II Corinthians 1:1-11: "The God who Comforts"
What an amazing thought to think that the God of the universe, the very God who created the heavens and the earth with His breath could actually care for me individually. Not only does He care for us individually, but he takes the time to comfort us when we are struggling. What an amazing thought. So what are we to do with this wonderful gift? Paul starts out his letter to the Corinthians with this wonderful thought and challenges them to give back this gift to others.
Paul begins the letter, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Paul begins his letter, addressing himself as the author and defending his apostleship. The Corinthians had been seiged by false prophets and jealous individuals who would come in and try to cause dissension through discrediting Paul and his ministry. Paul had to make sure that his readers understood that by the will of God he had been given the authority of an apostle. Therefore, anyone who desired to go against Paul was going against God. Paul also includes his protege Timothy who the Corinthian church was familiar with. It was possible that Timothy actually penned what was dictated by Paul through the Holy Spirit. He sends his greetings to the church of Corinth and all the saints who were present through Achaia. As Paul customarily does, he reminds them of the wonderful grace and peace that they receive from God who is the Father, and His son Jesus Christ who paid the ransom for our sins. Again, Paul shows his constant love and obedience to the only one who could truly provide grace and peace, and desires his readers to remember the same.
Paul continues, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort". Here Paul establishes the power and sovereignty of God in all His mercy by the sending of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who became man to take on all the pain and sorrow of the cross and all our sin on His shoulders. Paul is reminded of the comfort with which God had provided to Him through all his years of ministry. Paul recognizes that there is none better to comfort us than God. 1. He has infinite power and resources. Who better than to comfort us in our time of need than the very One who created us and has all resources. 2. Who better to know how to comfort than Christ who endured the worst punishment and affliction of anyone who ever lived. MacArthur writes, "Paul had experienced much pain, suffering, and heartbreak, particularly because of the false teachers at Corinth. They slandered his character to discredit him in the minds of the people and, even more painful to the apostle, sought to deceive the Corinthian church with lies about the gospel. But in God's merciful comforting of him he received the strength he needed to carry on. For that Paul was deeply grateful and blessed God". Truly Paul could with all certainty, through personal experience, call God the "Father of mercies". Paul could think back through his life and with much conviction say that God is one "who comforts us in all our affliction". Paul had been afflicted often, and yet through it all was able to write to the Philippians, "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). He was also able to write in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Although Paul went through an amazing amount of persecution and affliction, he could also recall the amazing amount of comfort he had received from God through all of it. Paul writes later in this letter, "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh". May we look at persecution and affliction in our life, as an opportunity to be comforted by the God who supplies peace that surpasses all understanding.
Recognizing that God has been so gracious in comforting him through all of his afflictions, Paul reminds his readers that the purpose in God comforting us is so "that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God". Here Paul gives us our responsibility: when we have tasted the goodness of God's mercy and comfort we are to in turn give that to others who are in need. I remember going through a time in my life when I suffered from severe anxiety and physical illnesses. I remember finally hitting a place where only God could help. My strength had been taken away so I had to rely fully in God. When I finally completely trusted in God and gave everything over to him did I come upon His wonderful comfort and care for me. It was through this experience that I now have a greater care and concern for those who struggle with similar issues. I know that God has now given me a sensitivity to those people who struggle with such issues, and it is my responsibility to provide them with the same comfort that I received from God.
Paul also wants his readers to recognize that by following God we not only get His comfort, but we also get his suffering. He writes, "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ". Paul wrote in Col. 1:24, "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions". We are told that when we become a follower of Christ, it is not if we will be persecuted but when we will be persecuted. It is inevitable that we will face a hostile world that wants nothing to do with Christ. Here we can recognize that we will face affliction for our beliefs, however, when we do, remember that it is Christ who then has another opportunity to comfort us through the time. We must always remember the benefits we have in Christ. If we strictly look at the trials and problems we have, we will miss so much of the good we receive because of Christ. For Paul writes, "But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation". This can be looked at several ways. As a believer we can even be comforted by the very fact we are facing persecution. We can know we are a child of His when we are persecuted for doing good. We see in Acts when some of the apostles are arrested and beaten. After their release Luke writes, "They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (Acts 5:40-42). Here we can see where despite a difficult situation, believers are encouraged and comforted by God. They rejoiced in their affliction because they were counted worthy to suffer. In relation to Paul, MacArthur suggests, "Perhaps no other church caused more pain and grief than the Corinthian assembly. Even after the apostle had invested at least eighteen precious months of his life ministering in Corinth, the church remained divisive, worldly, and rebellious. But God comforted Paul in his affliction, enabling him to better comfort they very people who had caused part of his suffering".
