This morning we are going to begin our study in the book of 2 Corinthians.
Some background; Paul actually wrote four (4) letters to the church in Corinth.
This epistle, titled 2 Corinthians, is made up of the apostle Paul, defending his apostolic ministry.
There are millions that today in the 21st century, will not even read the thirteen epistles written by Paul.
These people claim Paul’s writings are so much different than Jesus’ own teachings during His earthly ministry, and the point I always make when I can is that Jesus didn’t come to this earth to teach us Gentiles, He ONLY came for the Jewish nation, the house of Israel. He tells us that Himself in Matthew.
Matthew 15
vs21 ‘…Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon…’
vs22 ‘…And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil…’
vs23 ‘…But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us…’
vs24 ‘…But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…’ AKJV
The ancient Canaanites were not Jewish, but the ancient Israelites (the ancestors of the Jewish people) were a subset of the Canaanites.
Another words the Israelites originated from the Canaanite people.
The Canaanites were Gentiles and the Israelites were the ancestors of the Jewish people, God’s CHOSEN people.
This group of people that will not read the writings of the apostle Paul, openly suggest that his thirteen (13) letters should be ripped from our Bibles and thrown away. Such a devious suggestion.
My favorite verse in the entire Bible is found in Acts 9.
Acts 9:15
‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)
‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)
‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
The apostle Paul did not say this, this was from the mouth of the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ.
The book of Acts was not written by the apostle Paul either, it was written by Luke.
Luke was the author of one of the synoptic gospels to the Jews … are we to rip out the book of Acts as well as the writings by Paul … are we to rip out the gospel of Luke also?
When the apostle Peter writes about the wisdom that was given to Paul for writing his letters … are we to rip out the books of 1st and 2nd Peter also?
2 Peter 3
vs15 ‘…And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…’
vs16 ‘…as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction…’ AKJV
The question I always bring up when these people speak to me of ripping out Scripture found in the Word is what book, chapter, and verse are these people given the right that they can even suggest such a thing?
When the Bible tells us that ALL SCRIPTURE is the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (2TIM3:16), who do they think they are?
Do they think they are greater than God?
Do they think they are wiser than our Creator?
Here is an important verse found in the Word.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
Footnotes
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
I chose to use the AMP version specifically for the attached footnote.
To continue in the book given to us by the apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians, the apostle writes of troubles, sufferings and confrontations.
2 Corinthians 1
vs4 ‘…He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God…’
vs5 ‘…Just as we have a share in Christ’s many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God’s great help…’
vs6 ‘…If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure…’ AKJV
Paul opens his letter telling us about how Jesus is assisting them in their times of affliction.
2 Corinthians 4
vs1 ‘…God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged…’
vs2 ‘…We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth, we live in God’s sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone’s good conscience…’
vs3 ‘…For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost…’
vs4 ‘…They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God…’
vs5 ‘…For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake…’
vs6 ‘…The God who said, Out of darkness the light shall shine! is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
In last week’s lesson, for a moment I wrote about the RAPTURE, the actual physical event.
Here Paul continues with what we can look forward to.
1 Corinthians 5
vs1 ‘…For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever…’
vs2 ‘…And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us…’
vs3 ‘…by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body…’
vs4 ‘…While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life…’
vs5 ‘…God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
This entire revelation of our future after we shed this mortal body is ONLY given to us by Paul.
This MYSTERY or SECRET is revealed to us in Paul’s writings.
We are going to face hardships walking to find Jesus, but we MUST remember that He is there in front of us keeping His eye on us … to keep us safe.
As we end this lesson … here is something for you to ponder on.
2 Corinthians 6
vs14 ‘…Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together…’
vs15 ‘…How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
We are not told that we are to confront that person that doesn’t want to follow in Jesus’ footsteps … we aren’t told that we are to picket in front of abortion clinics and voice our beliefs … we’re not told we are supposed to force our ways onto other souls, we are to keep God in our hearts and in our minds and FOLLOW Him.
Jesus is the One that is going to change other peoples minds, not you and me.
We have been shown that we are to FOLLOW not lead.
Here is a Message that is totally blown out of focus by the man-made religions of this world.
2 Corinthians 9
vs6 ‘…Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop…’
vs7 ‘…You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly…’
vs8 ‘…And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
God doesn’t tell us to tithe 10 percent of our income like every man-made religion focuses on every Sunday morning.
We are told that we are to GIVE.
Give is helping an old man or woman across the busy street.
Give is opening the door for someone else when they are going in or out of a building.
Give is making an offering of whatever we think will help.
Give is between God and ourselves.
I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
I love ALL of y’all.
Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21st century:
Day 1 – Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5
Day 2 – 2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8
Day 3 – 1Corinthians 9-16
Day 4 – 2Corinthians 1-13
Day 5 – Romans 1-10
Day 6 – Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4
Day 7 – Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6
Day 8 – Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4
Day 9 – Acts 1-7
Day 10 – Acts 8-13
Day 11 – Acts 14-20
Day 12 – Acts 21-28
The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).
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