Authentic Ministry

David Jones

2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

2 Corinthians 6:1–10

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Do Not Receive the Grace of God In Vain

Legalism

Paul was facing a situation where the people of Corinth had received the grace of God and were following Jesus Christ. When the Judaisers came in and began to teach that true religion was observing the law, the people began to turn their back on the gospel and return to salvation by works. The Judaisers convinced the people that in order to be right with God they had to perform according to the law.

Paul was saying to them that if you forget the grace of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and you return to a legalistic Judaism, then you have taken the grace of God in vain. In essence they were saying that Jesus sacrifice on the cross was not enough. They had to earn their salvation by observing the law.

Paul taught that God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is not something you earn, but something that is given as a gift.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9

Paul reminds them that in their time of need God heard them and helped them. The greatest need a person has is to be rightly related to God. Because of sin, no one is rightly related to God. God sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sin and redeem our relationship to God.

Backsliding

Another situation Paul was facing was people that had been a part of God’s grace and then turned away from His grace and began living the way they used to before. They had learned about what Jesus had done and how He died for their sins. They loved the idea and even agreed with it, but never recieved salvation. They wanted the blessing of salvation without the commitment of salvation. The commitment of salvation is repentance of sin and committing your life to following Jesus.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

They called themselves Christians because they understood and agreed with the gospel, but they never really accepted salvation. We know this because they returned to their old life before Christ.

4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, [a]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Heb. 6:4-6

It is impossible for them to be saved because they believe they are and have never truly been regenerated. The reason we know they have not been regenerated is they have fallen away.

Apathy

The final issue I believe Paul was dealing with was the heart of apathy. The people of the church were not willing to be the church by engaging in disciple-making. The reason we know they were apathetic toward Paul and the gospel was they were not responding to the letters Paul wrote.

But I determined this [a]for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? 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. 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. 2 Cor. 2:1-4

Application

Today the church faces the same struggles that Paul faced at Corinth. Legalism, backsliding and apathy are just as prevalent today as they were then. Legalism is evident by the judgmental spirit people have towards others with the lack of love to restore people. Backsliding is evident by people coming to church and then stopping and returning to their old way of life. Apathy is perhaps the one that is most prevalent. This is shown by peoples attitude toward worship. They will worship when it is convenient for them. They want to be fed but have no aspirations to feed others.

Ministry Difficulties.

Internal conflicts of the Christian life

Afflictions (thlipsis) Believers understand the plight of sinners. We have deep rooted sorrow for them and desire for them to be saved. When sinners reject the gospel it is difficult for believers because of the sorrow that it causes.

Hardships (anagke) The unavoidable difficulties of life. Just because you are a believer in Jesus doesn’t mean that your are exempt from difficulty. Christians get sick, Christians lose their jobs, Christians get divorced, Christians suffer tragedy.

Distress (stenochoria) it means a narrow place. It is the idea of an army going through a narrow gorge and being squeezed in. Sometimes the Christian walk puts pressure on you that causes you to be very uncomfortable. When you have to stand up for biblical truth when it is not popular. When you have to address sin.

External tribulations of Christian life

Beatings - Paul knew what it meant to get beat for his faith. We live in a world today that if you stand up for Christ you to could get physically harmed.

Imprisonment- Paul was thrown in jail several times for sharing the gospel. As a matter of fact Paul is in jail writing this letter. We live in a world today that worshipping can send you to jail. John MacArthur has been threatened with fines and imprisonment for his church gathering for worship and defying the governor's order not to gather for worship in California.

Tumults- This is rioting and mob mentality to harm someone. Everywhere Paul went the crowds would abuse him. They would argue with him, stone him, beat him, and throw him in Jail. Could it be that their could be tumults that come against the church?

Efforts of the Christian Life

Labors- This means keep going even when exhausted. When you want to throw in the towel and quit, DON’T!

