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Lesson 7Second Corinthians

6:3-7:1Page 9

Paul’s ministry: Future 5:1 – 7:1

His goal as a minister of ChristHis dedication as a minister of ChristHis purpose as a minister of Christ

Today –His credentials as a minister of ChristHis challenges as a minister of Christ

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3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

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8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

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Paul’s credentials [written evidence of his trustworthiness] were not personal but Christ-centered (vs.3) See Philippians 3:4-6.

Now Paul switches from the message he preached to his own behavior as a minister of Christ• He did not want to give an offense [a reason for

someone to stumble] in anything• He did not want his work as a minister of the

gospel to be blamed• He did not want them “to receive the grace of God

in vain” (6:1) 5

Paul’s credentials were not personal but Christ-centered (vs.3) See Philippians 3:3-6 for his fleshly credentials:

“3 We…have no confidence in the flesh,

4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:

5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

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His credentials were demonstrated plainly (v.4) “…But in all things we commend ourselves as

ministers of God….” (v.4) Instead of giving offense, Paul was striving to

live a life that others would approve of and know that he was a minister of Christ

He kept his manner of living above reproach – consistent with the message he preached

In verses 4-10, he shows his conduct even when conditions were mostly unfavorable

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His credentials were demonstrated plainly(1) By what he had suffered for others’ good (vs.4,5)

in much patience, [His longsuffering toward individuals and churches]

in tribulations, [The persecutions he endured for the name of Christ]

in needs, [Often he lacked the necessities of life, such as, food, clothing, and lodging]

in distresses, [The unfavorable circumstances in which he often found himself]

in stripes, [He and Silas has many stripes laid on them in Philippi – Acts 16:23] 8

His credentials were demonstrated plainly(1) By what he had suffered for others’ good (vs.4,5)

(continued)

in imprisonments, [He was frequently put in prisons]

in tumults, [Riots and uproars often followed his preaching the gospel]

in labors, [He may be referring to tent-making, other manual work, his travel difficulties, etc.]

in sleeplessness, [Either he had burdens weighing on his mind or was conscience of pending efforts to harm him]

in fastings; [This is either voluntary abstinence from food or hunger from lack of available food] 9

His credentials were demonstrated plainly(2) By the moral standard he followed in his life (v.6)

by purity, [He lived in chastity and holiness, and could not be accused of immorality]

by knowledge, [He is referring to his divinely acquired knowledge, not to his human acquired knowledge]

by longsuffering, [The patient way he put up with the sins and shortcomings of others]

by kindness, [He was unselfish in giving himself for others and in his congenial attitude toward others]

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His credentials were demonstrated plainly(2) By the moral standard he followed in his life (v.6)

(continued)

by the Holy Spirit, [All that he did was in accordance with the Spirit’s word and power]

by sincere love, [The love he showed toward others was genuine, not pretense or fake]

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His credentials were demonstrated plainly(3) By his relationship to heavenly things (v.7)

by the word of truth, [He lived by the same truths that he preached]

by the power of God, [He did not carry out his work in his own power but by God’s power. It may refer to his ability to perform miracles by the power of God.]

by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, [Probably refers to the Roman soldier who had a sword in his right hand for offense and a shield in his left hand for defense. Whether on offense or defense, he maintained an upright and consistent character.]

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Paul described the “Christian armor” in Ephesians 6:13ff

“13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” 13

His credentials were demonstrated plainly(4) By his steadfastness in every circumstance (vs.8-10)

(a) These contrasts perhaps highlight his advantage over false teachers

•by honor and dishonor, •by evil report and good report; •as deceivers, and yet true; •as unknown, and yet well known; •as dying, and behold we live; •as chastened, and yet not killed;

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His credentials were demonstrated plainly(4) By his steadfastness in every circumstance (vs.8-10)

(a) These contrasts perhaps highlight his advantage over false teachers

(continued)

•as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; •as poor, yet making many rich; •as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

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11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.

12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16a And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?...

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He challenged the Corinthians (v.11a) because of deep feelings for them (v.11b)

His challenge to them was a charge to:(1) Be open and honest with him by discarding their

prejudices (vs.12, 13)• He wanted them to open their hearts to him

• He had spoken to them openly [frankly] and his heart was wide open to receive them in love

• There were no restrictions to hold them back

• The Corinthians needed to allow their affections toward him to be more open

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His challenge to them was a charge to:(2) Not be yoked unequally with unbelievers. (v.14)

•Probably focused on their connection with false teachers who were teaching error about the Law and the Gospel. (v.14)

•Paul appealed to them for a spiritual separation from false teachers who had invaded the assembly at Corinth

•For them to show an openness toward him with their hearts and their affections, they had to separate themselves from all forms of sin and unrighteousness

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(2) Not be yoked unequally with unbelievers. (v.14) (continued)

“Unequally yoked” suggest that they were not to be joined together with those [unbelievers] who were not “paired up” [yoked] with Christ and those who would be a bad influence on them [unequally]

Deut. 22:10 states, “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together”

An extension of this principle would affect any aspect of their lives where the unbeliever’s words and actions would have more influence on a Christian than Christ would have on them

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His challenge to them was a charge to:(3) Recognize the error and inconsistency of

compromising the truth. (vs.14-16)

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The pure gospel: A corrupted gospel:

(a) Righteousness (a) Lawlessness

(b) Light (b) Darkness

(c) Christ (c) Belial (Satan)

(d) Believer (d) Unbeliever

(e) Temple of God (e) Idols

(This principle is valid for any relationship that puts Christians at a disadvantage leading to a compromise of the truth -- marriage, business, political office, etc.)

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16b …For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

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17 Therefore

“Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you.”

18 “I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the Lord Almighty.”

7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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Accept Paul’s challenge as if it were God’s -- it was! (vs.16-18)

• Man’s duty was to “come out,” “be separate,” “touch not the unclean.” (v.17)

• God’s reward: He would “receive you,” “dwell in” and “walk among them,” “be their God,” “be My people,” “be a Father to you,” “be sons and daughters.” (v.18)

• Then, we are the temple of God

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Accept Paul’s challenge as if it were God’s -- it was! (vs.16-18)• Jesus said in John 17:14-19, as he prayed for his

disciples.

• “14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

• 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

• 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. • 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. • 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them

into the world. • 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may

be sanctified by the truth. 25

Pay the price required by the challenge. (7:1)• (a) Cleanse yourselves in body (outwardly) and spirit

(inwardly).• (b) Perfect holiness -- keep working to become

complete. See Matthew 5: 48.

Consider this challenge “in the fear of God” because He will reward or punish us according to our response to His challenge. (v.1)

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