INTRODUCTION
Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth began
with letting the church know that Paul was happy to hear that the church had
received and responded correctly to his first letter.
Remembering James
5:19, 20 " My
brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone
should bring that person back, 20 remember
this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from
death and cover over a multitude of sins."
Paul explained why he didn't visit them and that he
was pleased they had responded well to his first letter, even though not all
had repented.
Last week we looked at Paul encouraging the church to
allow the offender of incest return to the congregation, because he had truly
repented and turned away from his sin, therefore he had been forgiven. Paul
said that his punishment by the church forcing him to leave the congregation
was enough, and that since he had repented and was forgiven, they must allow
him back.
Paul reminded them that it was not that long ago, they
too were not living as God wanted them, and they repented, and were forgiven by
Paul.
Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us as well,
that forgiveness to those who have repented is essential, not only because we
are commanded to do so by Christ, but because when we forgive, we keep Satan
from having a way to outwit us.
Satan will use our unforgiveness as a weapon against
us in his schemes.
As long as we have unforgiveness against someone who
has repented, we are being disobedient to the Lord, which in turn allows a
foothold for Satan to work against us.
Satan is always looking for an area of our lives where
we are being disobedient, which allows him room to work his schemes against us.
This week Paul speaks of remaining in God’s Grace even
in hard times
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE II Corinthians 6:1-13
As God’s co-workers we urge you
not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now
is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block
in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of
God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles,
hardships and distresses; 5 in
beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and
hunger; 6 in
purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in
sincere love;7 in
truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of
righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and
dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as
impostors; 9 known,
yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet
not killed; 10 sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having
nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to
you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding
our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I
speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
I.
GOD’S GRACE
a. We urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain
i. Grace - GRK charis (χάρις), meaning
the state of kindness and favor towards someone, often with the benefit given
to the object (person receiving) by extension of a gift.
1. LAT gratia, where we get our
word “Gracious”
ii. Paul urges Corinth
(as well as all readers) not to receive God’s grace (His gracious gift) in
vain.
1. Vain - κενός (kenos), meaning empty, both literally and figuratively
2. In other words, receiving God’s grace (salvation), but gaining nothing
from it
3. You are no further ahead now than before you received it
4. You are not growing, maturing
b. In the time of my favor I heard
you
i. The time of God’s favor is The
Church Age
1. The dispensation of time we are currently in
2. This dispensation will last until the rapture according to scripture
ii. There are 8
dispensations of time in scripture;
1. Innocence (Adam & Eve in the Garden) Edenic Covenant
a. Ends at Fall
2. Conscience (Abel begins outside Eden) No Covenant
a. Ends at Flood
3. Government (Noah after flood) Noahic Covenant
a. Ends at Abram’s calling
4. Promise (Abram’s calling) Abrahamic Covenant
a. Ends at Exodus
5. Law (Moses at Exodus) Mosaic Covenant (10 Commands) Old Testament
a. Ends at Birth of Christ
6. Grace (Christ as Head) New Covenant
a. Ends at Rapture
7. Righteousness (Christ as King) Still New Covenant - The great Tribulation, judgment
of Israel and the nations.
a. Ends at final Judgment
8. Perfection (God is All in All) New Order
a. New Order Covenant in 2 Peter 3:13
b. Unlimited Space
c. Unending Song
d. Unspeakable Joy
e. Undimmed Glory
f. Unending Kingdom
g. Uninterrupted Fellowship
h. Ends NEVER!
i. ETERNAL!
c. Now is the time of God’s favor
i. The dispensation of Grace
ii. God is overlooking
our sin and giving us Grace (Salvation)
iii. Now is the time to
receive!
1. Because there is no other time it will be offered!
iv. Paul warn
though...do not just receive Salvation (God’s Grace) and do so in vain...with
no change
v. Allow Him to do a work in you,
to bring you to repentance worthy of forgiveness!
1. Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
2. in other words, Prove by the way you live that you have repented of
your sins and turned to God.
II.
HARD TIMES...NO EXCUSE
a. We put no stumbling blocks in
anyone’s path
i. We live by what we teach
ii. We are not saying
one thing and doing another
iii. We are “doers” of
the Word
iv. Our lives are
examples of what we preach
b. As servants we endure all
things
i. We do not use excuses to live
abhorrently
ii. Hard times are no
excuse for living in contradiction to the Word of God
iii. As servants of God
we have great endurance;
1. afflictions
2. hardships
3. distresses
4. beatings
5. imprisonment
6. riots
7. hard work
8. sleepless nights
9. hunger
10. living in purity
11. understanding
12. patience
13. kindness
14. in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love
15. In truthful speech and in the power of God
16. with weapons of righteousness in the right hand
17. and in the left, through glory and dishonor, bad report and good
report, genuine yet called imposters, beaten but not killed, sorrowful yet
always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich
18. Having nothing, yet possessing everything
c. Why? To lead others to God’s
grace (Salvation)
i. This is why we endure hardships
ii. This is why we work
sometimes with no worldly reward
iii. This is why
regardless of what others say about us, we continue in the power of the Holy
Spirit
iv. Continue to share
the truth of the Gospel
v. So that others may receive the
Grace of God during the only time in history when it is going to be allowed!
III.
OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN...ARE THEIRS?
a. We speak freely and our hearts
are open to you
i. Those hearing the truth often
call you hateful
ii. Say you are judging
them
iii. Telling them how to
live
iv. But our hearts are
truly open in love, true love of I Corinthians 13
v. What can be more love than the
love of I Corinthians 13?
b. We are not withholding our
affection from you
i. Because when we preach God’s
Grace, Salvation for any who call on His name, we are showing you the ultimate
love, a message that will save you for eternity!
c. You are withholding from us!
i. Some reject the message of the
cross, and do not treat us in the same manner as we are treating them.
ii. We show them love,
they reject the cross and accuse us
iii. They are the ones
who are truly withholding love, not us as they accuse
CONCLUSION - Remaining in His Grace in all times so that we may
serve Him
“In the
time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
In the time of Grace (now) I heard you...call out
to the name of the Lord.
In the day of Salvation I helped you...He will
respond, and give to you the Holy Spirit, for strength, encouragement,
equipment, and He will help you get through.
In all times, good and bad, easy and tough,
remain in the Lord’s Grace, keep His Salvation by being His servant.
Allow Him to continue to do a work in you, until
He calls us home.
Want
to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved? CLICK
HERE!
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