September 18 & 25, 2022
FINAL WARNINGS AND EXHORTATIONS (PART II)
INTRODUCTION:
1. As the Apostle was concluding this epistle with some final warnings and exhortations, he served notice that the authority which they had called into question, he was ready to exercise by way of judgment if need be.
2. As he announced that he was coming to Corinth for a third visit, his advice to them was that rather than to spend their energies seeking proof of his apostleship, they might do well to prove their own selves, whether they be in the faith. (Verse 5)
3. This was indeed a serious warning, seeing that he was coming fully prepared to administer church discipline if necessary. If they should prove to be without evidence that Christ was in them, i.e. that they were actually Christians, he could assure them that he had the authority to excommunicate them from the church.
4. His prayer, however, was that no such demonstration of his apostolic authority would be necessary.
5. These things we considered under our first heading. Let us now consider, secondly:
II. PAUL PRAYS THAT THEY MAY NOT GIVE OCCASION FOR HIM TO GIVE EVIDENCE OF HIS JUDICIAL AUTHORITY. (VERSES 7-10)
A. SO FAR FROM DESIRING TO GIVE EVIDENCE OF HIS POWER TO JUDGE, HE PRAYED THAT THERE MIGHT BE NO OCCASION FOR IT. (VERSE 7)
1. He does not desire their good estate for the selfish reason that he might appear approved, and as one concerning whom there could be no doubt that Christ dwelt in him. The success of his ministry was as much evidence of his approval as was his supernatural powers. “I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved.”
2. His desire is that they should do right. He would have them do good and live honestly, for he would be most happy if there should be no need for him to prove his authority to judge their evil deeds. “…but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be reprobate.”
a) Paul was ready to appear disapproved in the eyes of men, if it meant that the Corinthians were doing right, and needed not any evidence of Christ speaking in him in judgment.
b) As judgment is God’s strange work, so it was with His faithful apostle. Paul much preferred not to have needed to exhibit that kind of power.
B. PAUL’S POWER WAS GIVEN AND COULD BE EXERCISED ONLY FOR TRUTH. (VERSE 8)
1. This verse is connected to what immediately precedes it. He says, “We will be (in one sense) without evidence if you do what is right, for we can do nothing against truth.” He means that the exercise of supernatural apostolic powers, which were evidence of Christ speaking in him, were used only in behalf of the truth. By “truth” he means that revelation which God gives in His Word as the rule of faith and practice.
2. Apostolic power notwithstanding, an arm raised against God’s truth availed nothing. What heresies are propagated by the Roman Catholics regarding a church authority that is apart from and contrary to Holy Scripture!
C. HE REJOICED IN HIS OWN WEAKNESS AND IN THE PROSPERITY OF THE CORINTHIANS. (VERSE 9)
1. The meaning of this statement in Verse 9a is that the lack of need to exercise powers of discipline made him glad.
2. If seeing them as strong in faith made him appear weak in judgment for want of cause, he was glad it was so.
3. He could wish that they were made perfect altogether, i.e. put in complete order, fully restored from their state of confusion, contention, and evil into which they had fallen.
D. HE STATES THAT HE WROTE THESE EXHORTATIONS AND WARNINGS LEST HE BE OBLIGED TO EXERCISE SEVERITY BEING PRESENT AMONG THEM. (VERSE 10)
1. He had the Christ-given authority to punish, and also the power to carry out the judgment. “…lest being present I should use sharpness (severity) according to the power (authority or right) which the Lord hath given me.”
2. To use his apostolic authority in such a manner would not be according to the holy purpose for which he had received it. His gifts were designed for edification, not for destruction. Judgment is God’s strange work in which He takes no pleasure.
3. Notice, Paul received his apostleship from the Lord (Christ). Our Lord is risen and ascended, and is Lord of the church. He is everywhere present by the Holy Spirit, and His ministers, like Paul, are invested with gifts and powers to be exercised for good.
III. PAUL’S CONCLUDING EXHORTATION AND BENEDICTION. (VRS. 11-14) The severe rebukes contained in the preceding chapters are softened by the parental and apostolic tone assumed in these concluding verses.
A. HE ADDRESSES THEM AS BRETHREN IN BIDDING THEM FAREWELL. (VERSE 11)
1. “Brethren,” members of the family of God, and members of the body of Christ.
2. “Farewell,” literally, rejoice, or joy to you. He exhorts them to spiritual joy. (Phil. 1:3; 4:4)
a) Joy in the Lord is a duty as well as a privilege.
b) We have the joy of redemption; the joy of union and communion with our Lord.
c) As recipients of these matchless graces, surely it is a great sin not to rejoice.
3. “Be perfect.” (katartidzo) to complete thoroughly; to repair; to reform; to adjust; to restore. Paul is exhorting them to reform themselves, correct the evils which were present among them.
4. “Be of good comfort.” (parakaleho) may be rendered “exhort one another,” which is most likely what Paul is here saying.
5. “Be of one mind.” He exhorts to be one in faith and objective; to be of the same sentiment and opinion.
6. “Live in peace.” This is cognate with the expression that goes before it, “be of one mind.” He would have them to cultivate peace and harmony. One of the main evils prevailing at Corinth was the contention created by various parties, causing divisions in the church. (I Cor. 1:10-12)
7. “And the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
a) God is the Author of love and peace.
b) The existence of love and peace is the condition of the presence of the God of peace.
c) He withdraws the manifestations of His presence from the assembly that is torn by dissensions.
B. HE URGES AND ENCOURAGES FELLOWSHIP. (VERSE 12)
1. The kiss was the expression of fellowship and affection.
2. It was the common mode of salutation among friends.
3. The holy kiss expressed Christian love and communion.
C. HE DELIVERS SALUTATIONS FROM ALL OF THE BRETHREN WHO ARE WITH HIM.
(VERSE 13)
1. “Saints,” i.e. believers who are separate from the world, and consecrated to God.
2. Saints are not a special class among God’s people. They are all who are distinguished from the men of this world by their consecration to the service and worship of God.
3. All believers are “called to be saints.” (I Cor. 1:2)
D. HE CLOSES THE LETTER WITH A COMPREHENSIVE BENEDICTION. (VERSE 14)
1. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
a) This title includes His divine nature (Lord), His human nature (Jesus), and His office (Christ). He is God incarnate; the Savior of men; the Anointed One; the long promised Messiah, the Redeemer.
b) It is the grace, the unmerited love and favor that springs form our divine Savior that Paul invokes.
2. “The love of God.”
a) In one view the love of God is the source of redemption. (Rom. 5:8)
b) In another view the love of God to us is due to the grace and work of Christ. That is, the manifestation of that love in salvation was conditioned on the work of Christ. (II Cor. 5:18, 19) By the death of Christ we are made partakers of the love of God, therefore he puts the grace of Christ first.
3. “The communion of the Holy Ghost.” The primary object of the death of Christ was the communication of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 3:13, 14) It is the gift of the Holy Ghost secured in the covenant of redemption by the death of Christ that applies to us the benefits of all of His mediation. All believers are joint-partakers of the Holy Spirit, and thereby made one body.
4. A Christian is one who seeks and enjoys the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost.
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