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".
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".
posted by amesfam | 9:48 AM
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