Second Corinthians 12 Part 3 Paul's Life Was Transformed By Knowing Jesus Christ

False teachers seek to make a lot of money from their followers.

2 Corinthians 12:17  Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 

False apostles gained hold over many of the Corinthian Christians. 

Like unscrupulous politicians, they wanted power over them so that they could enrich themselves.

Modern televangelists routinely urge their viewers to send in more and more money so that they can enrich themselves.

Money sent in by their listeners directly funds a lavish lifestyle. 

Some televangelists will say that God wants them to have the best car and bigger homes and money in the bank.

This is another gospel of antichrist which must be rejected. 

Paul declared with all honesty and transparency that he never personally profited from his apostolic ministry. 

He reminded the Corinthians of the truth that none of the men he sent to check up on them ever received financially gained from visiting the church.

No apostles of Christ took any funds from the churches tithes and offerings.

2 Corinthians 12:18  I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 

Paul proceeded to mention one or two persons that he had sent to them, and demanded to know whether they profited from ministering to the Corinthians.

The Corinthian people knew that the answer to Paul's question was "No."

Paul stressed the integrity and honesty of his ministry because it was the truth about how they ministered at Corinth.

He sent Titus to collect money from them for the poor saints at Jerusalem. He also sent Luke with him to ensure the funds were rightly handled. 

What about ministry expenses today? Paul already addressed the need for each church to financially support their pastor and missionaries. (See 2 Corinthians 8 & 9).

True gospel ministry is converting of the lost and the edifying of saints.

2 Corinthians 12:19  Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Paul did not want the Christians at Corinth to think that he was making excuses for not coming to visit them. 

What Paul wrote by the guidance of the Holy Spirit he did with sincerity and uprightness of soul. 

He called God and Christ to witness the truth of what was said. 

As Christ's apostle, Paul spoke as God directed him to speak and in the presence of the LORD. 

As a preacher of Christ's Gospel, no apostle would deliver anything other than what God instructed them to say.

Thus, all that the apostle lovingly communicated to the church at Corinth was designed by God to build them up in their faith. 

The word translated "edifying" is a word used to describe construction of a building. In this case, it has a clear spiritual application.

"Edifying" is the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness. This is the chief end and purpose for the scriptures.

The Word of God can show us spiritual realities about sin, death, Hell, and eternal condemnation. 

The Word of God declares the good news about our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. 

It tells us how we must be born again, regenerated in order to receive a new spirit and anew heart from God.

It shows us how to walk in newness of life as a new creation in Christ.

The Word of God shows us how to worship God rightly, in Spirit and in truth by letting the Word dwell in us richly.

The scriptures show us the way to God and the path that God wants us to walk on in this life.

All of scripture is inspired by God and edifies each believer in Christ. 

As we spend more time reading the Bible, we receive more edification. 

Our faith is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and is reinforced by reading scripture and hearing a faithful pastor preach and teach. 

Ephesians 4:11-13  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Notice why Jesus Christ gave His church the gifts of pastors and evangelists. 

It is to make each saint complete in Christ. 

It is to prepare each saint to do their part in gospel ministry in the church, and in any setting outside the church.

Pastors and evangelists were given to edify the body of Christ which is His church.

The goal of edification is that we are united around faith in Christ and His gospel. 

Edification teaches us about the Son of God who is pictured for us in the Old Testament and fully revealed to us in the New Testament.

Glorious things the scriptures will accomplish in our lives.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

This is the clearest and strongest text about the verbal inspiration of the scriptures. It was given and preserved by God.

It has many good uses, the first one being to establish right apostolic doctrine in all the churches.

Second, it is for reproof that brings conviction in our heart due to sin that we have committed (See John 16:7-11).

The third use of scripture is to show us the correction we must make in order to resume our walk with the Lord.

The final use of scripture is to instruct us in righteousness so that we do not fall into the same sin again.

The inspired scriptures bring us to a complete and mature faith in Christ so that we may serve Him effectively until He calls us home.

It is in this same line of thinking that Paul told the Corinthians that this is why he was guided by God's Spirit to write to them.

Professing faith in Christ while living in sin is a false profession.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21)  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. 

The final verses of this chapter circle back to the various sin issues that the apostle has had to rebuke and correct.

Paul's concern as Christ's apostle is that when he came to the church he would discover that they were not walking and pursuing holiness as they ought to.

Debates refer to verbal sparring going on between rival parties. Debates are stirred by jealousy over their particular strain of false doctrine.

Debates lead to unchecked and malicious anger which fuels more strife and discord in Christ's church.

People in the church begin talking about other people behind their backs and spreading unfounded gossip or rumors.

This leads to people being puffed up with pride because  they think they are right and have it all figured out. They dismiss or diminish those who disagree with their point of view.

All of these sins create instability, confusion and an ongoing state of disorder in Christ's church.

Paul was concerned that many who had sinned had not truly repented of their sins.

Paul was taught the gospel by the Lord Jesus Christ (See Galatians 1:11-17).

Paul also tells us words from our Lord Jesus Christ that no other apostle recorded. 

A regenerated heart from God leads us to serve God by ministering to others.

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

If the Spirit of God is having His way in our heart, we will love God and others. 

We will be ready to support our church, ready to give our time, resources and energy to serve others.

As Jesus said to Paul, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

The second words of Christ recorded by Paul is when Jesus encouraged His apostle during times when he suffered afflictions and trials for the sake of the gospel.

Jesus said to Paul that "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Through his own life Paul teaches us what it looks like to be blessed by giving our whole being to the cause of Christ.

The apostle shows us that when we are subjected to ridicule, hatred, when we suffer physical attacks or disease, when we go through a time of testing, God's grace will sustain us.

These are valuable lessons for all Christians to learn and live by.

May the Spirit of God have His way in our hearts, to make us more like Jesus, for His purposes and glory.

Bob