2Cor 6:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | . The last verses of the preceding chapter contain an exhortation for all the people who still live without God and without Christ in the world. The exhortation is: “Be reconciled to God.” In the first verse of this chapter there is an admonition addressed to the believers in Corinth and to all those who call themselves Christians. This admonition is “not to receive the grace of God in vain”. Is it possible to receive God’s grace in a way that it doesn’t work out anything? That really is possible! For a child of God salvation is sure and secure. This is an absolute truth that is based on the faith in the work of the Lord Jesus. This work is accomplished completely independent of you and is accepted by God. Anyone who has a part in it is perfectly saved. But there is yet another truth, namely, that of the responsibility. This side of the truth is about what others can see in your life that you are a child of God. That is evidenced when they see the Bible at work in your life. They can see that, for instance, in the way you react when something is said to you from the Bible. If someone is truly converted he will love the Bible and love to do what is written in it. If someone wants to hear and do only the pleasant things of being a Christian, you can put a question mark over his confession that he is a believer. Paul’s exegesis here is about this point. Among the real children of God there could be people who were never in the light of God; they accept the things of God only with their mind and feelings. They have never gone to the Lord with real repentance for their sins. It is not enough to know that God is merciful. The letter of Jude speaks about people “who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness” ( ). It is possible therefore to deal with the grace of God in a completely wrong way. The grace of God becomes ineffective in such cases. . For those who really believe there is a word in this verse which is the touchstone of real salvation. The first part of this verse is a quotation from Isaiah 49 ( ). This is about God’s listening to the Servant of the LORD, the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus there says that His work is in vain. But then God says that He will connect His blessings to His Son’s work ( ). The acceptable time, the time of answering, dawned when God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. A further hearing is yet to come when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth to take possession of all. At that time He will receive the reward that God will give Him for His work. We are living in between these two hearings. How wonderful it is to see that we also have an acceptable time and a day of salvation and that is now! Everyone who confesses his sins and goes to God with repentance and asks Him to save him will be heard and will receive salvation. This is what Paul preached and the Corinthians believed. Paul now reminds them of this. He says so to speak: ‘You must bear in mind that when you deny us as servants you show that you never really believed our preaching. Then all could be in vain.’ . Paul had sufficient reason to speak to the Corinthians in this way. There were false apostles who disparaged him and his co-workers charging that they labored for their own honor and fame. Paul elaborates on this in chapters 10-11. The Corinthians inclined themselves to listen to those so called preachers who unlike Paul presented a convenient gospel. How did Paul present himself as a true servant of God? Surely not as someone who enjoyed all the comforts, while preaching to others that they should live accurately. No, the way he lived was completely in accordance with what he preached to others. He did his utmost not to be an offence to others. He would have been an offence to others if there was a difference between his life style and his preaching. That indeed would result in real defamation of his service. This is what a lot of people are irritated about when the gospel is preached to them. They can cite profuse examples of people who sit at the front in the church on Sundays, and try to rip you off on Mondays. If what you say is not reality in your everyday life, your words will have no impact on others. Does it mean that you must be perfect and impeccable before you give a testimony? No, it means that you must confess your sin if you make a mistake. Paul’s preaching and his acts were consistent and therefore no one could point a finger at him. I hope your life also is like that. . One can say that shows the negative side and therefore make sure that you do nothing the wrong way. Then the positive side is shown in and the next verses. They show how you can show that you are a true servant of God. We find in these verses a list of no less than twenty eight characteristics for a true servant of God. It begins with “endurance”. It is said that what is ‘well begun is half done’. But it must be added that this cannot remain like that; the other half must follow. Endurance is best shown when it is put to test. Then the apostle names other characteristics through which this can happen. Before you let this list work in you, you must bear in mind that God is called the “God who gives perseverance” ( ). He helps you to persevere, to endure, despite trials. Also read the encouragements we find in 2 Thessalonians 3 and Revelation 3 ( ; ). The first test is “affliction”. This means you come under pressure. You can think of believers who are being persecuted. You can also think of your own situation. How easily you come under pressure when you know that in all possible situations you are observed as a Christian for your attitude and reactions. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says: “In the world you have tribulation: but take courage, I have overcome the world” ( ). The second one, “hardships”, has to do with things you lack, but which you need. You may rely on God for His provision. In the case of “distresses” the thought is that there is no room for any free movement, being in a situation in which you do not know how to behave to uphold the honor of the Lord. You feel that you are inevitably dependent on the Lord. He will see to it that you do not deny Him. These first three trials are common in nature. They go together and God uses them as a means by which you can show your endurance, while at the same time you can go to Him for what you need. Now read 2 Corinthians 6:1-4 again. Reflection: How did you receive the grace of God?

