2 Corinthians 13 (5)

Pray Psalm 1.1, 2.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

Sing Psalm 1.1, 2.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Blessed the one who walks not in the counsel of ungodly men;
stands not in the path of sinners, joins not scorners in their sin.
But his joy is in the LORD’s law, and he meditates therein.

Read 2 Corinthians 13.1-10; meditate on verses 9, 10.

Preparation
1. What did Paul want for the Corinthians?

2. Why did he write to them?

Meditation
Paul’s language here is subtle but clear. He had reluctantly boasted in his weakness to focus on the need for God’s strength. He was hoping the Corinthians would not miss his point, that they must not rely on boastful men but shelter in the Lord and draw on His strength to prevail in their various struggles. Paul was glad, he wrote, when the Corinthians were strong (v. 9)—which they were not just yet. They had returned to the Jesus Path, but there was still a lot of work to do.

He had already instructed them to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7.1). Here he reminded them of that, and he used a term, κατάρτισις (katartisis), which implies becoming strong “through training, disciplining, and instructing adequacy, full qualification, maturity” (Analytical Greek New Testament). Growing in Christ and becoming mature in him would not happen just because the Corinthians assented to Paul’s instruction and thought it was a good idea. Nor would it come about merely because they wanted it. They would have to work out their salvation through discipline, daily obedience, time with the Lord, mutual encouragement and edification, and being accountable to one another. Absent these disciplines, maturity would never be realized. For them or for us.

Finally Paul gently reminded them that, while his letters might have been difficult to hear, he didn’t want to be harsh when he finally came among them. And he implied they didn’t want that either (v. 10). He expected them to get with the program and stay on the Jesus Path. Paul reminded them of his authority as an apostle of the Lord, but, at the same time, he assured them he would not wield that authority to oppress and destroy them, but to help them grow in Lord, personally and as a church.

Paul had high expectations for the believers and churches in Corinth. He would not allow them to settle into some status quo faith. Christianity is a fight, a race, a struggle, and a journey toward Jesus, here and now, there and then. We need to push ourselves daily. And if your pastor or Bible study leader doesn’t push you like Paul, find out why or find another teacher.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Paul had been given the authority by the Lord to use sharpness, if necessary, with his children in the faith (2 Cor. 13.10).

God explained to Solomon the way out of punishment and into forgiveness. He explained to him, in His majestic authority, how it all would work out. God warned him that the people would fall into sin. But the way out was one of repentance and work to get back on the right path.

God said:
“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people” (2 Chron. 7.13) because of their sin, then I will tell them, it’s OK. Boys will be boys, and all is well. No problem. Nothing to see here. Just do what you want, I’ll fix it, cause that’s the kind of god I am.

Well, no it isn’t.

That is the god of their creation, not the real God. But sadly, grossly really, that is the god most people think they serve today. All of grace. No requirements. Just do what feels good, believe in Jesus, and heaven is in your back pocket.

What God really did say about the peoples’ sin and possible restoration may have sounded sharp:
“if My people who are called by My name
will humble themselves,
and pray
and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin
and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7.14).

If…then.
Not when…whatever.

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life,
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Phil. 2.12-16).

Paul summed it up succinctly in those verses. Those in authority over us may sometimes need to use sharpness to get us back on the Jesus Path. And why do they do that? Well, so that we will be blameless and harmless, children of God who do not complain nor dispute with other Christians about ridiculous things. And living that way, in the middle of crooked and perverse circumstances in which we find ourselves, holding fast to and obeying the word of God, we will be seen as shining lights in a very dark world.

And on top of that, those who have poured out their lives—were spent and did spend (2 Cor. 12.15) for our sanctification—will rejoice over us and will know that their time of labor on our behalf has not been in vain.

Sharp reminders to edify and encourage.

For reflection
1. Why is repentance so important to staying on the Jesus Path?

2. What is repentance? How does it operate in our soul? How can we know if we have truly repented?

3. What do we mean by saying that Christianity is a “race”, etc., to know Jesus?

Paul would rather that his authority be shown in his words and not have to be demonstrated in deeds. But he left the Corinthians to draw the conclusion that if they did not put things right, he would have to come and do it for them. John Chrysostom (344-407),Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians 30.1

Pray Psalm 1.3-6.
Pray that God will bear fruit through you today, and that you may bring holiness just a little bit closer to completion in your life.

Sing Psalm 1.3-6.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
He shall flourish like a tree transplanted by the streams of grace;
rooted near life-giving waters, growing strong in this blessed place—
ever fruitful, never with’ring, prospering before God’s face.

Not so rooted are the wicked, like chaff blowing in the wind.
They shall not stand with the righteous but shall be judged in their sin.
For the LORD knows all the righteous, but the wicked’s ways shall end.

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.