Our epistle

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. – 2 Corinthians 3.2-3

Paul knew that most people in Corinth were never going to read his letters. Only realtively small group of believers were ever going to read or hear it.

So how were Paul’s letter going to impact Corinth in a broader sense?

Paul tells his readers that since most people are not going to read his letters that they must his living letters to the people around him. The Corinthian Christian’s lives must reflect Paul’s letters.

We have the same challenge today. Most people we come in contact with are never going to pick up a Bible. It’s just not going to happen. The only ‘Bible’ they are going to see is how God’s word is lived out in our lives. We are known and read of all men. If we are not living out our lives so that people can see God’s word in us it is not going to mean mean much when we try to show them His written word.

Are people going to see God’s word come alive in me today?

Triumph in Christ

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 2.14-17

What is this savour of His knowledge we read about here? I have done some reading and discovered what might give an answer, and it makes a lot of sense.

At the Triumph Parade the streets would be strewn with flower petals. As the troops marched through the streets they crushed the flowers and they released an aroma.

I know that smells can have a powerful impact. The memory of past smells is clear and distinct and even evocative. Smells can carry you back to events in your life.

I think of one case in particular. Our son Matt and my mom were very close. He loved being at here house and had many special memories there. I remember a few years after she died we walked in to a friends house here and Matt almost cried. ‘It smells just like Grammy’s house’ he said. I saw a meme our Facebook not too long ago. It was just a photo on crayons with the words ‘can you smell them?’ I could.

When Paul talks about us being a savour of the knoweldge of God he is speaking of something similar. The aroma of the parade would remind people of different things according to the one smelling it.

To the defeated prisoners the smell would be the stench of defeat. It was smell of death.

But to the victors it was the smell of life.

Our lives should do the same. We have our victory in Christ. Our lives should put forth the sweet aroma of what it means to be know Him. Our lives should draw men to Him. Sure, at times people are going to reject our message – but it must be the message that bothers them – not our lives.

Are people refreshed and invigorated by the aroma of the knowledge of God in my life?

Triumph In Christ

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 2.14-17

The imagry here is amazing. Paul uses something that all his readers would have been aware of to teach a valuable spiritual lesson.

Paul draws the picture of the great Triumph Parades of the Roman army. In those parades the victorious army would have a victory parade through cities and town and village. It was a huge celebration with flags and trumpets and fully kitted out soldiers. It is the same kind of celbration parade that we see from great powers in the world today. There were celebrations of glory and success and victory. Being from Corinth most folks would have been well aware of the image.

Now how does that apply in this sense? Paul says that God always allows us to triumph in Christ.

What a minute, we might say, always in triumph? My life certainly doesn’t look or seem or feel that way.

The truth is though that our triumph has already been secured even though it may not always feel like it. Paul wrote earlier that we give thanks for the the victory that we have in Christ. We aren’t to walk around with a spirit of gloom and defeat – our victory is won. The end is already decided.

Satan's advantage

To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. – 2 Corinthians 2.10-11

Divisions are terrible in any group or organisation. They are a sure way to defeat. A house divided itself cannot stand. A nation divided against itself cannot stand. A church divided against itself cannot stand.

I have noticed that one of the key reasons for division is an inability to forgive. Paul talks about forgiveness for some unknown offences. Paul’s solution is that he forgives them and they forgive him and that they move on from there.

Then we get to the crux of the matter.

If we don’t learn how to forgive we are in grave danger of Satan ‘gaining an advantage.’ Satan loves division. One of his devices is to divide and conquer. I have seen far too many people consumed with bitterness and anger because they are not able to forgive. The root of bitterness that wont permit forgiveness defiles many.

It is shocking that we can’t forgive when we think of what we have been forgiven from. Christ went to the cross to forgive all my sins and offences, and I can’t forgive someone who has offended me?

Brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Abundant love

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. – 2 Corinthians 2.3-4

Paul’s goal in his instruction, as he says above, it to he a helper in achieving the joy of their salvation. The last thing he wanted to do was to discourage them. Now we learn that his motive was the abundant love he had for them.

‘I wrote to you about my struggles and trials, not out of any kind of desire to have them feel sorry for him, but simply so they could know how much he loved them.

We need to remember that despite a relatively reliable postal service it was hard for people to know what was going on. Today we know every detail of what is going on in the lives of hundreds of friends, but it those days it was, at best, an occasional letter. Unless Paul told them they would have never known what he was going through on their behalf. The reason is not to show that he is some kind of martyr but to show them how far their love should go for others.

In other words, what does the love of Christ motivate us to do for the cause of Christ and for each other?

