2 Corinthians 13

To consider the interaction of the apostolic messenger with the vibrant church at Corinth is a very pleasurable enterprise… at a distance. Up close and personal it must have been very difficult. In 1 Corinthians, Paul displayed the life of love in such a clear and powerful way, while addressing all of the concerns of the church and some of Paul’s own alarm bells based on the reports that people had brought to him. In 2 Corinthians, we have been treated to an exposition of the way that this love is lived out within this gift from heaven that we call ministry. Especially toward the end of this book, we have been forced to admit that not everything is well even now in the church in Corinth. It appears that a minority remains there who are holding on to immorality and are hostile to the words that Paul has written, and to the man himself.

Paul is going to visit them. He held off for some time so that he could calm down, but after writing about these false ministers, he may need to count to ten again. Remember Paul is not defending himself, as if he needs to prove himself to the Corinthians. The controlling idea for the rightly zealous minister must be what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” We are jealous for Christ, and not for ourselves. Especially, we must keep this thought in mind: No matter what happens with this or any other individual, family, or church, we have absolutely no good reason to feel sorry for ourselves. We are headed toward the blessings of heaven because of what Christ has done for us. How can we feel sorry for ourselves? We can feel that the honor of Christ has been offended by wolves, and we can be jealous for Jesus’ sake, and not for us.

This moves us forward in gospel care for the Lord’s assembly of worship. We do not need to come charging into the china shop of the church with the bull of our hurt feelings and bruised pride, but we may need to take some well-considered and godly action in the Name of our King. This King was crucified in weakness, but He is not weak. He lives again by the power of God, and He has all power and authority in His firm grip as He reigns from heaven. He is completely unstoppable, and we are His ambassadors. Though we may be weak, He is determined to use our weakness to display His divine strength and the power of His love, a power that never fails. In Him we have this power, and so do all who are truly in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, it is time for everyone at Corinth to consider the apostle’s directive in a controversy that has caused much difficulty in the church: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” Paul is not hoping to find that scoffers and doubters in the church in Corinth who may be unsure about Paul and his message are actually not Christians. He wants them to pass the test. He wants them to face up to the gospel challenge, and to stand with the One who was lifted up on a tree for them that they might be saved.

Paul knows himself to be truly trusting in Jesus. He is not trying to prove himself, but to prove them to be what he hopes them to be – real Christian men and women, who though they may have been deceived for a moment, will finally respond to His correction and return to the One who is the only Husband of the church. If Paul ends up looking weak, or looking like a failure in their eyes, so be it; just as long as the beloved in the church in Corinth will truly stand in Christ, and not fall for some other message that is no gospel at all, or for some false and pushy super-apostles who will only distract people from the one Savior of sinners. Paul does not have to appear right before men, but He cares very deeply that the church in Corinth actually be right before the eyes of God. This can only be the case if they remain in Christ.

This is the desire of the right-minded minister of the Word. We don’t care if we appear weak and foolish, as long as the people who hear the Word and believe find their strength in the Son of God. If some have wandered and become deceived and are contentious, then Paul is praying for their restoration. If the church will receive this letter with the humility that comes from a true consideration of the cross, then he will not have to be stern with anyone when he visits Corinth again. But he will speak the truth when he comes; for the love of Christ and His body, He will speak the truth.

Enough of that… Rejoice in Christ, and in the promises of God that have been so wonderfully secured for us through our Redeemer. We will not end with the negatives of correction, but with the positive of restoration, gospel comfort, the love that comes from the God of love, the peace that comes from the Son of peace, and the Spirit that is the gift of the God of true and pure holiness. Paul will close with a Trinitarian version of the ancient Hebrew blessing, starting now with the Son of God who has secured this blessing for us forever. This word is given from heaven with the authority of the One who has purchased with His blood: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Amen.