Paul continues, "Or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer". Paul was able to extend the church the comfort for the very things he had been comforted in. This shows the function of the body of Christ. We come together comforting one another and encouraging one another as an outflow of the mercy and comfort we have each received from Christ and one another. Paul recognized that the faithful believers at Corinth would live out their faithful calling in obedience and encouragement to others. "And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort". Paul was convinced that those who were truly saved would share in the sufferings of Christ as well as the comfort of God.
Paul wanted his his readers to be aware of the reality of God's mercy and comfort by giving them a specific example. Paul writes, "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life". Paul reminds the Corinthians of a familiar circumstance that they obviously knew about and tells them about the tremendous amount of affliction they received at an incident in Asia. The affliction was so severe that they feared for their lives. Paul recognized that left to his own strength, he would have been unable to cope with it. However, things that were beyond his strength is when he learned to most lean on God for His mercy. Paul further explains the event, "we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust ourselves, but in God who raises the dead". Paul recognized that in this event he could have easily died. However, in God's rich mercy and compassion, he not only spared Paul, but gave him the strength to make it through the ordeal. God's mercy could not only be shown in his sparing of Paul's life, but teaching him not to trust in Himself, but on God, who has the power to do anything, including raising the dead.
Paul continues in his hope for the future as well, "and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us". Paul knew very well that God would always make good on His promises. Therefore, Paul, with conviction could write that he knew well that God would deliver him now and in the future. MacArthur writes, "Paul was confident that God not only had delivered him in the past but also would deliver him in the future. Because God is faithful, He is always ready to comfort and deliver His children. In Lamentations 3:21-23 Jeremiah wrote, 'This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness'".
Lastly, Paul encourages the Corinthians yet again to participate in this wonderful benefit that begins with the kindness and mercy of God. "You also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many". Paul desired the continued participation of the Corinthians by their prayers. MacArthur writes, "In prayer, human impotence casts itself at the feet of divine omnipotence. When God's people intercede for each other, His power and sovereign purposes are realized. Thus, the purpose of prayer is not to manipulate God but to exalt His power and submit to His will". In this the Christian community involved can come together and rejoice and give thanks for the faithfulness of God. Prayer is God's invitation to become involved in the glory of Him, that we may all rejoice.
Paul begins the letter, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Paul begins his letter, addressing himself as the author and defending his apostleship. The Corinthians had been seiged by false prophets and jealous individuals who would come in and try to cause dissension through discrediting Paul and his ministry. Paul had to make sure that his readers understood that by the will of God he had been given the authority of an apostle. Therefore, anyone who desired to go against Paul was going against God. Paul also includes his protege Timothy who the Corinthian church was familiar with. It was possible that Timothy actually penned what was dictated by Paul through the Holy Spirit. He sends his greetings to the church of Corinth and all the saints who were present through Achaia. As Paul customarily does, he reminds them of the wonderful grace and peace that they receive from God who is the Father, and His son Jesus Christ who paid the ransom for our sins. Again, Paul shows his constant love and obedience to the only one who could truly provide grace and peace, and desires his readers to remember the same.
Paul continues, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort". Here Paul establishes the power and sovereignty of God in all His mercy by the sending of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who became man to take on all the pain and sorrow of the cross and all our sin on His shoulders. Paul is reminded of the comfort with which God had provided to Him through all his years of ministry. Paul recognizes that there is none better to comfort us than God. 1. He has infinite power and resources. Who better than to comfort us in our time of need than the very One who created us and has all resources. 2. Who better to know how to comfort than Christ who endured the worst punishment and affliction of anyone who ever lived. MacArthur writes, "Paul had experienced much pain, suffering, and heartbreak, particularly because of the false teachers at Corinth. They slandered his character to discredit him in the minds of the people and, even more painful to the apostle, sought to deceive the Corinthian church with lies about the gospel. But in God's merciful comforting of him he received the strength he needed to carry on. For that Paul was deeply grateful and blessed God". Truly Paul could with all certainty, through personal experience, call God the "Father of mercies". Paul could think back through his life and with much conviction say that God is one "who comforts us in all our affliction". Paul had been afflicted often, and yet through it all was able to write to the Philippians, "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). He was also able to write in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Although Paul went through an amazing amount of persecution and affliction, he could also recall the amazing amount of comfort he had received from God through all of it. Paul writes later in this letter, "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh". May we look at persecution and affliction in our life, as an opportunity to be comforted by the God who supplies peace that surpasses all understanding.
