Text:
2Corinthians 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.”
Theme:
The Christian Context
Introduction:
This epistle, it has been well said, shows the individuality of the apostle more than any other.
¡ Paul was a REAL man, who made REAL mistakes, was forgiven by a REAL God, and had a REAL testimony.
Paul incessantly impresses upon the church the need for order and structure within their young church…not based on divine commandment but instead on human permission,
¡ As he says in 1Corinthians 7:6, “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.”
¡ This is an example of the authority of the scripture being based upon divine inspiration and not divine commandment.
¡ As Christians, we inherently believe that the Bible, in its entirety, is the divinely INSPIRED Word of God.
The text specifically provides us with Paul’s expression of:
¡ The beginning and the end of the Christian experience
¡ The highs and the lows of the Believer’s struggle
¡ The whole of The Christian Context.
- Oftentimes we think that the Bible is a depiction of men and women with whom we cannot relate… We try to say that it’s different now.
- However, it is
¨ the same struggle but different participants
¨ the same enemy but different counterparts
- Paul is speaking to US!!!!!!
Body:
Let us look at how Paul addresses The Christian Context:
¡ “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;”
- Paul prayed for the church
- Romans 1:9, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”
- Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
- 2Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
- Ephesians 1:16, “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”
- Philippians 1:4, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”
- Colossians 1:3, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”
- 1Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”
- Philemon 1:4, “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,”
- Paul wanted them to do no evil – a basic biblical principle
- Psalms 34:14, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
- Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
- Matthew 6:13, in the Model Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”
- 1Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
- Although lawfully stated and carnally impossible, it is divinely commanded and possible!
- We cannot be perfect in and of ourselves when we are made in imperfection.
¨ Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
- The Blood of Jesus provides the atonement cleanse of our sinful state and sin.
¨ We are sanctified and made righteous.
¨ 1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- God then can and will keep us…if we let Him!
¨ 2Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
¡ “not that we should appear approved,”
- This portion of the text focuses not on how we appear, but on our purpose for appearing as such!
- Some folks do right so that they can be SEEN by people.
¨ Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
¨ Matthew 6:5, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
¨ 1Timothy 3:6, “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
- We should do right so that we can be seen and received by God!
¨ We want what David yearns for in Psalms 51:19, “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”
Ø God chose us so we need to do as in 2Peter 2:10:
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
Ø It’s not about US. It is all about pleasing GOD!!
¡ “but that ye should do that which is honest,”
- We have a commitment to God!
- Matthew 10:32-33 explains,
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
¨ The contract concerning others is:
We confess Christ on earth, and Christ will confess us at Judgment.
- Philippians 4:8 then explains,
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
¨ The contract concerning ourselves is therefore:
Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Conclusion:
¡ “though we be as reprobates.”
- Paul acknowledges the Christian Context in the word THOUGH
- THOUGH implies that everything mentioned previously must be adhere to
¨ Even within the context of what comes after THOUGH
¨ In spite of the fact of what comes after THOUGH
¨ Given the challenges posed by what comes after THOUGH
¨ In denial of our own concerns/fears about THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT
- It is such a blessing to serve an “ANYHOW” God
¨ We can make ANYHOW
¨ We can serve Him right ANYHOW
¨ Philippians 4:13 encourages us that, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
- The CHRISTIAN CONTEXT that challenges and sometimes hinders is in the words that Paul utters:
- “we be as reprobates”
¨ Reprobate means to be REJECTED
Ø Jeremiah 6:30 explains, “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.”
¨ In many ways we can associate with being reprobate:
Ø We sometimes feel that God has rejected us
Ø We realize that we are not worthy of His acceptance of us
Ø We sometimes feel that God does not want us
Ø We are struck with the fact that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God
¨ However, within the CONTEXT of these associations we are chosen to be like Him
Ø Even within the context of feeling REJECTED
Ø In spite of the fact that we are not worthy of His acceptance
Ø Given the challenges posed by feeling as though God does not want us
Ø In denial of our own concerns/fears about our having sinned and come short of His glory
- We can see David dealing with this CHRISTIAN CONTEXT when he writes in Psalms 51:11:
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
- After having sinned, felt the guilt, denied the fear, accepted the accountability, and stood on God’s Grace and Mercy, David reaches out to God to maintain his integrity:
- “Cast me not away from thy presence” à FATHER, DON’T REJECT ME!
- “Take not thy holy spirit from me” à FATHER, I NEED YOUR POWER
- David never was REJECTED because God had chosen Him. He only FELT AS THOUGH HE WERE.
- God calls us to DENY those feelings and PRESS ON
- Mark 8:34, “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
¨ DENY HIMSELF à Don’t let your context, feelings, or guilt stop you!
¨ TAKE UP HIS CROSS à Accept the fact that you are a sinner and that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
¨ FOLLOW ME à We can’t erase the past, but we can embrace God in our future!
That is why in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
- In spite of feeling like a reprobate, GO TO GOD!!!!
- In spite of feeling left alone, GO TO GOD!!
- After doing so, you can PRESS ON!!!!!!!!!
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