Sleepless Nights - Their are sleepless nights that you will have in the midst of the Christian life. You will wonder about the safety of your loved ones. You will worry about how people will respond to your efforts. Their will be things that keep you up at night.

Hunger - There will be seasons of fasting in the Christian life. Their will be times in your life that the closeness to God that you need to get through something will require fasting.

The Christian life is not easy. As a matter of fact it is becoming increasingly more difficult. The church must rise up for a time such as this. We must honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by fulfilling the mission He has called us to! So how do we do it?

Tools God Gives For Ministry

The Christian life is impossible to live on our own. God gives us tools to help.

The Letters to the Corinthians A Blizzard of Troubles (2 Corinthians 6:3–10)

Purity. The word Paul uses (hagnotes) was deﬁned by the Greeks as ‘the careful avoidance of all sins which are against the gods; the service of the honour of God as nature demands’, as ‘prudence at its highest tension’ and as ‘freedom from every stain of ﬂesh and spirit’. It is in fact the quality which enables us to enter into the very presence of God.

(b) Knowledge. This kind of knowledge has been deﬁned as ‘knowledge of the things that must be done’. It was the knowledge which led not to detailed and subtle theological discussions but to Christian action.

(c) Patience. Usually in the New Testament, this word (makrothumia) denotes patience with people, the ability to bear with them even when they are wrong, even when they are cruel and insulting. It is a word of considerable signiﬁcance. In 1 Maccabees, it is said (8:4) that the Romans conquered the world by ‘their planning and their patience’, and there the word expresses that Roman unconquerableness which would never make peace under defeat. Patience is the quality found in someone who may lose a battle but who will never admit defeat in a campaign.

The Letters to the Corinthians A Blizzard of Troubles (2 Corinthians 6:3–10)

(a) Kindness. The word for kindness (chrestotes) is one of the great New Testament words. It is the very opposite of severity. One commentator describes it as ‘the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at their ease and shrinks from giving pain’. The great example is in Genesis 26:17–22, which tells how Isaac would not ﬁght or struggle. It is the quality which thinks far more of others than of itself.

(b) The Holy Spirit. Paul knew well that no useful word could be spoken nor any good deed done without the help of the Holy Spirit. But the phrase may well mean not the Holy Spirit but a spirit of holiness. It may mean that Paul’s dominating motive was one which was holy, one which was directed solely towards the honour and service of God.

(c) Unfeigned love. The word Paul uses is agape, which is a characteristic New Testament word. It means unconquerable benevolence. It means that spirit which, no matter what anyone else does to it, will never seek anything but the other person’s highest good, will never dream of revenge, but will meet all injuries and rebuffs with unﬂinching goodwill

The Letters to the Corinthians A Blizzard of Troubles (2 Corinthians 6:3–10)

(a) The declaration of the truth. Paul knew that Jesus had given him not only a gospel to proclaim but also the strength and the ability to proclaim it. To God he owed both the word and the door of utterance that had been opened for it.

(b) The power of God. To Paul, this was everything. It was the only power he had. It was said of Henry V after the battle of Agincourt: ‘Neither would he suffer any ditties to be made and sung by the minstrels of his glorious victory, for that he would wholly have the praise and thanks altogether given to God.’ Paul would never have said in pride: ‘I did this,’ but always in humility: ‘God enabled me to do it.’

(c) The weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left. This means the weapons for defence and for attack. The sword or the spear was carried in the right hand, and the shield on the left arm; and Paul is saying that God has given him the power to attack his task and to defend himself from his temptations.

Successful Christian Walk

The Christian walk will be like a roller coaster. It will have ups and downs, twists and turns, and scary moments. In the end you will arrive safely to a better place

8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown [a]yet well-known, as dying [b]yet behold, we live; as [c]punished [d]yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing [e]yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. 6:8-10

Understand that the Christian walk is not about what you are doing or how well you are doing it. The important thing to remember is who is walking with you! When you recognize that Jesus is with you, you have everything you need!

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