II Corinthians 6:11-13: "Paul's Love for Corinthians, Pt. 1"

As Paul continues to write about his ministry w/ the Corinthians he turns again to his honesty and affection for them. He begins, "Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide". Paul has never been known to shy away from the truth just for the sake of being unpopular. He has been candid, open, and has hid nothing from the Corinthians. His desire is for the Corinthians to understand that whatever is being said about me that doesn't match up with anything I have said to you, than it is untrue. In Acts, before the Ephesian elders Paul said to them, "I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and form house to house" (Acts 20:20). Paul had been open to the Corinthians on several levels. First, he had never shied away from preaching the gospel to them. However much rejection and resistance he got from proclaiming the truth, never did he water down or shy away from the truth. Second, he never shied away from confronting the Corinthians on their sin. Many times through his first, second, and harsh letter to the Corinthians he confronts them on their sinful ways and rebukes their behavior. Paul's desire was to correct them and bring them back into the fellowship of God. Paul rebuked them, disciplined them, asked them to test their faith, and many times confronted and revealed their sin to them. However, Paul's purpose in doing all of this is because he loved and cared for them. Paul's heart was opened wide to them and he was transparent with them. Paul had a strong love for the Lord and it was this love that drove his to keep his fellow brothers and sisters from sin and hell.

Paul continues to make his affection for the Corinthians known as he writes, "you are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections". MacArthur explains, "Restrained is form stenochoreo, which literally means, 'to make narrow' or 'to confine'. Paul had not restrained the Corinthians; he had done nothing to cause any estrangement or hinder the relationship between them. On the contrary, they were self-restrained in their own affections toward him. A number of them had squeezed the apostle out of their lives and closed their hearts to him. They had believed lies about Paul and turned away from him to follow false teachers. As a result, they had left their affections for him". Here we can see Paul's emotions, he was truly hurt by the Corinthians. For all the time and affection he had spent on them, as he had been open and honest with them, and they rejected him for the heresy of some false apostles. Paul wanted them to understand it was not he who had left them or pulled his affection for them, but rather, their own hearts closing up and turning from Paul. It is like when we feel that God doesn't love us or care for us, or is distant from us because of sin we have let into our lives. It isn't God who has changed, it is us, and Paul wanted the Corinthians to recognize his love for them remained. If they felt the relationship was damaged it was their own doing.

Paul's desire for a true relationship with mutual love for one another and trust in each other Paul pleads with the Corinthians, "now in a like exchange- I speak as to children- open wide to us also". Paul felt the rejection and hurt of unrequited love. He felt true sadness over their damaged relationship. He asks that they would exchange the same love he had for them. He spoke to them as his spiritual children who he had raised up in the truth of the gospel and now they were turning to false brethren. He wanted them to return the same love that he showed them and for them to open their hearts to him. MacArthur writes, "Here is a tender, almost melancholy scene. The noble apostle did not hesitate to plead for the love of the most troubled of his churches. He was not too proud to open his heart and let them see that he was hurting".

II Corinthians 6:1-10: "Now is the Acceptable Time"

As Paul continues to encourage and exhort the Corinthians and defend his ministry against the false brethren, he explains his view of ministry to his readers. First and foremost, his ministry is only as successful as God will allow. He explains his dependence on God and recognizes his need to allow God into every aspect of his ministry. He writes, "And working together with Him". Previously Paul had stated that it was God who has "committed us to the word of reconciliation", and it is "working together with Him" that will allow us to accomplish this. This was quite an encouragement to Paul to know that his success was not determined by his conversions, but rather by his faithfulness to to proclaim the gospel. MacArthur writes, "Despite the trials he faced, Paul never lost sight of that reality. Even if no on responded to his message, the high privilege of being God's coworker was enough to sustain him. Not surprisingly, then, Paul emphasized that truth throughout his epistles". Believers must recognize their high calling to reconcile souls to God, but they also must recognize that they must rely on the power of God to change lives. If they are focusing on their own power and strength and their own glory in the process of saving others they are going about it the wrong way. Paul gives us the proper perspective in I Cor. 3:6-7, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth". Therefore as believers we must recognize that our role is to give God all the glory and praise in our ministry and seek to please him. We must also recognize the great privilege it is that he allows us to work with Him in the salvation process.