Spirit of heaviness

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? – 2 Corninthians 2.1-2

I love this passage. If anyone had a right to be a moaner and whinger and complainer it was Paul. While he was open and honest and frank about his struggles and trials we wanted to use them to encourage, not discourage the Corinthians.

‘I determined’ Paul says, ‘not to come to you with a spirit of heaviness.’

I like this and am challenged by it. There is nothing wrong with sharing our trials and our challenges. We need to share our burdens so that others can support us and pray for us. At the same time we need to be aware of the danger of being a discouraged. We need to be careful that our honesty does not spread a spirit heaviness to those around us.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. No matter what the struggle we need to be sure that we focus on what God is doing and the joy he provides instead of dragging the whole world down into our pity party pit.

Helping in your joy

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. – 2 Corinthians 1.24

As an apostle Paul had great authority in the church. He proclaimed God’s word as God’s word because the Bible was not yet finished. The things he wrote to them were part the scriptures. His apostolic authority.

However, he says here that the things he wrote were not written because he had the power and authority to say them but because he wanted to help them be joyful.

This can be a tough thing to grasp. How do we fined joy in trials? This whole section is all about struggles and finding comfort in them.

We read in the Old Testament that the joy of the Lord is our strength. James would write ‘count it as all joy when you fall into testings.’

But how?

There is great joy in the assurance that we are fully in the will of God. This is the only joy that will carry us through struggles and which is not dependent on circumstances. If our joy is based on circumstances it is going to be tough to find consistent joy. That only comes in the unchanging God.

Sealed

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. – 2 Corinthians 1.21-22

The question of the security of our salvation is one of those hotly debated issues and sources of disagreement in the church. The question is really pretty basic – if I am truly saved is it possible to lose my salvation?

I am one of those simple folk who just cannot see the debate. Jesus tells us that He holds us in His hands, that the Father enfolds us in His hands, and that no one can pluck us out.

So there we have the Father and the Son and here we have the Holy Spirit by whom are eternity is sealed and who serves as the earnest, or the guarantee of our salvation.

If the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit are all securing my salvation and Peter tells us that our inheritance is preserved in heaven for us who do we think we are that we can override all that and choose to drop our salvation?

For those of us who are true saved we know that it was all the work of God. It is that same work that keeps us in the palm of His hand.

Yes, and amen

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. – 2 Corinthians 1.18-20

Paul did not believe in sending any kind of mixed message when he preached or wrote. He was very clear cut so that nobody could misunderstand him.

Whenever we share the gospel it must be clear cut. It must be, as we saw yesterday, simple and sincere.

The Bible says that the a double minded man is unstable is all his ways. We must know what we believe and why we believe it. God’s word is true and we must be careful that we say in His name is true.

This doesn’t just apply to Bible truth. It applies to everything we say and all we do. Social media has made it is easy for us to post all kinds of lies and deceptions and half-truths. If we agree with something it is easy to pass it on without ever checking its veracity. The danger is that if we are willing to pass on lies in social media to suit our agenda it throws all of our words into question.

Simple and sincere

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. – 2 Corinthians 1.12

How do we survive in a world that hates God and increasingly hates and opposed those who love and serve Him?

People have all kinds of solutions. There are seminars and books and online sessions and podcasts and everything else. The are schools and colleges and degrees.

All of these things are good things – nothing wrong with them at all.

But when it comes right down to it we get along in this world, not with fancy tiles and degrees and the wisdom of men. Instead our lives among people are to be lived in the simplicity and sincerity of the gospel. Those are the things God uses. He sure the weak to confound the string and the foolish to overcome the wise and the everyday things instead of the rich and fancy and powerful.

‘I don’t have much’ we might say. ‘That’s just how I want you’ God says. ‘Just live you life by simply following Me with a sincere heart.’

If we can do that, God will take care of the rest.

Helping together in prayer

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. – 2 Corinthians 1.11

‘All I can do is pray.’

How often have we heard that kind of comment? How often might we even have said it?

It just doesn’t seem like praying is the same as doing.

And it’s not. God expects us to he doing whenever and wherever and however we can. We are to be ‘doers of the word.’ If we can meet a need and only say ‘I’ll be praying’ and don’t meet that need we fail. God expects us all to to work while it is day and redeem the time and not be weary in well doing and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

There are though time when we can’t do. The Corinthian Christians could not join Paul’s missionary team. They could not all go. There are places we can’t go and things we can’t do.

We recently finished our Holiday Bible Club or VBS or Kids Klub Kamp as we call it. While we were short on helpers during the week, I am sure that we we not short on those ‘helping in prayer’ for us because we had a fantastic week. Obviously not everyone could be there to help – but plenty helped through their prayers.

