354 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 2 - Part 2 - Book 30 - Defending His Apostleship

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 2 * BOOK 30 PAUL, OUR APOSTLE DEFENDING HIS APOSTLESHIP - PART 2 Now getting back into our study in II Corinthians, and remember that this letter is a follow up to the first letter where Paul had to deal with problems in the Corinthian Church. They had problems like no other congregation under Paul's Apostleship, and in I Corinthians he had to get rather hard with them. But now in II Corinthians Paul is coming back to encourage these people who had seemingly corrected their problems. Paul had intended to personally go down to Corinth, but evidently the message had come to him that his first letter had accomplished its work. The church had dealt with the person in gross immorality, and he was evidently back in the fellowship. Now verse 15. II Corinthians 1:15 Verse 16: II Corinthians 1:16 In other words Paul's itinerary was to leave Philippi, and come to Corinth, and then go back up into Macedonia and visit the churches and then come back to Corinth and head to Jerusalem. But Paul didn't make it. Remember, always put yourself in Paul's shoes. Now verse 17. II Corinthians 1:17 Verse 18: II Corinthians 1:18-20 "But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." In other words Paul is saying "Whatever I've said to you I can put it in concrete. Now verse 21. II Corinthians 1:21,22 "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest (or the down payment) of the Spirit in our hearts." It's dealing with our position in the Body of Christ as believers. Ephesians 1:13 "In whom (in Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, (and the word of truth is) the gospel of your salvation: (I Corinthians 15:11-4) in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." Now verse 14. Ephesians 1:14 Now if I'm not mistaken we dealt with this verse when we were back in I Corinthians Chapter 15 on the great resurrection theme. The body. So it's this same concept that Paul is adhering to in II Corinthians 1:22 when he says again: II Corinthians 1:22,23 So Paul just knew that the time was not right for him to make a personal appearance among this congregation. Now verse 24: II Corinthians 1:24 Paul is not overlording them like a totalitarian dictator. Liberty, now that brings up another verse in the Book of Galatians in Chapter 5. No, even the Corinthians in their carnality were still enjoying Christian liberty. Galatians 5:1 True Christianity is liberty! II Corinthians 2:1 II Corinthians 2:2 In other words the human response is if Paul would come to Corinth and just come down on these people would he experience a joy in that kind of response? II Corinthians 2:3 Paul's whole mental concept concerning this carnal church at Corinth was that they could grow and become real trophies of God's Grace in spite of all the pressure. Now verse 4. II Corinthians 2:4 "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart (now Paul's not over emphasizing) I wrote unto you with many tears; (I was reading one commentary on this letter by an old Bible teacher. He said "Paul must have written this letter with a quill dipped in tears." not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you." Are you seeing the heart of this man? So catch this as you read these verses. Now verse 5: II Corinthians 2:5 So Paul wasn't condemning the whole congregation because they weren't all guilty, but there was that small percentage that was grief of mind. Now verse 6. II Corinthians 2:6 Well what do you think Paul is talking about when he says, "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment," Now verse 7: II Corinthians 2:7 Do you know who Paul is talking about? Now verse 1. I Corinthians 5:1-3 (Paul says, "even the Gentiles don't do anything that low." I Corinthians 5:4,5 "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, (as a congregation) and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one (as this guilty man) unto Satan (not for the destruction of his soul, but) for the destruction of the flesh, (inflict him with a sickness, or maybe take him out with death) that the spirit (of this guilty person, this saved individual who was a member of the congregation) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." So does Paul consider this guy lost again? II Corinthians 2:6 Now verse 7 again: II Corinthians 2:7,8 Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, (believers) if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, (the leaders of the congregation) restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." So instead, in that attitude that Paul had, we should forgive that man, and continue to love him. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible