2 Corinthians 5:11-21
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Fear and love can motivate us.
When it comes to fear...
I think about those who go to the Dr. and the Dr. tells them that they have had a heart attack. The Dr. tells the patient that they will need to make some life style changes in order to stay alive.
I have seen some friends who listen to every word the Dr. says. The fear of dying sooner than they want to causes them to make some life style changes. This fear motivates them to slow down on salt and watch what they eat. This fear motivates them.
When it comes to love...
Love can also be a motivator. Have you ever wanted to do something nice for someone who has loved you so well? The love that they have for you motivates you to do something for them.
In the final year of my mothers life, it was so nice to be able to care for her because she had loved me so well.
My mothers love for me motivated me to care for her.
Here is 2 Corinthians I enjoy this tension of fear and love that Paul lays out to us as he writes to the church of Corinth.
He speaks of fear and love that drives everything he does. This fear and love leads him to have a clear conscience in his motives.
I remind you that some are questioning his motives and his character.
This is an encouraging passage of scripture because I encounter people who’s motives or character are questioned.
What about you, have you ever experienced your motives or character being questioned?
Paul gives us a Biblical response to his motives and character being questioned.
Motivated by Fear
Motivated by Fear
I remind you of the verse we studied last week and this verse leads us to the following verses we are studying today.
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
“We” must “all” appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
Our works are evidence that we believe that Christ death paid the penalty for our sins.
11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.
Paul says because we know the fear of the Lord.
This fear motivates Paul. He says since we will all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ and we will be repaid for what we have done in the body this motivates us.
Paul is not ‘afraid’ of the Lord, but he does have a ‘reverential awe’ of him. This motivates Paul.
It not only motivates Paul but is the reason he does what he does. It is not the questioning of his character or motives that drives him to make decisions.
It is not a chess match for Paul where he waits for his opponents to make a move and then he moves. Paul’s decisions are made out of reverential awe of who God his and knowing that he will stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
We seek to persuade people
Some are questioning Paul’s motives on sharing the Gospel. Paul says the judgement seat of Christ motivates us to persuade people.
Paul’s persuasion does not sacrifice the truth in order to please men. His persuasion is straightforward, carried out with a proper fear of the Lord.
The judgement seat of Christ causes us to be completely open before God.
He writes to the church here at Corinth and says I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.
Notice the confidence he has when he speaks of being open before God and the words I hope before you all we are open to your conscience as well.
Paul can’t control their conscience.
This is good. Before God we can have a clear conscience according to the judgement seat of Christ but we can’t control others conscience before us.
He is clear before God and hopes that they see this as well.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.
This refers back to 2 Corinthians 3
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
It is very likely that some of the criticism that Paul was facing was because like some of the Judaizers he did not have letters of recommendation to carry around with him.
Some are saying Paul is not legitimate because he does not have any letters with him. You should not listen to Paul because he does not have the letters of recommendation.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.
We are not commending ourselves to you, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you can have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance
Paul says my conscience is clear before God and I am not saying these things to commend myself, but I am giving you a response to those who don’t believe I am legitimate.
13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.
Jesus accused of being mad
21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him?”
Festus made a charge against Paul that he was mad as well.
22 To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place —
23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24 As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”
Paul’s response
25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.
Paul being grounded in the truth some thought he was out of His mind.
Caution there are many who search for new revelations or new experiences. They seek sensationalism off of feelings. This drives them away from the truth. Paul was not out of his mind. He was grounded in the truth with a clear conscience and this caused some to believe he was out of his mind.
Motivated by love
Motivated by love
14 For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.
The word for compels can also mean controls us.
This same verb translated controls in Philippians 1:23
23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ —which is far better —
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Response to Criticism (5:11–15)
facing the possibilities of departure to be with Christ through death or a longer life and further ministry, says, ‘I am hard pressed (synechomai) between the two.’ He felt the pressure of two alternatives so that he was motivated on the one hand to do one thing, but on the other hand to do the opposite. This illustrates the basic meaning of synechō, which is ‘to press together, constrain’.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.
This pressure is applied not to control but to cause action.
(squishy illustration)
It is motivational rather than directional force.
This verb is present tens, which emphasizes the continuous nature of the pressure upon Paul.
The source of the pressure is the love of Christ!
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?
2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.
5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.
10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
15 And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Motives for Ministry (2 Corinthians 5:9–21)
Christ died that we might live through Him and for Him, and that we might live with Him. “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thes. 5:10). Because of Calvary, believers are going to heaven to live with Christ forever!