Call to Commitment

  

Modern visitors to Corinth

1.     But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 

       2.     For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?  

       3.     And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 

       4.     For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I  have so abundantly for you. 

 Paul continues his defense for not coming to them on an earlier trip. Although the things of God are very sure, yes and amen, his heart, in tune with the Holy Spirit, decides it was not the best time to visit them. Because of the Corinthians´ spiritual condition at the time, it would be severe and sorrowful (v. 1).

 It is all related to the matter that Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthian 5, concerning the man who adulterated with his father´s wife, his step-mother. The tolerant attitude of the general church in Corinth was wrong, in relation to the sin. Paul´s instruction to them caused sadness, but a change had taken place; there had been repentance on the part of the offender. He who had caused Paul so much pain in his sin, has now given him reason for joy (v. 2).

 This entire situation gives us a lesson in the importance of true Christian fellowship in the joy of the Holy Spirit. Because of its importance, a trip and the principal of the Lord´s sure guidance is cancelled, because of the overriding importance of fellowship. Christian fellowship should be a reason for joy and because the Corinthian church had corrected their attitude, joy had been the result, both in them and in Paul, because God had done a work and the sinner had repented (v. 3).  

 It was not easy for Paul to write to correct the grievous sin that had occurred in Corinth. See the depth of pain, in which he had written: “Much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears.” He writes that phrase, not to grieve them, but to show the love, which he has for them. These four verses are a mighty lesson in the love that existed in the early church (v. 4) 

 Forgive the Sinner

5.     But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 

6.     This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 

7.     so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 

8.     Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 

9.     For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 

10.  Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 

11.  lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

 He now addresses the people concerning the man, who had sinned, the man who has caused Paul so much grief. This sin has not only affected him, but all of them, as sin always does. Paul says “to some extent”, so as not to be “too severe.”  The apostle is careful not to be too severe and with this attitude, he is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is not the will of God that His servants be too severe in their correction, because He is the God of all comfort. Remember, he risked criticism, to avoid this severity, concerning the cancellation of his plans, under the principle that he must be a person, who keeps his word. More importantly, he must not be too severe. His teaching is very consistent from chapter 1, verse 17 and into chapter 2 (v. 5).

 Paul mentions that his sentence of excommunication was carried out by the congregation. To this extent discipline was necessary, but let us consider John Wesley’s comment on how he is to be treated in the future: “Sufficient for such an one - With what a remarkable tenderness does St. Paul treat this offender! He never once mentions his name. Nor does he here so much as mention his crime. By many - Not only by the rulers of the church: the whole congregation acquiesced in the sentence.” This is a wonderful demonstration of church discipline, showing its purpose, which is that the offender should repent. The discipline is limited so that, when this purpose is attained, it is sufficient (v. 6).

 This man’s future in the church is secured; he is to be forgiven and comforted. No grudges are to be held and all resentment is to end. It is not the will of God that this man’s sin be held before his eyes in perpetual punishment. The church’s attitude against sin is demonstrated and every member, as well as the outside world, can see that it will not be tolerated. With the discipline and its purpose accomplished, sorrow must end, lest a greater ill occur… that is, that the one who has sinned should be overcome by a chronic depression (v. 7).

 It is time that the great motivation of love be reinstated toward this man and he should he assured of that love (v. 8). Was the Corinthian church obedient in applying a sufficient demonstration of its intolerance and hatred for sin? They fully passed the test and the Christian pursuit of holiness continued (9). Paul, in his position of apostleship, in relation to the church in general, complied with the attitude taken in the local church. Paul must answer to Christ for his calling, a serious responsibility that had to satisfy heavenly requirements. What occurred in Corinth must concur with Christ’s demands (v. 10). Let the church in these times have this in mind, before making any decision. It must have heavenly approval, not that of its most influential members on earth.

