The Day
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewPaul pleads that people hear the gospel and respond
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2 Corinthians 6:1-2
By way of introduction for our text today, look with me at the context beginning in
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul implored, then he pleads
2 Corinthians 6:1–10 (NKJV)
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 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, 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.
Lets spend our time looking at those first two verses of chapter 6, and see what we have here.
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NKJV)
1 We then, as workers together with Him...Fellow-worker, helpers, kynergeo in the greek. Ergon is work, seen used in weaving and perhaps the rendering by συνεργός originally had in view the fabric as a product of the weaver’s work. A working to gether for common task. In weaving, many threads worked together to form the whole garment.
now i know this says in him, but if you have a NKJV notice how the with Him is italicized. This means the translators added this as it made sense in the use of the verse. At the same time, he said in 1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” So it fits.
The point is that we are his workers no matter what group or denomination we do this work in. Here Paul is begging, reaching out to the people of Corinth reminding them that all of those with him agree with this heartfelt cry. Even now we as followers of Christ also believe this. How many different pastors, churches, ministries were at FOF on 9/27? Many. For what purpose? That the youth and people attending might become baptists? Calvary Chapel? No, but that the Gospel might be heard, those kids be born again. The work of God is believing in Jesus.
But notice, we are part of this. It’s not a predestined thing, its a work thing. What we do, or don’t do, matters.
Thats the point here, that all of them work toward the same.
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NKJV)
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you ...
Plead is parakaleō to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means—‘to encourage, to console, encouragement.’ To come alongside of them.
Paul had just 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” God isn't trying to send anyone to hell, its his desire that 1 Timothy 2:3–4 “...God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Thats Gods heart for all.
what does he plead for?
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
here he argues from the negative. That you not do something. God offers the gospel as a message of grace and truth, that simple truth that you can be saved.
That if you repent and trust in Jesus alone, call on the name of the Lord you will be saved. Thats the offer of grace the gospel gives. That you can receive it. Accept it. John 1:12–13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” You are the receiver. He accomplishes it in you. How can I receive it in vain?
by not receiving it it. its an vain is kenon-empty. nothing in hand. Its being foolish about it. finding any reason to disregard it. Its all about your heart. Like the state of the heart in the parable of the soils. Hard, stony, thorny and good. (Matt 13:18-23)
Paul taught that a way we might see that someone has done it in vain is by not seeing change. 2 Corinthians 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.” 2 Corinthians 12:20–21 “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.”
To receive His great goodness and to rejoice in the salvation of the grace of God and yet to live carnal, worldly lives is what it means to receive the grace of God in vain.
J. Vernon McGee
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you...
This is a quote from Isaiah and those familiar with the OT would've heard what he said and thought this: Isaiah 49:8 “Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You (Jesus) As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;” Our salvation is a promise not just to us, but to all that God is going to accomplish all these things. This verse is about Jesus that he is the promise.
God hears all that cry out to him. He longs to save us. Romans 10:9–13 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
we are the rest, the remnant - Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.” Praise the Lord. When we receive Him, when we cry out in repentance, we are saved. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord!
But we say, what if I don’t want it? There is a doctrine of judicial hardening. The idea that we can reject the Lord so much that we will eventually forever be hardened against him. We commit to our own judgment. Acts 28:25–29 “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’ 28“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.” Isaiah 6:10
look, this is the truth of it. People have seen real salvation, real change and miracles in their lives and the lives of others. yet they continue to reject gospel of jesus. They hear it, but its ineffective. Like the parable of the soils we spoke of earlier, in Isaiah 6:10 we can be hard ground, stony ground, thorny ground and finally, good soil that bears fruit. And the word says in Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” We do this work by seeking God to do it in us. Lord I will do it but you must do it in me.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”...
The day, the moment of salvation, is right now. Right here, would you receive it? Paul makes the point:
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Look! See! He says this twice. Look! This is the moment, this is the day. Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Psalm 95:7–11 “For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: 8“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. 10For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”” If we reject the moment, the moment may pass.
Now is the day for you to decide - Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””
who do we serve? who do you serve? Only Christ. And God in his grace and perfect mercy gives you a choice. Makes the way for you. Choose you this day.
Pray