Second Corinthians 2 Part 2 The Power Of Life And Death Is In The Gospel Of Christ

The Spirit of God opened doors for Paul to preach the gospel in Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13)  I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 

Paul continued to address some of complaints against him lodged by those who cause dissension and discord in the church at Corinth.

He shared some of the afflictions and suffering he endured for the sake of the gospel of Christ. 

He reminded the Corinthians of his missionary journeys and how his heart was made heavy because he did not locate Titus. 

Later, we will read that Paul previously sent Titus to the Corinthians to bring the apostle a status report on how they were doing and their response to his first letter. 

In a pastoral letter written to Titus, Paul referred to Titus by using the same affectionate terms that he used for Timothy. 

He called Titus "mine own son" meaning that Titus was born again under the preaching ministry of Paul. Thus, the apostle was a mentor and spiritual father to both men. 

Paul was unwearied in gospel labor and diligent in his work. 

He travelled from place to place preaching the gospel. He traveled to Troas from Philippi by boat and then went on to Macedonia. 

This is why Paul was prevented from passing by Corinth, as he had designed, (See 2 Corinthians 1:16). 

God was guiding His apostle and He opened a door for Paul to preach the gospel in Macedonia.

In other words, God had other plans for Paul that overrode his plan to visit Corinth a second time.

Acts 16:6-10  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7)  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8)  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9)  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10)  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

Paul had an opportunity to open the door of his mouth freely to preach the gospel of Christ at Philippi. 

God opened the hearts of his hearers, as the heart of Lydia was converted to Christ (See Acts 16:14).

Paul and Silas were shamefully mistreated, beaten and imprisoned at Philippi. While they were in jail, chained to the walls, they sang hymns of praise to God.

There is no doubt that Paul preached the gospel to other prisoners in that jail. Then, God sent an earthquake that opened all the doors of the prison. 

The Philippian jailor was ready to commit suicide, having assumed all the prisoners had escaped. Paul assured him they were all accounted for.

The Philippian jailor released Paul and Silas and cared for their wounds. Then he asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul preached the gospel of Christ to him and the jailor and his household were converted to Christ.  God indeed opened a door for effective evangelization in Macedonia.

Thus, the Christians at Corinth should have been rejoicing with Paul after hearing this report.

2 Corinthians 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 

A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. We are weak by ourselves and cannot achieve joy nor victory in our own strength, but in Christ we may rejoice and triumph. 

True Christians have a constant cause of triumph in Christ, for we are more than conquerors through Him who hath loved us greatly (See Romans 8:37). 

God causes us to triumph in Christ. It is God who has given us strength and resolve for triumph. 

A triumph, among the Romans, to which the apostle here alludes, was a public and solemn honor conferred by them on a victorious general, by allowing him a magnificent procession through the city.

Adam Clarke provides some excellent context about how the word "triumph" was used in Roman military celebrations. 

There are clear connections to this custom in Paul's writing.

"This was not granted by the senate unless the general had gained a very signal and decisive victory; conquered a province, etc. On such occasions the general was usually clad in a rich purple robe, interwoven with figures of gold, setting forth the grandeur of his achievements; his buskins were beset with pearls, and he wore a crown, which at first was of laurel, but was afterwards of pure gold." 

"In one hand he had a branch of laurel, the emblem of victory; and in the other, his truncheon. He was carried in a magnificent chariot, adorned with ivory and plates of gold, and usually drawn by two white horses." 

"To keep him humble amidst these great honors a slave stood at his back, casting out incessant railings, and reproaches; and carefully enumerating all his vices, etc." 

"Musicians led up the procession, and played triumphal pieces in praise of the general; and these were followed by young men, who led the victims which were to be sacrificed on the occasion, with their horns gilded, and their heads and necks adorned with ribbons and garlands." 

"Next followed carts loaded with the spoils taken from the enemy, with their horses, chariots, etc. These were followed by the kings, princes, or generals taken in the war, loaded with chains." 

"Immediately after these came the triumphal chariot, before which, as it passed, the people strewed flowers, and shouted Io, triumphe!"

"The triumphal chariot was followed by the senate; and the procession was closed by the priests and their attendants, with the different sacrificial utensils, and a white ox, which was to be the chief victim." 

"They then passed through the triumphal arch, along the via sacra to the capitol, where the victims were slain."

"During this time all the temples were opened, and every altar smoked with offerings and incense."

"The people at Corinth were sufficiently acquainted with the nature of a Roman triumph. About two hundred years before this, Lucius Mummius, the Roman consul, conquered all Achaia, destroyed Corinth, Thebes, and Chalcis; and, by order of the senate, had a grand triumph, and was surnamed Achaicus." 

"Paul had now a triumph (but of a widely different kind) over the same people; his triumph was in Christ, and to Christ he gives all the glory. His sacrifice was that of thanksgiving to his Lord; and the incense offered on the occasion caused the savour of the knowledge of Christ to be manifested in every place." 

"As the smoke of the victims and incense offered on such an occasion would fill the whole city with their perfume, so the odor of the name and doctrine of Christ filled the whole of Corinth and the neighboring regions. The apostles appeared as triumphing in and through Christ, over devils, idols, superstition, ignorance, and vice, wherever they came."

Psalm 106:47-48  Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. 48)  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. 

To God therefore all of our praise and glory must be directed.  The good success of the gospel is the singular reason for our Christian joy and rejoicing.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16)  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

Preaching the gospel of Christ has different effects upon each person to whom it is preached. Some are saved by it, while others perish under it. 

Unto some gospel preaching is a savor of death unto death. Those who are willingly ignorant and willfully obstinate, quickly dismiss the gospel. 

They are blinded and hardened by it because it pricks the corruption in their hearts, and brings conviction upon their spirits. 

Many choose to reject the gospel and this will lead to their ruin, even to spiritual and eternal death.   

Unto others the gospel is a savor of life unto life. To humble and gracious souls the preaching of the word is delightful to the soul and profitable for our spirit. 

God's Word is sweeter than honey to the taste and it has power to quicken a soul that was dead in trespass and sin. 

The gospel quickened us when we were dead in trespasses and sins, so it made us alive to God and will culminate in receiving eternal life.

Those who embrace the gospel have entered the straight or restrictive gate that Jesus said we must enter. 

This is the beautiful gate that leads to the narrow way that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:12-14).

Thus, gospel preaching is beyond us in what it can do in a sinner's life. It is all of God who knows the beginning and end of all things. 

Our sufficiency in gospel preaching is our Great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must faithfully preach and teach the Word and trust Him to change lives with it. 

2 Corinthians 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 

Paul was saddened that many were false teachers preaching a false gospel. They "corrupted" the Word of God by making scripture say something that God did not say. They twisted His truth into a lie (See Romans 1:25).

The word "corrupt" means to be a retailer, trying to peddle suspect goods in an effort to make money by selling anything.

It means getting a profit by lying about the product being sold in order to deceive buyers into purchasing it. 

Specifically, these men were peddling the word of God trying personally to profit by teaching corrupt and false doctrine.

I am sure that each of you can see how this particular word applies to most televangelists. 

They rake in huge sums of money by telling people what they want to hear, rather than preaching the gospel of Christ. 

They are the ones who corrupt the word of God today for personal profit. 

Let us therefore praise God for faithful pastors and teachers who will never preach or teach God's Word in order to make lots of money.

Let us have the heart of the apostle Paul in soberly sharing the gospel, knowing that some will reject and dismiss it, and stay on the path to Hell.

Yet, we also know that some will hear and heed the gospel and be converted to Christ and have Heaven for their eternal destination. 

Bob