2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 6

Verses 1

“How Can We Receive the Grace of God in Vain?”
[8-20-17]

Review: “The Righteousness of God In Him!”

2 Corinthians 5:21) [KJV] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See our 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 study guide

“who knew no sin” – “Alluding to Christ’s own consciousness of sinlessness” [Vincent].

NOTE: Jesus, as the God Man, knew He had never sinned!

QUESTION: Why is that important?

Leviticus 9:2) [KJV] And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

Hebrews 9:14) [KJV] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

NOTE: The entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed to the coming sacrifice of the very Son of God; like those sacrificial animals Jesus had to be “without blemish”!

Hebrews 10:11, 14) [KJV] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

NOTE: Jesus kept the Law and was “without blemish;” in other words, Jesus had never sinned; and now Jesus is able to save us to the uttermost! He has “perfected forever” those of us who have fled to the refuge He is!

Colossians 1:21-22) [KJV] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Ephesians 1:25-27) [KJV] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

NOTE: Jesus had to be found to be “without blemish” so that He would qualify to become our sacrificial offering. Then, by His substitutional death for us He took away our sins and made us to be found “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that” we “should be holy and without blemish!” In other words, we are now righteous before God; or one might say, “the righteousness of God in Him”!

This Week’s Lesson: “How Can We Receive the Grace of God in Vain?”

2 Corinthians 6:1) [KJV] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(CEV) We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God’s kindness to you.

(ERV) We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don’t let the grace that you received from God be for nothing.

(GNB) In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God’s grace not to let it be wasted.

(Murdock) And as aiders we entreat of you, that the grace of God which ye have received, may not be ineffectual in you.

“What does it mean to receive the grace of God in vain? It means to receive the goodness and favor of God, yet to hinder the work of grace in one’s life. It means to receive the favor of God, and to fail in what Paul spoke of in 1Co_15:10” [Guzik].

1 Corinthians 15:10) [KJV] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

QUESTION: What are the 2 sides of grace?

As most of us think about grace we understand it to be Divine favor.
It is, but as we see from the above verse, it is also Divine enablement.

QUESTION: What is Paul showing us in the above Corinthian passage when compared to vs. 1 of our study?

We are to “receive not the grace of God in vain” [2 Cor. 6:1].
Paul said, “his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain” [1 Cor. 15:10].

ANSWER: When we receive God’s grace we have received His Divine favor! However, when we receive His grace “in vain” we have not received Divine enablement!

NOTE: The grace that saved us was also given to us to empower us to do God’s bidding. Paul was able to outwork his fellow apostles, not because of his own ambition and drive, but because the “grace of God” that saved him enabled him to do so.

QUESTION: Am I suggesting that Peter, and the other apostles, were less committed to God than Paul?

*ANSWER: Absolutely not! Paul had to “labor more abundantly than they” did because his calling required more travel on land and sea then theirs’ did. His territory of ministry was far more vast then theirs’ was because they were primarily called to the Jews and he was called to the Gentiles.

Galatians 5:1-7) [KJV] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

QUESTION: What is this Galatian passage teaching us?

Christ has freed us from having to trust our own ability to keep the Law; we are not to drag ourselves back under that “yoke of bondage” [vs. 1].
When you, through the act of circumcision, align yourself with Moses’ Law then you must now keep every single rule of that Law [vs. 2-3].
When you do this you are no longer availing yourself of the Divine enablement that is available to you in Christ to live right [vs. 4].
It is only through the Holy Spirit that we will fully realize our desire to be totally free from sin [vs. 5].
As Christians it isn’t a question of rather or not we are trying to keep all of the rules, or not, but rather, or not, we are embracing the promises God has made to us and loving one another [vs. 6].
You were in the process of running this race the proper way; who fed you the misinformation that is now causing you to disobey the Truth of the Gospel [vs. 7]?

Back To Vs. 1:

2 Corinthians 6:1) [KJV] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Paul doesn’t want us to “receive” “the grace of God in vain” [2 Cor. 6:1].
Paul didn’t “receive” “the grace of God in vain” [1 Cor. 15:10].

QUESTION: Are we talking about saving grace, that is, the grace of Divine favor here?

ANSWER: No! These passages are talking about the grace of Divine enablement.

QUESTION: How do we summarize what we’ve been talking about?

ANSWER: A loving God has saved us; now He wants us to trust that He can begin the good work He began in us [Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:2]. He wants us to realize that when we trust Him the God Who saved us is the God Who will give us the victory over sin.

2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 6

Verses 2-3

“Opportunity Awaits Us!”
[8-27-17]

Review: “How Can We Receive the Grace of God in Vain?”

2 Corinthians 6:1) [KJV] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(GNB) In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God’s grace not to let it be wasted.

(Murdock) And as aiders we entreat of you, that the grace of God which ye have received, may not be ineffectual in you.

QUESTION: What are the 2 sides of grace?

As most of us think about grace we understand it to be Divine favor.
It is, but as we see from the above verse, it is also Divine enablement.

Galatians 5:1-7) [KJV] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

QUESTION: What is this Galatian passage teaching us?

Christ has freed us from having to trust our own ability to keep the Law; we are not to drag ourselves back under that “yoke of bondage” [vs. 1].
When you, through the act of circumcision, align yourself with Moses’ Law then you must now keep every single rule of that Law [vs. 2-3].
When you do this you are no longer availing yourself of the Divine enablement that is available to you in Christ to live right [vs. 4].

This Week’s Lesson: “Opportunity Awaits Us!”

