOU, and you for me, and both of us for Christ (and Christ was given for us all).

We are His!  Drag me away, Lord, for I am dead!  But He Who lives in me, is ALIVE, and He is giving this dead person WORDS, that I might speak to You.  And you are given to every one of us; for this is the body of Christ.

Verse 13.  "but having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, therefore we also speak,"

In the sense that we are truly dead to this world, and alive in Christ, our experience (for each one) is the same.  This verse is a quote of Psalm 116:10, by the way, where the context refers to us (humanity) as "simple" people, brought low, saved by the Lord, at rest in Him, delivered from death, and in the land of the living (Psalm 116:1-9).  And yet, the Psalmist was "afflicted" and said "in haste" that "all men are liars."

Ever think that (all men are liars)?  But the Psalmist went to the Lord, and took His cup of salvation, trusted in Him, and the section in Psalms, continues with the beautiful and haunting verse, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15).  We die to this world, that we may be ALIVE in another (in Him).

Verse 14.  "knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and   will present us with you."

These are those who say that Jesus is a great teacher, but cringe away from references to His death for us on the cross.  It’s important, ESSENTIAL to your life, that you carefully read this verse, in this context, which includes chapter 5, verse 15 - Jesus Christ "died for all!"  Jesus died on your behalf, as your Substitute, and you have no future, no standing with God, no LIFE, except though Jesus Christ Who died on the cross for your sins, and gives you LIFE in the sight of God.   It isn’t "what’s in it for me" anymore – it’s about our Lord.  We are ALIVE to Him and He is alive to you and me.

Faith, in such a setting, means that if life goes well, we should continually be in praise before Him shouting (in our heart or out loud, it does not matter), "Thank you, God, praise You, God, for You are wonderful!"  And if we suffer in life, our prayer is just the same.

Verse 15.  "For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God."

All things are for our sake.  When you think God does not hear you, remember this:   ALL things are for you.  Even when He does not seem to hear your cry, it is for your sake, that you may be drawn to more faith in Him.  The end result of this, is that grace might run rampant through us, like a sweet plague of love, which "kills" us, but gives us life.

And when this joy in our Redeemer, sweeps through us, we become thankful, and our praises will resound, to the glory of God.

Why do we not have revival?  Maybe the answer is right here, that we do not recognize that ALL THINGS are for our sakes.  Perhaps it is time for us to see the grace of God in our lives; time to thank Him, from a sincere, grateful heart, and praise our glorious God.  I’d like to try it (we might start a revival).

Verse 16.  "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Paul had as much to be discouraged about, as anybody I’ve ever heard about (as we shall see, later in this Book of 2nd Corinthians).  And he has already told us he got discouraged (2 Corinthians 1:8), just like you and me.  But he caught this, this - IDEA!  That even our sufferings are designed to bring us to GLORY in Christ!

Our "outward man" is indeed perishing.  Anybody in my age group can tell you there is a gradual shutting down of vital forces of life.  When I was in San Diego, helping one of my sons move, I dropped things that I could have carried with ease, just a few years ago.  I open my mouth, reach for a brain cell, and the word just isn’t there.  It happens to everyone, in Christ or not.

Yet the "inner man," that place where Christ has chosen to live, is RENEWED in Him.

Verse 17.  "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,"

Our "light affliction."  I have visited with Jonathan Merchant and watched him struggle in relation to his newly paralyzed, 23-year old body.  I sat with Bob Douglass, as he took 2-years (it seemed a lot longer) to die from cancer.  I intend to prayerfully be there for the Viet Nam widows (they made me "Chaplain" of their group), who long for their husbands, with a love that cannot be replaced.   Their afflictions do not seem "light" at all.

And yet, they are light in one way - our afflictions are only temporary.  All our sufferings are "for a moment" when we are in Him.  Bob is healed, Jonathan will be healed, in this life or in the next.  You and I are healed, as well.

Another reason for comfort, in this verse, is that our afflictions are doing a work in our lives, not only for us, but also for those we meet.  We are being prepared for eternity, for glory, and if my problems are useful in that direction, then I say, "Amen" to any "trouble" I might seem to have.  Bob did that, and Jonathan is doing just as well.  It’s time for you and me, with our light afflictions, to do the same.

Verse 18.  "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are   eternal."

We (people) tend to focus, to dwell, on that which is seen.  My 84-year old mother, is one of the nicest people you could every meet.  And she gets around very well, considering everything.  Yet, she tends to focus on what she once was, and she chooses to miss the fact that she is doing very well.  Don Araiza reminded us of a phrase from the "Desiderata," which is "gracefully surrendering the things of youth."

My mother is doing GREAT, when we consider that whatever limitations she may have, are only TEMPORARY in nature.  A little while, and she will be with Him.  A little while, and you and I will be there, too.  Have you trusted in Him?