Paul continues "we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain". Paul is passionate as he pleads with the Corinthians to turn away from this opportunity of reconciliation. MacArthur explains the reason for Paul's pleading, "[Paul] had poured his life into the Corinthians during his long stay in their city (Acts 18:11), pleading with them for the gospel and teaching the new converts how to grow in grace. But events in Corinth caused the apostle to fear that his intense labor had been for nothing. The church was riddled with sin, as Paul's first inspired epsitle to them reveals. False teachers, those wolves in sheep's clothing both Jesus (Matt. 7:15) and Paul warned of (Acts 20:29), were luring many in the assembly away form the truth". With this fear, Paul wanted to make sure they understood the gracious offer that God has given in reconciliation through his Son and all the labor of Paul's love for them had not been in vain.

He continues, "for He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you'. Behold, now is the 'acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation'". Paul could not just sit around and let those he loved be swayed away from the gospel of grace by these dangerous wolves. Paul wanted to stress the urgency of this time. He recognized that some were unredeemed and were being swayed away by the false teachers. He also understood that others had been redeemed, however, their spiritual growth was being stunted by the false brethren. It is because of this urgency Paul quotes Isa. 49:8. With this quote Paul is showing his readers God's unflinching grace. At the right time, God provided a way of salvation to those who would cry out. MacArthur writes, "There is a time in God's grace when He may be sought by sinners. The Lord warned the pre-Flood world, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be on hundred and twenty years' (Gen 6:3)". Here Paul really wanted them to understand that God is gracious, but we don't have time to waste with foolish heresy and we must listen and obey the truth. Paul again begs that they recognize this day as the time to receive God's grace and turn from the error of the legalistic law.

Paul, as their minister, new the importance of protecting his flock, as he writes, "giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God". Paul understood the importance of his actions and words to those he would proclaim the gospel to. MacArthur writes, "He determined never to allow any stain on his virtue that would undermine the integrity of his gospel (1 Cor. 9:27)". Paul knew the spurious allegations against him tossed around by the false brethren. He was determined to make sure that any false allegations spread by them could never bear fruit in his life. He recognized that if he ever gave the Corinthians an opportunity to doubt him or have reason to discredit his work, his ministry would have been in vain. He did not want to be a stumbling block to them in anyway, rather, he desired to be a servant of God being obedient to Him in all things. Paul recognized the importance of a good testimony. In a time when people would spread false allegations against him, it was important Paul did everything to practice what he preached and live out the gospel in front of his followers. This way none of the allegations could even be given a second thought. This however was not easy. Paul had faced much opposition and many difficult times. Paul was determined to remain a faithful follower of Christ with "endurance" "in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger". Paul had faced all of these things throughout his life of ministry. It was never easy, but he knew that these were but "momentary and light affliction" compared to what his reward in heaven would be. And it was his love for his followers that kept him pure and hopeful during these tough times. He recognized that despite those difficult times he must do all things "in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left". Paul recognized the importance of purity for the reinforcement of the truth. He recognized that he must do things with the knowledge of what Christ had done. He must be patient with these Corinthians who would be tossed around by the slightest of wind. He must be kind with them so as to not turn them away. He recognized that he must do all things through the power of the Holy Spirit and not rely on his own strength. He must do everything in genuine love. If genuine love was the driving force behind his ministry he would do whatever it took to get them to see the truth. He also recognized he could never do this on his own and he must rely on the power of God armed with the righteousness that only God imparts. Paul faced incredible trials and difficulties, but it is with the understanding shown in these verses that we can see why Paul was such a powerful testimony to those he came in contact with, and why God allowed his ministry to be so successful.

