2 Corinthians 1:13

2 Corinthians 1:13 says, For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;  Paul said that he wrote only of the gospel of Christ.  He was not fickle in his witnessing, stating one thing to one group of people and something different to another.  Paul was always consistent in his witnessing for Christ, and we must be also.  We cannot profess salvation by faith in Christ alone to one group and add anything to that requirement for salvation to another group.  The gospel will endure to the end of the world, and so must our faith in the gospel.  Verse fourteen adds, As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Paul said the church at Corinth acknowledged and rejoiced because of his witnessing to them and the world.  Paul also stated that he rejoiced in them, because they were all Christ's through faith.  Paul did not claim to be superior to other Christians, nor did he live to bring glory to himself.  We should be the same way today, rejoicing with other Christians, even if we never meet them personally.  We can never claim to be better than any other Christian but must always live for God's glory and not our own.  Verse fifteen continues, And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;  Paul said that his plan had been to return to Corinth.  Though Paul said that he wanted to do this so they might have a second benefit, I don't believe that this meant that Paul's coming to them would somehow make them better Christians.  I believe he meant that they would benefit from worshipping together in Christ and would edify each other.  Verse sixteen states, And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.  Paul had planned his journey, and he was to pass by them going to and coming from Macedonia.  Paul's plan was contingent on one thing, and that was the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When we make plans for how and where we are going to witness, we need to first make sure that the Holy Spirit is leading us in our plans.  Verse seventeen adds, When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?  Paul asked if they thought that he had planned without sincerity, or with lightness.  Paul also asked if they thought he made plans based on the things of this world, or of the flesh.  He said that the gospel was not true at one time, or yea, and not true at another time, or nay.  Paul was always consistent in his presentation of the gospel, and we must be also.  Verse eighteen continues, But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.  Paul once more states that he was always consistent in preaching the gospel of salvation by faith.  Verse nineteen concludes, For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.  Paul stated that Jesus Himself was consistent in the truth of the gospel.  There is but one true gospel by which we must be saved.  Verse twenty declares, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  God's truth will never waiver and we can put our faith in it.  Verse twenty-one adds, Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  Paul said that they were established and anointed by God to preach His word.  We today as followers of Christ are likewise established and anointed by God to witness for Christ in all that we do.  Verse twenty-two continues, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  We are sealed to God by the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three states, Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.  Paul said that the reason he had yet to come to Corinth was to spare the believers there.  He was not going to come to them when he was upset with them.  Verse twenty-four adds, Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.  Paul said that he was not in power over the believers at Corinth, but that those with him and he himself were helpers in faith.  We cannot not go to other Christians with an attitude of superiority but must go to help them in their faith.  We all have joy when we stand by faith in Christ.