THE BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN

March 24, 2020 (1 Tim. 2:1-6)

Reading to the hearer: 2 Corinthians 13:1-14

 

Disciplinary Warnings

“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

2     I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

3     Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

4     For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Self-examination Enjoined

        5     Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

6     But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

7     Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

Truth Invincible

        8     For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

9     For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Final Counsels

      10     Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

11     Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

12     Greet one another with an holy kiss.

13     All the saints salute you.

14     The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

  1. THE PURPOSE—vv. 1–4

            Disciplinary Warnings

  1. Correction—v. 1. Paul seeks to correct a wrong. If there are three witnesses, the wrong must be punished. There must be high standards in the church.
  2. Concern—v. 2. Paul warned them several times of their sin, now he had to punish them. Sin must be stopped, or it will destroy God’s work.
  3. Confirmation—v. 3. Paul confirms that Christ lives in him by having compassion and concern.
  4. Christ—v. 4. Christ died, but arose. Now He gives us power to overcome all sin.
  5. THE PLAN—vv. 5–10

Self-examination Enjoined

  1. Searching—v. 5. Search yourself to see if you are really a Christian.
  2. Success—v. 6. Paul stood the test. He was a Christian in both words and actions. God doesn’t want words—He wants action.

Truth Invincible

  1. Steady—vv. 7–8. By living right, the people would prove that which Paul preached was right.
  2. Suffering—v. 9. If by suffering, it helped people, then Paul was happy to suffer for the Lord.

Final Counsels

  1. Strong—v. 10 Paul didn’t come to scold. He came to make the people strong in the Lord.

III.   THE PARTING—vv. 11–14

  1. Farewell—v. 11. Four steps given. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you.
  2. Friendliness—vv. 12–13. “Greet each other warmly in the Lord. All the Christians here send you their best regards.”—LNT
  3. Friendship—v. 14. Friendship with God and others.

 

    IV.   Three Amen from Romans chapter 16:

                          

16:20 – Paul predicts victory for believers when the God of peace soon will crush Satan.

16:24 – Paul makes a prayerful pronouncement.  He summons “the grace of our Lord Jesus to be with you.

16:27 – Glory in God’s ability.