Lastly, Paul shows the paradoxical nature of his ministry, "by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things". Paul shows the dichotomous relationship between the lost world and the saved world. What may look like utter failure and a terribly unsuccessful life of the minister, is in actuality and wonderful blessing storing up treasures for eternity. Paul saw the ends to his faithfulness and wanted the Corinthians to understand that what may appear through the unredeemed eye, is not the case. The minister is both praised and despised. For those who do not know the Lord, his message is threatening and harmful, for those who accept their sinfulness and turn are forever grateful for the warning. Paul was looked at as deceptive and insincere to those who did not know him, yet to those who did, he was a faithful and loving friend. One may look at Paul's life and see the terrible troubles he went through. They would see him as a dying cursed man, when in reality he was full of the life of Christ and no one ever lived as much as he did. He knew his life was with Christ in heaven and would gladly leave this earth. We can see from Paul's perspective why he could give as much as he did, as he viewed life properly, the way God sees things, and knowing that he did not possess much here on earth, but in eternity, because of his relationship with Christ "possess[ed] all things".

II Corinthians 5:21: "The Gospel"

Paul closes chapter 5 with one of the most precious and clear verses on the gospel in all the bible. After explaining to his readers of their call to be ambassadors for Christ, he explains the message that we proclaim. And that message is that we are hopeless and helpless and unable to reconcile our relationship w/ God except through faith in Christ who took our place.

Paul begins, "He made". This is just the beginning of statements made in this verse that show salvation is all God's work. We understand by the end of verse 20 that He refers to God the Father. "Made" shows God's initiative in the salvation process. We had sinned and broken the relationship w/ God, however, it was He was began the process of reconciliation. This was in direct opposition to what the false apostles believed. They believed in a work's righteousness and a religious system in which the unbeliever could save himself through their own actions and duties. Paul recognized this futile attempt in Romans 10:1-3, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for god, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God". We must understand that Jesus did not come to earth and was crucified because of man's plans or power. We must understand, as MacArthur writes, "Jesus went to the cross as the outworking of God's plan to reconcile sinners to Himself". It was by the plan and power of God that Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins, in order to restore the relationship that sin had broken. Therefore, Paul's point is making sure we understand that it was God who "made" salvation possible, and it was nothing that we did to earn it.

Paul continues the presentation of the gospel by explaining the substitute, "Him who knew no sin to be sin". Here Paul testifies to Christ's deity. The fact that the substitute was sinless rules out any human being the sacrifice since "all have sinned and fall short" Rom. 3:23. As humans we must recognize that only God can forgive sin. Only the one to whom the sin was against has the ability to forgive. God being perfect, holy, and sinless sent the second person of the Trinity to come to earth, live the perfect life and take the wrath that was due to us. Jesus was 100% man and 100% at the same time. MacArthur writes, "The perfect sacrifice for sin would have to be a human being, for only a man could die for other men. Yet he would also have to be God, for only God is sinless. That narrows the field to one, the God-man, Jesus Christ". Many passages in scripture speak to the impeccability of Jesus (Luke 23:4, Luke 23:41, 23:47, I Peter 1:19-20, I John 3:5, etc). Jesus was perfect and had never sinned in his life, however, in His plan for salvation, God made the one "who knew no sin to be sin". This does not in anyway mean that Christ sinned while here on earth. What it does mean is that God imputed sin onto Christ while He was on the cross to bear the wrath of God. MacArthur explains, "Christ was not made a sinner, nor was He punished for any sin of His own. Instead, the Father treated him as if He were a sinner by charging to His account the sins of everyone who would ever believe. All those sins were charged against Him as if He had personally committed them, and He was punished with the penalty for them on the cross, experiencing the full fury of God's wrath unleashed against them all". Here is the substitionary atonement of Christ, who took the wrath God had meant for our sins, put them on Christ, and poured it out on Him, the perfect sinless Christ. And all of this was done "on our behalf". God struck down and poured out His wrath on His perfect sinless Son for us, wicked and wretched sinners, who before coming to Christ had only hated Him.