Recognizing that God has been so gracious in comforting him through all of his afflictions, Paul reminds his readers that the purpose in God comforting us is so "that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God". Here Paul gives us our responsibility: when we have tasted the goodness of God's mercy and comfort we are to in turn give that to others who are in need. I remember going through a time in my life when I suffered from severe anxiety and physical illnesses. I remember finally hitting a place where only God could help. My strength had been taken away so I had to rely fully in God. When I finally completely trusted in God and gave everything over to him did I come upon His wonderful comfort and care for me. It was through this experience that I now have a greater care and concern for those who struggle with similar issues. I know that God has now given me a sensitivity to those people who struggle with such issues, and it is my responsibility to provide them with the same comfort that I received from God.
Paul also wants his readers to recognize that by following God we not only get His comfort, but we also get his suffering. He writes, "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ". Paul wrote in Col. 1:24, "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions". We are told that when we become a follower of Christ, it is not if we will be persecuted but when we will be persecuted. It is inevitable that we will face a hostile world that wants nothing to do with Christ. Here we can recognize that we will face affliction for our beliefs, however, when we do, remember that it is Christ who then has another opportunity to comfort us through the time. We must always remember the benefits we have in Christ. If we strictly look at the trials and problems we have, we will miss so much of the good we receive because of Christ. For Paul writes, "But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation". This can be looked at several ways. As a believer we can even be comforted by the very fact we are facing persecution. We can know we are a child of His when we are persecuted for doing good. We see in Acts when some of the apostles are arrested and beaten. After their release Luke writes, "They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (Acts 5:40-42). Here we can see where despite a difficult situation, believers are encouraged and comforted by God. They rejoiced in their affliction because they were counted worthy to suffer. In relation to Paul, MacArthur suggests, "Perhaps no other church caused more pain and grief than the Corinthian assembly. Even after the apostle had invested at least eighteen precious months of his life ministering in Corinth, the church remained divisive, worldly, and rebellious. But God comforted Paul in his affliction, enabling him to better comfort they very people who had caused part of his suffering".
Paul continues, "Or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer". Paul was able to extend the church the comfort for the very things he had been comforted in. This shows the function of the body of Christ. We come together comforting one another and encouraging one another as an outflow of the mercy and comfort we have each received from Christ and one another. Paul recognized that the faithful believers at Corinth would live out their faithful calling in obedience and encouragement to others. "And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort". Paul was convinced that those who were truly saved would share in the sufferings of Christ as well as the comfort of God.
Paul wanted his his readers to be aware of the reality of God's mercy and comfort by giving them a specific example. Paul writes, "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life". Paul reminds the Corinthians of a familiar circumstance that they obviously knew about and tells them about the tremendous amount of affliction they received at an incident in Asia. The affliction was so severe that they feared for their lives. Paul recognized that left to his own strength, he would have been unable to cope with it. However, things that were beyond his strength is when he learned to most lean on God for His mercy. Paul further explains the event, "we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust ourselves, but in God who raises the dead". Paul recognized that in this event he could have easily died. However, in God's rich mercy and compassion, he not only spared Paul, but gave him the strength to make it through the ordeal. God's mercy could not only be shown in his sparing of Paul's life, but teaching him not to trust in Himself, but on God, who has the power to do anything, including raising the dead.
Paul continues in his hope for the future as well, "and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us". Paul knew very well that God would always make good on His promises. Therefore, Paul, with conviction could write that he knew well that God would deliver him now and in the future. MacArthur writes, "Paul was confident that God not only had delivered him in the past but also would deliver him in the future. Because God is faithful, He is always ready to comfort and deliver His children. In Lamentations 3:21-23 Jeremiah wrote, 'This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness'".
Lastly, Paul encourages the Corinthians yet again to participate in this wonderful benefit that begins with the kindness and mercy of God. "You also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many". Paul desired the continued participation of the Corinthians by their prayers. MacArthur writes, "In prayer, human impotence casts itself at the feet of divine omnipotence. When God's people intercede for each other, His power and sovereign purposes are realized. Thus, the purpose of prayer is not to manipulate God but to exalt His power and submit to His will". In this the Christian community involved can come together and rejoice and give thanks for the faithfulness of God. Prayer is God's invitation to become involved in the glory of Him, that we may all rejoice.
posted by amesfam | 11:16 AM
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