The problem with your sufferings, your afflictions, that they really are permanent, until you trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In Him, all your trouble will soon be put away.  At the wedding supper of the Lamb, my Mom will be precisely the 20-year old person she longs to be, and she will be with Him.  Amazingly, even I will be there, for I have received Him, who loves you and me.  Will you be there?  Trust Him now; ask Him into your heart, and I’ll see you in a moment of time, at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

2 Corinthians Chapter 5
Commentary by Ron Beckham

Verse 1.  "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

This is a beautiful truth, in Scripture, that our bodies are like dwelling places.   Yours is intended for you, but also for our Lord (you are to have a Roommate).   Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 15:19, that our body is a temple, built to be occupied by the Holy Spirit of God.  You are to live in it, with Him.  This is not unique to Paul's teachings, for Jesus presented a similar idea, when He referred to His own Body as "this temple", in John 2:19,21.

From an earthly perspective, if we lose our bodies, in some manner, we lose everything.   If some of my freedom of movement is gone, through something like imprisonment or paralysis, my car may be of less use to me, because I may not be able to drive it.   The ultimate in loss, from a human standpoint, is the loss of my life, for if I die, all "my" possessions in this world, are no longer available to me.   But, if I lose everything here, I gain much more, for I have a better place to live, made by God, eternal in nature.  If I buy a car, it wears out in a few years, and so does my body and yours.  A careful reading of 1 Corinthians 15, indicates (verses 42-44 & context) God takes that body which falls away from us, and makes it into something wonderful!  We do not need to be afraid of any loss, for in Christ, we are made new - forever!

Verse 2.  "For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,"

What do you "groan" earnestly for, in life?  What do you want?  Is it money?  Do you think about the lottery constantly, and wish that you would win?   Perhaps you want to change some life circumstance or another.  It can be argued that what we want, defines who we are.  What you ultimately need is to be clothed with your habitation which is from heaven.  We are to finish the life God has set out for us ("run the race" as Paul described it) – he also said we will "finish the course."

If you win the lottery, you might say, "I will tithe from whatever I get!"   And that's good, if you do exactly that.  But tithing or not, your bills paid off or not, you will not find true satisfaction, for what you really want, is not part of this world system, at all.  Though in one way, we are already complete (Ephesians 1:3), our ultimate fulfillment is going to be found in eternity, and not on earth.   We trust in God, and so we wait for HIS decision as to when we go there.  In the meantime, we wait, and we ache to be with our Lord.

Verse 3.  "inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked."

This is a good Scripture to underline and remember, for it says we shall not be without a body. "Naked" here, is a reference to the concept of entering a bodiless state, which is taught by some (as in "eastern" religions).  But we "will not be found" in that condition.

If you are afraid of losing your life, you need to do two things: 1) Receive Christ, who gives you LIFE, and 2) Rejoice, for you are now in Him, clothed in His righteousness - forever.  Trust in Christ, for you have everything you will ever need – in Him.

Verse 4.  "For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life."

Life can be hard.  Note that while we are in this "tent" (our bodies in this life), we groan.  J. Vernon McGee was fond of saying, "It's Scriptural to groan."  Now, Paul & J. Vernon did not mean that we are to complain about our problems - and we certainly do not need to moan all the time for something like money.  Turn to Him, in your need.  Learn to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and He will deliver you (and give you peace in the midst of the storm).

We groan because of trust - we have become certain about the joy which is to come, and we long to be with Him.  To be "mortal" is to not be fully alive.   True LIFE will find its fulfillment AFTER this one (if we are in Christ).  He is our joy, and we love Him so, that we desire to depart and be with our Lord.

Verse 5.  "Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge."

We have all heard the question, "Why was I ever born?"  And maybe you are wondering that very thing, right now.  Wonder no more!  You were placed in this world to discover Jesus, to receive Him, and live in Him, for all eternity.   We have seen in previous verses (particularly chapter 1), there is purpose in any suffering we might endure in this life.

And how can we know that we have this life in Him?  From two wonderful sources: 1) This Word (the Bible) we are reading right now, tells us so (as in 2 Corinthians 5:17), and 2) He has given the Holy Spirit of God, as a "down payment" promising even more.  In the Spirit, we KNOW these words are true.   Just as He gives eyes that see, He gives us the Holy Spirit, that we may understand.

Verse 6.  "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord,"

It can be seen how distant people are from God, by the value placed on our human condition.  Millions of dollars are spent on clothes, makeup, physical fitness, cosmetic surgery, and so on.  All are designed to enhance the human body (make us desirable to other people).  Yet, as Paul observed, "while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."  Our confidence, our hope, must be in Him, and not in these frail "tents" which are wasting away, even as we worry about them.