So what was to come of all this? To sum it up and explain the benefit of such an event, Paul explains the transaction that takes place when someone comes to the saving knowledge of Christ, "so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him". Here we can see that Christ's perfect sinless life and all of His righteousness was given to us who believe, and He received our sin and wrath. Not a fair trade at all, but that is why it is called grace. What a wonderful testimony of Grace on our behalf. MacArthur writes, "When repentant sinners acknowledge their sin (Ps. 32:5), affirm Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), and trust solely in His completed work on their behalf (Acts 4:12; 16:31), God credits His righteousness to their account. On the cross God treated Jesus as if He had lived our lives with all our sin, so that God could then treat us as if we lived Christ's life of pure holiness". And that is the great transaction that takes place the moment we place our hope and faith in Jesus Christ. Do we not owe Christ our very lives? What an amazing transaction, you would be foolish not to accept it.

II Corinthians 5:11-17: "Defending His Integrity"

As most of 2 Corinthians has been, Paul defends his ministry to the Corinthians. Much of what Paul writes is in defense to some sort of lie that the false apostles had spread about Paul. Paul's goal is not to defend himself to the false apostles, but rather, to defend his integrity and his ministry to the Corinthians so he can continue to effectively teach them the gospel.

Paul begins, "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God". Here Paul's goal is to persuade the Corinthians to understand that Paul has a tremendous fear of the Lord, and all his life has been devoted to a ministry of integrity. Paul is saying that he has already made manifest to God the true fruit of his ministry. God was already well aware of Paul's fear of Him, and Paul's goal was to get his readers to understand that as well. It was also Paul's desire that he was "made manifest also in [their] consciences". MacArthur summarizes, "The choice the Corinthians faced was simple: were they going to listen to the testimony of their consciences or to the lies of Paul's critics? Their consciences were well informed; they knew of his godly life an impeccable moral character because he had ministered daily among them for at least eighteen months (Acts 18:11). That firsthand observation should have left no doubts regarding Paul's integrity". Paul's plea in this section is to have the Corinthian's recognize Paul's fear of the Lord and the integrity of his ministry. Paul desired that the Corinthians would listen to all that Paul had taught them and search their consciences to vindicate Paul to his enemies.

Paul had previously mentioned to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 3:1, "It is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends". With this in mind, and already broaching this discussion before, Paul finds it important enough to repeat, "We are not again commending ourselves to you". Paul wants to make it clear that he is in no way speaking of himself to boast about himself, or brag about his ministry. Rather, Paul is defending himself merely for the sake of maintaining the integrity of his ministry and deflecting any of the lies that had been spread about him. Rather, Paul's desire was that he was "giving [the Corinthians] an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart". The false apostle's had wrongly accused Paul of boasting in himself and commending himself to the Corinthians, and Paul wanted to make it clear that in no way was he commending himself, but rather, he wanted his faithful ministry to the Corinthians to speak for itself. MacArthur writes, "Rather than commend himself to his enemies, Paul wisely chose instead to arm his friends to defend him. He knew that replying directly to his enemies was pointless; they would twist his words to fit their own evil purposes (cf. Prov. 26:4; 29:9). Therefore it was more effective for him to equip his supporters at Corinth so that they would have an answer for his detractors (Prov. 27:2). By so doing Paul also gave them an occasion or opportunity to be proud of him". Here we can see Paul's motives. Paul would never commend himself, and the only commendation he really cared about was God's commendation of his ministry. He therefore desired in his heart that the Corinthians would believe him over the false apostles, not so he could gain commendation from them, but rather that they would not be swayed from the gospel and adhere to all he had taught them. Paul's heart was for his people, not for popularity.

Continuing his defense, Paul differentiates himself from his detractors by writing "so that you will have an answer to those who take pride in appearance and not in heart". The false apostles only cared about their outward appearance and the way they looked to others. They were focused on outward deeds and not on their corrupted hearts. Paul was asking that the Corinthians see through their facade, and not believe the lies they were spreading about him.

