2 Corinthians 13:1-4, Paul Gave the Corinthians a Warning

Acts 18:11: And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

First Warning: Paul was direct by authority given to him for their edification. [Second Corinthians 13:6: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates]. Paul called for unity in the church. There should not be any sin displayed in the church. Paul gave two warnings and was ready to act. Paul gave the Corinthians a warning that he was coming. He was going to deal with the sin in the church to keep it pure. They were to put the person out of the church for the church’s sake that the man being disciplined would repent and be restored to fellowship. Prepare yourselves. It is time to repent. Do that before I arrive. 1 Timothy 5:19: Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Matthew 18:16: But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

[1 Corinthians 5:9-13: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person]. Put away sin in the church.

[2 Corinthians 13:4: For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you]. There is strength out of weakness. As believers, we are weak within ourselves. Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Second Warning: Examine yourselves. Make sure you are saved. [Second Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?]. Examine yourselves is present tense. Reprobates means counterfeit. Galatians 6:4: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Romans 8:9-16: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

[Second Corinthians 13:7: Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates]. Paul is exhorting them to live holy lives. They are challenging his authority.

Test yourself:

1) Do you have the witness of the Spirit in you?

2) Do you love your brother? Do we love the brethren? First John 3:14: We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

3) Are you living a righteous life? Do you practice sin?

4) Are you imitating Christ?

5) Does sin bother your conscience? Strive to have a conscience without offense toward God.

6) To be useful for Christ we need to be a good witness.

7) Speak the truth, the Word of God. [Second Corinthians 13:8: For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth]. The truth is the Bible.

8) Look out for the good of others.