We can do the same thing for others. No matter where our brothers and sisters in Christ are around the world, no matter what their ministries, no matter how difficult their ministries are we can be their helpers through prayer.

Despair

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; - 2 Corinthians 1.8-10

I was powerfully moved by this section. We would not often think of Paul as somebody who struggled with his faith. He just seems so Paul.

But here we see that Paul struggled – seriously. He says here that he was pressed out of measure, beyond his strength. It was so bad that he said they ‘despaired even of life.’

Have you ever felt that way. I have, and with far less cause than Paul and his missionary team. It is an issue that seems to constantly weigh me down. It is sadly based on circumstance and the future and faith. It can bring me close to despair if I am not careful.

But here we have Paul, despairing of life itself. Look at his persecptive.

God has delivered us in the past
God delivers us now
We trust that God will deliver us in the future

In that he found hope to carry on.

The words are so simple. No matter what we are down about. No matter why we are discouraged. No matter what we find making us depressed. No matter what causes us to despair we have the the same confidence that Paul had.

One more time.

God has taken care of it the past
God is taking care of it now
God will take care of it in the future

It is obvious from Paul’s life that it doesn’t mean it is going to be an easy road, but we can be assured that God will be there with us and carry us through.

Consolation

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. – 2 Corinthians 1.5-7

Paul says here that our sufferings have a specific reason. It is one of the reasons why we go through trials that we may face on a regular basis. The reason is that when we know comfort we are better able to comfort others.

Paul passes on the comforting that we received from the Holy Spirit to the Corinthians. We talks about a kind of mutual comforting that ought to be a part of our Christian relationships.

That means that there is nothing wrong with being in need of comfort. We comfort when we, like the Holy Spirit, come alongside someone who needs comfort. I grew up in a tactile home and tend to be a tactile person. Not too long ago I was feeling a little down at church and someone noticed. ‘Do you need a hug’ my friend asked. My reply ‘a hug ALWAYS helps.’

We have a Great Comforter, but we can all be little comforters. Though people like me like a comforting hug, we can accomplish just by being there to offer and encouraging others. A kind you, a small gift, a simply gesture, a encouraging text, and uplifting post on Facebook can all be our ways to be that comforter.

The God of all Comfort

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. – 2 Corninthians 1.3-4

The God of all Comfort is one of the greatest titles for our God. First because it makes it clear that there are times when we are all going to need comfort. Even the best of us are going to be at the point some time when we we ‘need a hug.’ After my mom died a friend phoned me and during the conversation he said ‘I wish I could be there to give you a hug.’

Not everybody likes hugs, but to me there are a great source of comfort. It means that someone is right there with me and ready to wrap me in their arms to make me feel better. I can’t prove it, but I think this is part of the notion of ‘greet one another with a holy kiss.’ Sadly, we live in a sick society that had almost made any physical contact suspect. We need comfort.

I want to talk more about human comfort later, but for today I want to notice a title that Paul uses for God. He calls God the ‘God of all comfort.’ In fact, the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, is called the Comforter. Literally He is called the ‘Paraclete.’ A Paraclete is one who comes alongside to offer comfort in time of need.

It is a joy to know that when I need comfort I have the God of all comfort right there beside me. If no one else is there I still have a place of refuge where God is there to give me a hug and give me the strength to go on. We will see later that He does use people sometimes – but there are times when His comfort is all we have, and it is alwasys sufficient.

I find this a very precious section of Scripture. Thank you Lord for being the God of all Comfort.

Refreshing my spirit

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such. – 1 Corinthians 16.17-18

Who are Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus? They certainly are not the most common names in scripture. I don’t think they are are mentioned anywhere else.

That doesn’t mean though that they were not important. Paul mentioned these folks in the context of a section where he is talking about trials and hard times and discouragement. You can almost sense the struggles they are going through.

I like this section of scripture because we reminds that the ministry is not always about great victories and successes and progress. Sometimes it is about plugging away in hard times. Sometimes it involves discouragement and despair. Sometimes is means be ready to quit.

That’s where Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus come into play. Paul mentions them because they in particular had ‘refreshed his spirit.’ These were th kind of men talked about in Paul’s first letter who ‘did everything in love.’ While others may have attacked Paul these guys took Paul aside and refreshed him. We are going to see later the importance of the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit and the comforting ministry we should have.

These three men already grasped it. They set an example for us. What a great blessing it would be if people regarded me as someone who refreshed their spirits. Instead of dragging people down we ought always to lift them up.

No matter what we are facing our goal to be to refresh the spirit of others.

It’s not about us.