Paul continues, "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God". Apparently, another false accusation of the false brethren was that Paul was foolish, or out of his mind with his zeal for God. MacArthur explains the meaning of the text: "The verb [beside ourselves] literally means 'to stand outside oneself', or 'to be beside oneself' in the sense of being 'out of one's mind'. Such was Paul's passionate devotion to the truth that his enemies deemed him fanatical to the point of being imbalanced mentally. Incredibly, instead of being rejected outright, those false and outrageous allegations generated a debate in the Corinthian church with those who insisted he was of sound mind". What other people thought of Paul did not bother him, however, he wanted his Corinthians to understand that he was passionate and zealous for God, yet full of sober truth in all things. Paul was entrusted with the wonderful gospel and he wanted to make sure that he was faithful to proclaim in a clear way to all those who would listen. Because Paul was dogmatic and harsh about the truth of the gospel and uncompromising, it was expected that the world would not understand it and mistake it for senselessness. However, Paul wanted to make sure they understood all that he had taught them was completely the truth of God. MacArthur explains, "The issue for Paul was that God be honored by the truth proclaimed, so he faithfully did that. But for the Corinthians sake he was at the same time gentle, humble and patient".

Paul explains, "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died". Because of Christ overwhelming and undeserved love for Paul, Paul felt it necessary to be driven to proclaim the truth as zealously and fervently as possible. It was this love that Paul felt from Christ that drove him to defend himself and his ministry so that nothing could hinder his ability to minster effectively to the Corinthians. Ever believer should be motivated and controlled in his life by the love of Christ. First, Christ's love for the believer should overwhelm him to obedience and faithfulness in ministry. Second, the believer's love for Christ should cause him to preach the truth of the gospel without compromise. Recognizing that Christ sacrifice was sufficient for every believer who had faith in him, it was that sacrifice of love that drove Paul. MacArthur writes, "His confidence was that one died for all, therefore all died. Under the old covenant the deaths of countless thousands of sacrificial animals could not provide full and complete pardon for sin, 'for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins' (Heb. 10:4). There never was any efficacy in the death of an animal. All such deaths incessantly testified to the old covenant's futility as a means of salvation. But in sharp contrast Jesus Christ, 'by one offering . . . has perfected for all time those who are sanctified' (Heb. 10:14)". It was Paul's deep understanding of the efficacious sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the substitionary atonement, that drove Paul to defend his ministry so fervently. Paul desired his readers to understand the sacrifice in the same way and be driven to the truth because of it.

Paul continues, "and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf". Continuing to defend his ministry and justify his motives for defending himself, Paul shows the great desire he has for righteousness. When a person comes to faith in Christ they are bought with a price and are no longer their own. They have been crucified to sin and are now alive to righteousness. Just as Christ sacrificed on the cross for those who would believe, those who come to Him must give their lives to Him. The very reason that Christ died for all would be so that they would no longer live for themselves, but to live for him. MacArthur writes, "contrasting himself to the proud, boastful false teachers troubling the Galatians, Paul declared 'But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world' (Gal. 6:14)". Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that this was his life and this is what he was passionate about. That being the case, nothing of what the false brethren accused him of could be true. Paul's life was to live for Him, not for fame, or anything else. If he could get the Corinthians to understand that, he would not have to defend himself against the spurrious charges against him.

Paul finishes this section showing not only his love for Christ, but his burden for the lost. He writes, "Therefore form now on we recognize no one according to the flesh". Paul did not look at people for their outward appearance or their social status. Rather, Paul looked at each person he came into contact with as a lost soul who needed to know Christ. Even the richest king he had ever met, was nothing more than a poor lost soul to him. MacArthur writes, "the overarching reason Paul defended his integrity, the one that incorporated all the rest, was so that he could continue to reach the lost". As Paul wrote about the riches of salvation, his mind quickly went to those who were without it. He wanted nothing more than for his brethren to know the truth about Christ so their soul could be saved. The false apostles were causing a hindrance to these souls and Paul would do whatever it took so they would not listen to their lies. Paul had once known Christ "according to the flesh". Paul originally, like all other lost souls, had thought that Jesus was merely flesh and bone and a false messiah. He had persecuted those who taught otherwise. However, through his miraculous transformation, Paul recognized Christ for what He truly was the son of God. He knew "Him in this way no longer". MacArthur writes, "No longer did [Paul] view Jesus as an itinerant Galilean rabbi and self-appointed messianic impostor who was the enemy of Judaism. Instead, he saw Him for who He really is, God incarnate, the Savior, the Lord of heaven, the true Messiah who alone fulfills all Old Testament promises and provides forgiveness for sin". Just as was stated in v.15, Paul reiterates that a believer is a new creature and they are now a slave to righteousness in obedience to Christ.