 Verse 11 refers to the Christians’ knowledge of their enemy. It is vital in the matter of earthly warfare that the intelligence agency fully inform its government of the enemy’s position and intentions. It is a matter of great importance, just as much as the attacks applied by their army against the enemy. This is a greater need in spiritual warfare. Paul knows beforehand, what the enemy will attempt in the future, now that the sin, in which the devil’s temptation was powerfully responsible, had been dealt with and defeated. His next effort, will be to apply an extreme pressure to bring condemnation upon the offender and he will need the cooperation of Christians. Paul knows Satan will try to take advantage of this opportunity. He  will work to bring his evil ingredients into the situation and in this case it will be to bring the person involved into a depression. Paul is writing to forewarn the believers, before the devil can position his arsenal and launch the attack.

 

Triumph in Christ

12.  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 

13.  I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. 

14.  Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 

15.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 

16.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

17.  For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. 

 In the first paragraph of this exposition of 2 Corinthians, I quoted the comments of A. R. Faucett in his introductory remarks, concerning the letter. He mentioned that Paul came from Ephesus to Troas and that he had good results in preaching the gospel there. Faucett referred to verse 12 and the fact that the Lord opened a door in Troas, to show the Source of his success. Then, he said that Paul went from Troas to Philippi, where he wrote this letter.

Ruins of central city of Corinth

 The joy that normally would come to Paul as a result of preaching the gospel and seeing a positive reception, was nullified because Titus did not come to him. His priority was to receive news of the results of his letter in Corinth. This statement was a demonstration of his genuine love and concern for his readers and also his satisfaction for their proper response to his instruction. An improper reaction from this powerful church would have had massive repercussions around the world, when other churches would hear of it. He therefore left Troas and came to Philippi, where he proceeded to write his second letter to the Corinthians. Meanwhile Titus came with good news and was able to carry Paul’s second letter… the letter we are studying… with him to Corinth (v. 13).

 He expresses his bountiful thanks to God for His intervention in this important situation. It was an immense victory for the gospel and the cause of Christ in the church and in the world. The apostle alludes to a major victory procession by the Roman army, in honor of the conquering general, who led his captives behind him. Throughout the procession, incense was burned and filled the city, where the procession took place. To Paul, an even greater honor was given to Christ, the pleasant odor of His name and majesty filling the spiritual realm, triumphing over the world, the flesh, and demon powers. This is the purpose of the apostle, to give the glory of the victories of the gospel to the One, Who is worthy. The celebrations of His glorious victories far outshined those of the Roman Empire! (v. 14).

 The rich perfumes are released through the anointed human beings, who follow their General, as He gives them constant victory in their efforts. This was illustrated by Mary, as she emptied the costly perfume upon Jesus, the fragrance filling all the house. The gospel is that fragrance before God, whether it is rejected among men, leading to their damnation, or received, leading the believer to eternal life. We could refer also to the precious cornerstone, the precious blood, and the precious faith, which Peter released through his beautiful letter. This is the sweet savor of the gospel in the darkness and stench of a world of sin (v. 15).

 There are hearts, prepared by the Holy Spirit, who can appreciate the fragrance that is released among them. They can discern it as other-worldly, exuding from the presence of God in heavenly realms. To them it is not to be compared to anything earthly, its sweetness filling their lives, as nothing else can. To others, whose evil, deceived hearts reject the rich and costly perfume to which they have been privileged to be exposed, there is only death in their future. The blood of Christ, the God/Man, has been bountifully poured out to purchase redemption, but it has been despised and wasted by an ungrateful humanity. They have been too blind to see, what has been liberally given them to rescue from eternal perdition (v. 16).

 There are some, who “peddle” the gospel and use it for personal gain. The Greek refers to swindlers who take wine and mix it with baser liquids, putting it on the market in that condition. The base motives of those who take something so pure and precious as the gospel and mingle it with their ungodly, egotistical ambitions for gain, are worthy of the most terrible consequences.

 Paul’s intentions are pure and holy, honoring Christ alone with his efforts. Heavenly wine, poured out upon men, has no ulterior motive in Paul’s case. It is delivered through the Holy Spirit, always conscious of the divine will in its delivery. How many preachers are there today, who keep their motives clean, who know they are called of God? Personal needs must be put aside and if his desire is to please God, His servant can look only to Him in faith, keeping the world’s ambitions out of the picture (v. 17). He lives according to rules that Jesus has put before him. "And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you” (Lk. 12:29-31). As there need be no mixture in his motives in preaching the gospel, there need be no mixture in the source of trust for his needs.