Isaiah 49:1-8) [KJV] Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

2) And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

3)And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4)Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

5)And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

6)And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

7)Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

8)Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

2 Corinthians 6:2-3) [KJV] (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

QUESTION: Vs. 2 is quoted from vs. 8 of the Isaiah passage above. Who is that passage talking about?

ANSWER: It’s a Messianic passage; it talking about Jesus!

Concerning “now is the accepted time,” “The idea is, that he had prayed in a time when God was disposed to show mercy; the time when in his wise arrangements he had designed that his salvation should be extended to the world” [Barnes].

Psalm 118:22-24) [KJV] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23) This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24) This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Concerning vs. 24: It is quoted in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17. Psalm 118 is a Messianic Psalm. David is, supernaturally foreseeing the future day when Christ would die for Him.

QUESTION: What are we learning here?

ANSWER: God, since eternity past, had a day set aside for Jesus to be born. Everything in human history that preceded this event was, in its own way, leading up to this “accepted time.” Jesus was born when Jesus was supposed to be born; not a minute too soon, and not a minute too late!

QUESTION: What important truth is Paul teaching you and me here?

ANSWER: Starting with the very day Christ finished His redemptive work we have been living in “the day of salvation.” Until this “day of salvation” is over God will save every individual who will come to Him for salvation.

QUESTION: What is the apostle stressing to his readers?

ANSWER: Please don’t waste this precious time when God is saving all who come to Him!

3) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

QUESTION: What exactly does Paul want us to do?

1 Corinthians 6:6-7) [KJV] But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24) [KJV] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24) Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Romans 14:13) [KJV] Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

He wants us to be willing to be cheated if that’s what it takes for the Gospel to excel [1 Cor. 6:6-7].
He wants us to forego doing things that we are not convicted of if it might cause another to stumble [1 Cor. 10:23-24; Rom. 14:13].
He wants us to avoid anything that might cause others to disparage the Gospel message, which is the only message on this planet that can get someone to Heaven [2 Cor. 6:3].

QUESTION: What important truth is Paul teaching you and me here?

ANSWER: The integrity of the Gospel message trumps everything we might want to do, or say. “the ministry” of the gospel must not “be blamed.” A choice of words or a choice of action might be acceptable speech or conduct; but if it disparages the message of the cross then we must be willing to lay our “right” to say or do something aside. We must be willing to give “no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.”

NOTE: Paul is telling us in vs. 2-3 of this morning’s message that we must not waste the opportunity given to us during this time that is referred to as “the day of salvation.”

MY PRAYER: My Father in Heaven, please help me to realize the opportunities we have to reach the lost with this amazing message of reconciliation through the grace of a loving God. There may be times when I waste time, but help me to be mindful not to waste this opportunity. Your Son died to save sinners; help me to share that amazing message. I pray this is Jesus’ name.

2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 6

Verses 4-10

“Conduct That Supports Our Message To the World!” – Part 1
[9-3-17]

Review: “Opportunity Awaits Us!”

QUESTION: Vs. 2 is quoted from vs. 8 of the Isaiah passage above. Who is that passage talking about?

ANSWER: It’s a Messianic passage; it talking about Jesus!

Psalm 118:22-24) [KJV] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23) This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24) This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Concerning vs. 24: It is quoted in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17. Psalm 118 is a Messianic Psalm. David is, supernaturally foreseeing the future day when Christ would die for Him.

NOTE: God, since eternity past, had a day set aside for Jesus to be born. Everything in human history that preceded this event was, in its own way, leading up to this “accepted time.” Jesus was born when Jesus was supposed to be born; not a minute too soon, and not a minute too late!

QUESTION: What important truth is Paul teaching you and me here?

QUESTION: What is the apostle stressing to his readers?

ANSWER: Please don’t waste this precious time when God is saving all who come to Him!

3) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

NOTE: The integrity of the Gospel message trumps everything we might want to do, or say. “the ministry” of the gospel must not “be blamed.” A choice of words or a choice of action might be acceptable speech or conduct; but if it disparages the message of the cross then we must be willing to lay our “right” to say or do something aside. We must be willing to give “no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.”

This Week: “Conduct That Supports Our Message To the World!” – Part 1:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10) [KJV] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

(ERV) But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind.

QUESTION: Who are these “ministers” [KJV]/“servants” [ERV] of God?

ANSWER: The Commentators that I have believe this to refer to Paul and his ministry team. I think that appears to be what Paul has in mind. However, everyone in this room is a minister/servant of God on some level. So, there is a way that Paul is not only speaking of himself and his team, and preachers everywhere, but speaking to his readers to follow suit as well. In other words, the things Paul says of himself and his team in vs. 4-10 is meant for all of us in this sense; preachers should model it; Christians should follow it.

NOTE: Let’s look at these verses together to learn what our conduct should look like:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10) [KJV] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5) In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6) By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7) By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8) By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9) As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10) As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

1 Corinthians 4:15-16) [KJV] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16) Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 11:1) [KJV] Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32) Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33) Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philippians 3:17) [KJV] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling his readers, including your and me, to do in the above 3 passages?

ANSWER: We should follow what Paul has modeled.

2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 6

Verses 4-10

“Conduct That Supports Our Message To the World!” – Part 2
[9-10-17]

Review: “Conduct That Supports Our Message To the World!” – Part 1:

2 Corinthians 6:4) [KJV] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

(ERV) But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind.

NOTE: The Commentators that I have believe this to refer to Paul and his ministry team. I think that appears to be what Paul has in mind. However, everyone in this room is a minister/servant of God on some level. So, there is a way that Paul is not only speaking of himself and his team, and preachers everywhere, but speaking to his readers to follow suit as well. In other words, the things Paul says of himself and his team in vs. 4-10 is meant for all of us in this sense; preachers should model it; Christians should follow it.