So we can see the convictions with which Paul preached from, and why it was necessary to defend his ministry. May our convictions be as a slave to righteousness, with a burning love for Christ that controls us to preach the truth unadulterated and with boldness, knowing that we are a new creation and the old man is dead. MacArthur concludes, "So Paul defended his integrity in order to preach with boldness, knowing that he was trusted. In addition, his reverence and gratitude to the Savior who had done so much for him, his deep concern for the church, passionate devotion to the truth, desire for righteousness, and longing to see the lost come to the Savior compelled him to maintain his integrity".

II Corinthians 5:9-10: "To Please Him"

To continue to exhort and encourage the Corinthians, Paul not only encourages them to think about heaven, but to also think about their attitudes and motives here on earth. Paul explains that they should be driven and have ambition to be pleasing to God, knowing their deeds will be exposed for their true motives. Paul writes, "Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him". Normally ambition has a negative connotation as one with ambition is known to be ruthless and selfish, looking to get whatever they can no matter the cost. However, Paul uses ambition in a positive sense. Paul is saying that the believer should do whatever they can in all their pursuits to be pleasing to God. Paul never sought to be pleasing to man, as the false teachers did, rather, his mindset was that of pleasing God and God alone in all that he did. Looking back to what Paul had previously mentioned he was always in flux between death and life. He knew to be "home" would be to be with his true Heavenly Father, and to be "absent" was to be apart from God. Therefore, Paul is saying that no matter if he was present with God, or still here on earth, his goal should be to please God. MacArthur writes, "Paul's ambition to please God, imperfectly on earth or perfectly in heaven, remained unchanged. Expressing that same breadth of devotion he affirmed, 'For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's' (Rom. 14:7-8)".

Paul's recognized that his life here on earth was important, and how he lived it out would be meaningful in eternity. He recognized that God would uncover each of his deepest motives in everything he did. He wanted to be found pure and unstained by the world in his desires to serve. He writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each on may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad". Paul lets us know that we will be held accountable for every action we take here on earth. And the God who knows every thought and every motive of each person will reveal to us our hearts. On the surface this may look to be judgment on our works, including our sin. However, we must understand that, here, Paul is saying that each believer (who's sin has already been judged on the cross) will have all their works laid bare before them. MacArthur explains, "In that day, the full truth about their lives, character, and deeds will be made clear to each believer. Each will discover the real verdict on his or her ministry, service, and motives. All hypocrisy and pretense will be stripped away; all temporal matters with no eternal significance will vanish like wood, hay, and stubble, and only what is to be rewarded as eternally valuable will be left". Our sin has already been judged on the cross, and therefore no sin will be taken into account on the judgement seat of Christ. "Each one" shows us that each individual believer will be taken before the judgement seat to be recompensed for their actions here on earth. MacArthur writes, "Recompensed translates a form of the verb komizo, which means, 'to receive back what is due'- whether punishment for a criminal, or reward for one to be honored. When believers stand before the Lord Jesus Christ they will be recompensed for the deeds they have done in the body (cf. Rev. 22:12)". The point of this is that although Paul desires to be present with God and absent from this world, he still understands his importance while he is here, and he is to be a living sacrifice to Christ while here on earth. When Paul says that both good and bad deeds will be judged, he is referring to those things which were pleasing to him, and those that were useless. God will take those things which we did on earth and wipe away anything done with improper motives, or selfish attitudes. He will tear back how things may have looked here on earth, and reveal to us the true nature of the deed. Anything that is done improperly will be wiped away and not rewarded. Everything remaining we will be rewarded for. "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire". Therefore, we must continually check our hearts and make sure our motives for ministry our pure and right before God. May we continually pray to do things that would be pleasing to God.