What then, do we quit taking baths, or harm ourselves to hasten the process of coming to Him?  Good heavens, no!  For you have already been told that "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own" (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Therefore, keep your body in good condition, that it may be usable for Him, but glorify the Lord, and not yourself.  Let your confidence be - in Him.

Verse 7.  "for we walk by faith, not by sight"

When we walk by sight, we are always disappointed.  The beautiful becomes less attractive, and we are easily misled. To walk by "sight" includes deciding what another person is thinking, and "sight" here is the whole process of human decision-making; based on what is encountered in life.  A failure of someone to smile at a certain time, can be interpreted as "They don’t like me!"  How tense it is to live our lives by taste & touch, smell & hearing, sight, and by our mere thoughts – For by them, we are often misled.  Don Araiza pointed out that our expectations of others should not be so high.

To "walk by faith" is not an easy matter at first, for like a child who learns first to crawl and then take steps, we must learn to walk in faith.  The parent speaks to the child, and the child does not understand, but through excitement and effort, understanding does come.  The Holy Spirit of God is Communicating to His people.  Do you and I "hear" Him? Occasionally.  Have you noticed, sometimes a Scripture verse is sent – to you!  How do you know that?  The answer is, through the Holy Spirit of God – and if you know through Him, you are beginning to understand.

Faith is a matter of trusting in Him (His character, His ability, His love), that He has good in store for His people.  The next step is to understand that He leads those who long for Him.  This "life in the Spirit" is sometimes a matter of walking out on the "ice" (to get to the other side).   Will it hold you? – Try it (Him) and see.

Verse 8.  "we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

This verse is a sort of "twin" to Philippians 1:23, where Paul revealed he would rather "go and be with Christ."  But he was "hard pressed" (found it difficult to choose, if the choice was his), and the reason is in verse 24, "Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."  As we saw in chapter 1, of 2 Corinthians, our life is not our own.  We were created for God, and for one another.

We all remember things we did that make us ashamed; times we acted without courage, without honor.  Here is your opportunity to be a person of courage – no matter how bad your circumstances may be:  trust in God!  No matter what the pain or heartache, wait for HIM to decide the outcome of your life.  Praise Him in all circumstances, and though we may wish instead to go and be with Him – Wait on the Lord.

Verse 9.  "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."

You were created for me (for all of us), and I for you.  We were designed for GOD’s purposes, that we might be useful for those to whom we are sent.  I like the analogy of the screwdriver that decided it wanted to be a hammer – it might succeed in becoming self-willed, but life will surely be a headache.  The screwdriver was created for the purposes of the carpenter, and not for its own ideas.

If you want a challenge, here it is:  Our job; the reason that we were created, is to be pleasing to the Lord.  In serving Him, He may well assign us to serve other people.  Well and good, for the nobility of purpose in life we have always secretly hungered for, is found in Him (and not in ourselves).  Serve those people to whom you are called, just as He so leads you; so do.

Verse 10.  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether  good or bad."

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.  Jesus, when He was here with us, did not come to condemn the world (John 3:17), "but that the world through Him might be saved".  Yet we now see Him in eternity, and this Lamb, who died in your place, is revealed as the Lion, Who is the Judge of this world.

There is only one escape from "the wrath of the Lamb" (Revelation 6:16), and that is to receive Him now.  Paul, in Romans 7, is shown as a man who could do nothing right, in the sight of God.  How was this crisis resolved in Paul?  How is it resolved for you?  For me? – "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).  Paul gave himself utterly to God; he let himself be led by the Spirit of God.

When we live in Him, our judgment in eternity, will be based NOT on punishment, but on rewards.  When I was a child, my father decided to pay me for good grades (he had become desperate).  I was a poor student and did not work very hard (I received few rewards), but my father loved me, and I was still his son.

So it is with Christ.  You and I right now are deciding our future in eternity (laying up treasures someplace or other) that will decide our fate –forever!   But remember, in the "works" you do, "walk (not) according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1 – again). Look to Him, for "(His) yoke is easy" (easier than our own) "and (His) burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).  "Works" that are acceptable to God are done in faith, and bring peace.

Verse 11.  "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences."

Note this "fear of the Lord."  The one who has not known the "fear of the Lord" just does not understand, for God is holy.  The fear comes in, when we recognize that, in and of ourselves, we are not holy.  Alfred Plummer views this as the "fear excited by the thought of standing before the judgement seat of Christ, and having one’s whole life exposed and estimated."  Paul’s life was filled with holiness and all they had to do was LOOK and see the Holy Spirit within.  It should touch our conscience that we do not have the holiness of Paul.

The New Testament word often used for "holy," carries the meaning, "set apart."  When we read the daily newspaper, any day, any place in the world, we are struck by the low state of humanity.  People do rotten things to one another, and our comparison (as to how we measure up) is ultimately not with each other – but God compares us with Himself.  Tragically, most have no desire to be set apart for Him.