Sin not tolerated
2 Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
This was old testiment law. Paul was adding authority to his words.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
2 Cor 13:2 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:
Paul would not fit into todays church, which is not too different from the Corinthian church. They would say, you must not offend, you must speak soft words; you must allow sin, because it is personal and what does it matter to another? What does it matter? Who does it offend? It offends God. Grace has not changed God's mind about sin, he hates it. If you sin you sin against God. As king David had spoken after sinning with Bathsheba and being confronted by Nathan the prophet. Without repentence there is no forgiveness. Paul will come as Nathan, not allowing sin to go unseen.
Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
2 Cor 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
Those who questioned Paul's authority, calling him weak, will see the power of God as he comes with the Holy Ghost to convict of sin.
2 Cor 13:4 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.
We are weak in ourselves as Christ was weak and crucified in the flesh, but he is risen in power as we have new life in the power of God's spirit. He would come to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same spirit that in Jesus turned over the money changers tables in the temple because of their sinful defiling of God's temple, the house of prayer.
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
If they were God's family, then their bodies were the temple of the Holy Spirit. If they willfully allowed sin in their temples, they would be confronted by the apostle, the servant of God. God does not wink at sin in the name of tolerance. They have a holy calling and are accountable. Yes all are accountable to God.
Are you in the Faith?
2 Cor 13:5 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?
Paul is addressing a church that allows sin, "examine yourselves" If you are in Christ, surely you will know it. If after examining yourselves , you fail the test, then you are not in Christ. Now is the day of salvation, allow Jesus to cleans you and make him master of your life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2 Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The evidence of your new life in Christ Jesus is his dwelling in you and your trust in his word. Your trust in him produces spiritual fruit, (Gal 5:22-23) the best evidence is love shown, especially to others who are of the family of God. If you hate the word and other Christians, you are not saved.
2 Cor 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
2 Cor 13:7 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.
Irregardless of what you think of us, do no evil but be approved of God, for he knows your ways.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Truth
2 Cor 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Truth is important. Jesus is truth and his servants must be servants in truth. Popularity has no place over truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) Shall we put truth aside and find another way and another life? Many do, in the name of freedom of choice to their own destruction. Whoa to the church if the Pastors and teachers no longer proclaim the truth and that is the truth of God and his word. Who cares about what is true in my feelings? That holds no eternal value. Paul spoke the truth.
2 Cor 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
2 Cor 13:10 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.
Paul would not trust in his own cleverness, he was glad to be weak and to rely on the Lord. To make the church strong and mature takes the teaching and applying of God's word.
2 Pet 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Paul is concerned for the church that it grow up in the Lord. Their society was corrupt with twisted values as is ours. It was necessary that they allow the Spirit of God to search out the word, for therein is the mind of Christ.
Final greeting
2 Cor 13:11 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.
Paul ends his epistle with a final greeting, farewell, rejoice, for their is joy in our Lord. Be perfected, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace; these are fruit of the spirit and the results of walking in truth. Do these and the God of peace shall be with you.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
2 Cor 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
The custom of the time was a holy kiss on the cheek. We use hugs and handshakes.
2 Cor 13:13 All the saints salute you.
All who are disciples of Jesus are called saints, not just a few who are made into statues, as the Catholic church believes.
2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Grace for becoming like Jesus, grace for overcoming and grace given for service. The love of God who is the source of love and the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
Gary
2 Corinthians 13
2Corinthians 12
2Corinthians 1 Table of Contents
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