II Corinthians 5:1-8: "Longing for Heaven"

Paul continues his focus on the eternal vs the temporal and the believers longing to be present with Christ in their new glorified bodies. Daily facing the possibility of death we can see the strong desire in Paul to receive his new glorified body and be in the presence of God. We can also see, through his perspective, why Paul could be so bold in his testimony. With his strong desire to be with the Lord, death did not scare him, and therefore, he was able to strongly proclaim the gospel amidst strong opposition.

Paul begins, "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". Paul is not uncertain or wavering in any way (for we know). Paul here uses earthly tent to describe our mortal human bodies. Being a tent maker, Paul chose to use a metaphor that he was familiar with. Therefore, Paul is saying that when our earthly bodies are torn down, or when we die, we will have a new glorified body in heaven. We move from the temporary tent to a firm foundation eternal building. MacArthur writes, "Paul further described the glorified, resurrection body as a house not made with hands. It is not a procreated, physical body. Referring to Jesus' words in John 2:19, the false witnesses at His trial said, 'We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands;" (Mark 14:58)". In Hebrews 9:11 we read, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation". Therefore, we can understand that "not made with hands" refers to a spiritual, eternal, divine body that we will receive from our creator.

Paul continues to explain the next life, "For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked". Paul faced all the trials, suffering, and temptation to give up that anyone had faced. Because he was confident in knowing where he was headed, he groaned in his being, longing to be in heaven with Christ. MacArthur writes, "To be naked, then, is to be only a soul without a resurrection body. The apsotle's hope of a future glorified body was in sharp contrast to the philosophical dualism that permeated Greek culture. That philosophy taught that matter is evil and spirit is good. Therefore the ultimate goal for its adherents was to be freed from their bodies and to become disembodied spirits". Continuing to confess his desire to leave this earth and attain his heavenly body Pual writes, "For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life". Paul wrote something similar in Rom 8:23, "We ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body". Paul felt the wait of sin, affliction and suffering, and new that he all of it would pass away in the glory of God's presence and he longed to be there. Paul new the mortal would be gone and in its place would be the wonderful, eternal, perfect, glorified body.

God in his divine purpose has given this wonderful gift to all those who believe. Paul gives glory to God for this gift, "Now he who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge". From eternity past, God prepared not only a place for us in heaven, but our new glorified bodies that can dwell with Him forever. MacArthur writes, "In eternity past, God sovereignly chose believers for salvation; in time, he redeemed them; in the future, He will give them their glorified, resurrection bodies. The phrase for this very purpose emphatically states that believers obtain their glorified bodies in fulfilment of god's sovereign plan from all eternity, bound up in His elective decree". God's witness and verification of this gift was first given when we repented and turned to Him and He gave us His Spirit. This is our testimony that God will fulfill this promise when we die. This is what drove Paul and gave him his hope.

Paul continues, "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord". On the basis of the truths Paul has given us in verses 1-5, Paul was confident that all believers should be of good courage. If the worst thing that can happen to us on earth is that we are killed, that would usher us into the presence of God, therefore, nothing should sway our courage. While we still live here on earth we are absent from God and have our earthly bodies. Therefore, we should not fear death and persecution for God's sake, but rather, know we are only closer to being with God. Paul continues, "for we walk by faith, not by sight". It is this faith in God's promise that began with the Holy Spirit and will one day become our new heavenly bodies that we live by. Although we cannot see it happening, we know it to be true because God's Word tells us so. Paul reiterates that "we are of good courage" because all believers with the right mindset would "prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord". It is for this reason we can live life boldly without fear of death. MacArthur concludes, "The reality of death faces every believer who dies before the Lord raptures the church. Those who look forward to receiving their glorified bodies, to the perfections of life in heaven, to the fulfillment of God's purpose for them, and to living forever in His presence will be able to say triumphantly with Paul, 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' (I Cor. 15:55)".

