A Severe Letter From Paul To The Brothers Of Corinth

MEGA ZOECHRISTIAN CHURCH PASTOR: EDITH CRUZ

STUDY #960-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: DECEMBER, 19 @ 25, 2017

TOPIC: “A Severe Letter From Paul To The Brothers Of Corinth " 2 Corinthians 13:1-10

Paul was headed for his return to the city of Corinth (2 Corinthians 13:1 "This is the third time I am coming to you."). There were among the believers things to fix, things to correct, and for that the Apostle Paul would use of his love and of his authority (Vs. 5 "Examine yourselves if you are in faith, prove yourselves."). On that scheduled visit the Corinthian brothers would let Paul know who they were serving. It is that each one speaks and behaves as he thinks is best! But at the moment of truth, when Paul comes to them, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses, every matter must be decided." So, everything would be decided according to the evidence provided by two or three witnesses. Paul, beforehand, was clarifying in this letter that he was not going to be soft on anyone. Some describe this letter as a severe, harsh and strong letter. But Paul, who was continually participating in the power of God, spoke as someone who knew the God that he was. The apostle was taking severe measures against those who were obstinate in sin (Vs. 2 "...I write to those who once sinned and to all others, that if I go again, I will not spare" (that he will not be soft, that he will not lack rigidity in judging.) What a delight it is for men to sin, and later they are capable of speaking badly of the one who wants to correct them and make them see the evil they are doing! This is what happened here with Paul. The apostle makes threats to behave severely against obstinate sinners when he arrives at Corinth. Now he is going to proceed in a legal manner, he will do so as a connoisseur of the law (Deuteronomy 19:15). What was happening there had to be fixed. Paul knew the power of Jesus in one! That aggressiveness in the apostle was because Christ dwelt in him and for such reason the power of the Lord was manifested in him. Paul speaks as one who knows and can! (V. 3 "...for you seek proof that Christ speaks in me, who is not weak to you, but is powerful in you.") The Corinthians were seeking proof that Jesus was speaking in him, well, they were going to have it! Christ spoke through Paul, and so clearly that there is never any doubt about it! Christ in fact is not weak but strong because of the way the faithful of Corinth were acting. Christ is powerful in them (and in us); Corinthians, there is no reason to sin or drag any sin or temptation! Some say: "I do not laugh" or, "I do not look", "I do not go", "I cannot succeed." But brother, Christ is not weak! But rather he is powerful in you! Christ was crucified because of the weak condition of human nature, however, He is alive by the power of God (Vs. 4)! The position of Jesus is that of Christ, that of Emmanuel, He is God! In a similar way, we, although we now share the weak condition He had when He came, will live with Him; of course, also through the power of God! Paul is clear, it is through God, His power working in us! If one stops seeking Him, then there will be many sins, falls, complaints and excuses that, so simple, lead to defeat. If you stop seeking Him you will not have in your life the power of God that wants to dwell in you through Christ. PAUL LIVES THE LIFE OF THE CRUCIFIED! BUT HE ALSO LIVES THE LIFE OF THE RESURRECTED! EVERYTHING IS THROUGH JESUS! And what life do you live? If you live your life you will always be weak, but if you live the life of Christ, the power of God will be in you. That is why Paul carries within himself the mark of the same weakness of Christ; he is also crucified as Christ (Galatians 2:20 "I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and what now I live in the flesh I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."). The Corinthians were living at that moment what Paul had already experienced and left approved, now he said it to them clearly so that they would understand (Vs. 6 "But I hope you will know that we

are not reproved."). In Corinth there were some who were slanderers of the apostle and had subjected him to a kind of examination, demanding him to give proof of his spiritual authority. Of the other Corinthian brothers, some had given their ears to those who were evil very easily. But, Paul urges them to examine themselves to see if they really are in the faith. They wanted war, who would give it better than Paul! To see if they were really firm! They had to take an examination of conscience and they would know if they had passed the exam or not. An examination to see if they were firm in their Christian status, to know if they were firm in the union with Christ by faith. Paul himself had not been suspended, he had not been disapproved in his examination. And would they approve or not? (Vs. 7 "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong...") He did not pray for them so that he himself and those who trusted him would appear approved, but so that they would do good, even if he seemed to be reproved. Paul always longed for the good of his spiritual children more than his reputation! He did not care what others thought of him. He wanted the Corinthians to mature spiritually and be faithful to the Lord. Paul, in the exercise of his ministry always leaned on the truth (Vs. 8 "Because we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth."). The truth is Jesus and His gospel. The apostle's eagerness is for men to accept and live in a way that is pleasing to God and be faithful to him. The desire, brother, is that you keep progressing in your spiritual maturity. For Paul it was not to look good, it was for the brothers to be strong even if he seemed weak. Let us learn from the apostle, in his life "Paul" was not important, the "Corinthians" were important. Amen.