‏ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

The Path of the Servants of God (I)

2Cor 6:1. The last verses of the preceding chapter contain an exhortation for all the people who still live without God and without Christ in the world. The exhortation is: “Be reconciled to God.” In the first verse of this chapter there is an admonition addressed to the believers in Corinth and to all those who call themselves Christians. This admonition is “not to receive the grace of God in vain”. Is it possible to receive God’s grace in a way that it doesn’t work out anything? That really is possible!

For a child of God salvation is sure and secure. This is an absolute truth that is based on the faith in the work of the Lord Jesus. This work is accomplished completely independent of you and is accepted by God. Anyone who has a part in it is perfectly saved. But there is yet another truth, namely, that of the responsibility. This side of the truth is about what others can see in your life that you are a child of God. That is evidenced when they see the Bible at work in your life. They can see that, for instance, in the way you react when something is said to you from the Bible.

If someone is truly converted he will love the Bible and love to do what is written in it. If someone wants to hear and do only the pleasant things of being a Christian, you can put a question mark over his confession that he is a believer. Paul’s exegesis here is about this point. Among the real children of God there could be people who were never in the light of God; they accept the things of God only with their mind and feelings. They have never gone to the Lord with real repentance for their sins.

It is not enough to know that God is merciful. The letter of Jude speaks about people “who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness” (Jude 1:4). It is possible therefore to deal with the grace of God in a completely wrong way. The grace of God becomes ineffective in such cases.

2Cor 6:2. For those who really believe there is a word in this verse which is the touchstone of real salvation. The first part of this verse is a quotation from Isaiah 49 (Isa 49:8a). This is about God’s listening to the Servant of the LORD, the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus there says that His work is in vain. But then God says that He will connect His blessings to His Son’s work (Isa 49:4-7). The acceptable time, the time of answering, dawned when God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.

A further hearing is yet to come when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth to take possession of all. At that time He will receive the reward that God will give Him for His work. We are living in between these two hearings. How wonderful it is to see that we also have an acceptable time and a day of salvation and that is now! Everyone who confesses his sins and goes to God with repentance and asks Him to save him will be heard and will receive salvation.

This is what Paul preached and the Corinthians believed. Paul now reminds them of this. He says so to speak: ‘You must bear in mind that when you deny us as servants you show that you never really believed our preaching. Then all could be in vain.’

2Cor 6:3. Paul had sufficient reason to speak to the Corinthians in this way. There were false apostles who disparaged him and his co-workers charging that they labored for their own honor and fame. Paul elaborates on this in chapters 10-11. The Corinthians inclined themselves to listen to those so called preachers who unlike Paul presented a convenient gospel. How did Paul present himself as a true servant of God? Surely not as someone who enjoyed all the comforts, while preaching to others that they should live accurately.

No, the way he lived was completely in accordance with what he preached to others. He did his utmost not to be an offence to others. He would have been an offence to others if there was a difference between his life style and his preaching. That indeed would result in real defamation of his service.

This is what a lot of people are irritated about when the gospel is preached to them. They can cite profuse examples of people who sit at the front in the church on Sundays, and try to rip you off on Mondays. If what you say is not reality in your everyday life, your words will have no impact on others. Does it mean that you must be perfect and impeccable before you give a testimony? No, it means that you must confess your sin if you make a mistake. Paul’s preaching and his acts were consistent and therefore no one could point a finger at him. I hope your life also is like that.

2Cor 6:4. One can say that 2Cor 6:3 shows the negative side and therefore make sure that you do nothing the wrong way. Then the positive side is shown in 2Cor 6:4 and the next verses. They show how you can show that you are a true servant of God. We find in these verses a list of no less than twenty eight characteristics for a true servant of God.

It begins with “endurance”. It is said that what is ‘well begun is half done’. But it must be added that this cannot remain like that; the other half must follow. Endurance is best shown when it is put to test. Then the apostle names other characteristics through which this can happen. Before you let this list work in you, you must bear in mind that God is called the “God who gives perseverance” (Rom 15:5). He helps you to persevere, to endure, despite trials. Also read the encouragements we find in 2 Thessalonians 3 and Revelation 3 (2Thes 3:5; Rev 3:10).

The first test is “affliction”. This means you come under pressure. You can think of believers who are being persecuted. You can also think of your own situation. How easily you come under pressure when you know that in all possible situations you are observed as a Christian for your attitude and reactions. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says: “In the world you have tribulation: but take courage, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

The second one, “hardships”, has to do with things you lack, but which you need. You may rely on God for His provision.

In the case of “distresses” the thought is that there is no room for any free movement, being in a situation in which you do not know how to behave to uphold the honor of the Lord. You feel that you are inevitably dependent on the Lord. He will see to it that you do not deny Him.

These first three trials are common in nature. They go together and God uses them as a means by which you can show your endurance, while at the same time you can go to Him for what you need.

Now read 2 Corinthians 6:1-4 again.

Reflection: How did you receive the grace of God?