II Corinthians 4:16-18: "Temporal vs Eternal"

As Paul has just finished reminding the Corinthians that they will be raised with Jesus it naturally leads him into his praise for God and his eternal perspective. Paul begins, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day". Because of the wonderful understanding and faith that Paul has in God's plan for those who are His, no temporal earthly trial or suffering can damage his spirits. Because Paul knows that he will be raised with Christ in Heaven, he does not lose heart. It would have been very difficult for someone who has faced the amount of trials, heartache, pain and suffering that Paul had encountered and not lose heart (see II Cor. 11:23-30). However, because Paul had a proper perspective based on God's revealed truth, he was able to be joyful and hopeful in his future. Paul's outer man was decaying, not only the natural process of death, but the overly arduous life that Paul had faced. If Paul had only focused on his temporal state, he would have been overwhelmed with despair, however, Paul focused on the eternal inner man that was being "renewed day by day". MacArthur writes, "In direct correlation to the dying of Paul's outer man was the growth and maturing of his inner man. The inner man is the heart the soul that lives forever. It is in salvation reborn, newly created (2 Cor. 5:17), becoming the new self (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), constantly being renewed by sanctifying grace". It was because Paul relied on his spiritual strength and condition, rather than his physical that he was able to "not lose heart".

Paul continues to remind the Corinthians to value to the eternal over the temporal as he writes, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". We can notice how Paul, although facing death and imprisonment nearly everyday, describes his suffering as momentary and light. What an amazing statement, but because of Paul's mindset in trials, he is able to honestly recognize that in comparison to what is awaiting us in heaven, he can say this with complete confidence. MacArthur writes, "Like Paul, suffering and persecuted believers must view earth through heaven's eyes. When weighed in the balance with believers' eternal reward in heaven, earthly pain amounts to little. Paul expressed the proper perspective on suffering by describing it as momentary, light affliction". We must constantly remind ourselves of Paul's mindset and attitude when we face trials. If anyone had the right to complain and despair it would have been Paul, yet, he chose to focus on the future over the present. How silly do our trials seem in comparison. What is our attitude when we face them?

Not only did Paul recognize his trials as momentary and light, but he understood the eternal value of them. Again, a great mindset to have in trials. He writes that the affliction he faces is "producing for [him] an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison". Paul had learned to appreciate trials for various reasons. 1) He had recognized that in trials he is made weak and Christ is made strong in him (see last section). 2) He understood the more trials and persecution he faced on earth would make his reward in Heaven just that much sweeter. When Paul suffered for Christ he knew that an even greater reward faced him in heaven. It's like a pool. A cold pool in the middle of winter doesn't do much for us, however, in the midst of the heat of summer a cold pool feels that much better. MacArthur writes, "weighed in the balance with the suffering of this life, that weight of glory tips the scales heavily in favor of eternal reward. There is a direct correlation between suffering in this life and glory (capacity to praise and glorify God) in the next". I Peter 4:13 reads, "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation".

Paul's last call to the Corinthians in this section again leads them to value the eternal over the temporal. He writes, "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen". Here Paul is calling his readers to look not at their current distresses, but reminds them to look to the eternal things. Often we get weighed down by trials in this life because it is a constant reminder of our sinfulness practically working itself out. We get to see, touch, hear experience the trials of this life and they are always before us. The eternal things of God, however, we can only believe through what God has given us in His Word. Therefore it must be our discipline to constantly focus our attention on what God has promised us in the future and strive toward that goal, rather than the temporal. MacArthur points out, "The allurements of the passing world system were of no interest to Paul. He was not interested in amassing a fortune, having a palatial estate, or a prominent career. That attitude made him seem, by worldly standards, a colossal failure . . . Yet he gladly rejected all that to become, as his enemies disdainfully put it, 'a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes'".

Paul again reminds us, "for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal". Another great reminder for us to remember what is important and what are focus should be on.