Do all in love

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. – 1 Corinthians 16.13-14

Watch. Stand. Act like a man. Be strong. All of that sounds very ‘tough guy’ and ‘macho’ doesn’t it? It all kind of suits what we think of in our present world doesn’t it.

There was a recent advert for a razor that was based on all the worst aspects that that kind of concept of manhood. It addressed bullying and brawling and harassment and those kind of things. At the end is presented that manhood should be better than that.

The advert got plenty negative response. People thought it was an attempt to feminise men.

I am sure the advert had it problems, but as I thought about it it kind of started to make sense. I think this passage tells us that there is a vital part of being a man that we can miss. The last part of passage says ‘do everything in love.’

Watch – in love. Stand – in love. Be a man – in love. Be strong – in love.

In certainly looks to me that love is essential, love is the basis, love is the right attitude.

I am not saying that men need to be any less than men. There are times when we must take and stand and be strong and prove ourselves men, but even then it is the love of Christ that must constrain us.

Be strong

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. – 1 Corinthians 16.13-14

Be strong. Short, sweet, and to the point. It is something we read all through the word of God. It starts with the conquest of Canaan. It carries on though the all the history of Israel in the books of history and the psalms. It carries on though the New Testament. We have needed those words. We need them today. We will need them forever.

There are many times though when I just don’t feel strong. I feel tired and weak and incapable and when that happens I can feel down and discouraged and maybe even depressed. I try to be strong – but I often can’t seem to do it.

The problem is that I am relying on my own strength. Over and over we read more about being strong.

Be strong in the Lord.
Be strong…for God is with you
You will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon

Our own strength is always going to fail us. ‘If we in our own strength abide our striving will be losing.’ My strength is always going to fall short. I will lose to the world. I will lose to my own flesh. I will lose to the devil. But greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

I am weak – but He is strong.

Be strong in the power of the Lord.

Be a man

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. – 1 Corinthians 16.13-14

Aquit yourselves as men. The notion here is that ‘act like men.’ Now, I know English and gender words are not very very popular today, but this is what it says here.

Paul writes here that men should act like men. Prove yourselves to be men.

The problem is not what Paul says, but how we perceive what being a man is. There was a recent advert that caused huge controversy because it portrayed ‘being a man’ as being tender and compassioante. Our society says that a man is tough and hard and how it is okay for men to bully and push people around and generally be a tough guy.

Let’s just say for now that there is more to being and man than being a tough guy guy and being a brawler and a fighter. Being a man may not be what most of us think about when we first hear those words.

More later.

Stand fast

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. – 1 Corinthians 16.13-14

Stand fast in the faith is the next challenge. When Paul described the armour of of faith he ended by saying ‘and having done all, to stand.’ Jeremiah writes about how God will set us up to stand as iron pillars.

There are times in battle when an army is not able to advance. Sometimes you have to entrench, prepare your defences, stand, and hold the line.

It is tough to even stand in a world like ours. The world, our old flesh, and the devil all are in a fight to knock us over or move us from where we stand. The old children’s sone says ‘I stand alone on the word of God’ but the word of God as well is under constant assault.

We, of course, need God’s help even to stand. When Paul uses this phrase in the context of the armour of God he starts with ‘stand therefore…’ and ends with ‘…having done all, to stand.’

Standing in based on being prepared with the ‘whole armour of God.’ We stand because we are dressed in the gospel of peace and salvation and faith and prayer and truth and righteosness and all the rest of that armour. God provides it, but we are told that it is something we must put it on. We can’t just lay back and think that God is going to dress us in the armour. We have to take it onboard and choose to attire ourselves in that armour.

That’s where the power to stand comes from. Are we willing to do that. This might be a good time to have a look at Ephesians 6 for a review of the armour that allows us to stand.

Watch

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. – 1 Corinthians 16.13-14

We recently did a men’s Bible study in church based on this verse. It looked so simple, but it took us several sessions to get through it. Every single word was of such import that there was nothing we could just skip over.

1 Corinthians is coming to an end. Paul is giving some Last minute instructions to carry them through These two verses encapsulate the key ideas.

First, Paul writes, watch.

Be aware. Stay on guard. Walk circumspectly. Keep your eyes open. Be cautious. Mind yourself.

We live in a day when it behooves us all to take special heed to this words. There is so much out there that is primed to catch us off guard. The world, our flesh, and the devil himself are constantly trying to take us down. We can’t afford to let our guard down even for a moment.

We can easily be lulled into a false sense of security. We can become lazy and lethargic. There is nothing wrong with a little rest, in fact it is Biblical, but even in those times we need to be on our guard against the attacks the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Watch. Watch with fervency. Watch with intensity.