2 Corinthians 3:1

2 Corinthians 3:1 says, Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Paul asked if they needed to prove themselves again and have written letters of commendation to be accepted by the church.  When a person is truly being effective in reaching the lost for Christ, they should not have to prove themselves everywhere they go, nor should they need written letters of recommendation to be accepted.  Verse two adds, Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Paul said that the believers in Corinth, and wherever he preached, were his epistle, written in his heart.  Those that we reach with the gospel of Christ are indeed our proof of our relationship to Christ, and they should have a special place in our hearts.  Verse three continues, Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  Paul declared that those who accepted Christ as Savior and Lord were His epistle, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God.  We no longer have the law written on tablets of stone, but we have the law engraved in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:  Paul said his trust came from Christ and pointed to the heavenly Father.  As long as we put our faith in Christ we will never fail as witnesses for Him.  Verse five adds, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  Paul declared that they were not sufficient to do anything by their own ability.  Their sufficiency, or power, came from God.  If we begin to put our faith in our own ability instead of relying on the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, then we will soon fail.  Verse six says, Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  Paul said they were called to be ministers of the new covenant.  This is the covenant based on faith in Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.  This covenant brings life, whereas the old covenant, based on fulfilling the law of God could only lead to death.  Verse seven adds, But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  Paul said that the law was glorious, in that it was given by God.  The failure of the old covenant was not because it was bad, but because it required total fulfillment at all times, and people were unable to live up to that requirement.  Christ fulfilled that requirement, and now all that is required is acceptance of the gift of salvation by faith.  Verse eight continues, How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  Paul asks if the giving of the law was glorious, then should not the giving of salvation through faith in Christ be even more glorious.  Verse nine concludes, For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  Paul said the if the giving of the law, which could only lead to death was glorious, then the giving of life through the righteousness of Christ should be more glorious.  The law of God pointed us to Him, but required our fulfilling it, which we cannot do.  Salvation by Christ relies on His fulfilling the law, which He did.

2 Corinthians 2:9

2 Corinthians 2:9 says, For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.  Paul was still referring to the church at Corinth following his advice on how to deal with the person who was causing problems by removing him from the fellowship.  The church in no way controls salvation, but still must not let one or two people disrupt the service.  Paul said that as they had followed his suggestion to remove the person from the fellowship of believers, the church, that he now hoped that they would follow his advice to restore the person if they had repented of their sin.  Verse ten adds, To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;  Paul said that anyone the the church at Corinth forgave that he forgave also, because of his relationship to Christ.  We are to be forgiven by God as we forgive others.  We cannot simply judge sinners but must reach out to them with love and forgiveness.  Verse eleven continues, Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  Paul warned them that not reaching out to others in love allows Satan to take advantage.  Problems in the church should always be dealt with out of an attitude of love.  Verse twelve states, Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,  Paul came to Troas to preach the gospel, and while he was there another door was opened by the Lord.  We cannot let what we are doing, even if we are being successful, keep us from seeing when God opens another door for us to go through.  Just like Paul, we must be open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and not rely strictly on our plans for serving God.  Verse thirteen adds, 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 said his spirit could not rest because he could not find Titus, but he still left for Macedonia.  We can only be faithful to our own calling, no matter what is happening in the lives of others.  Verse fourteen continues, 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.  Paul gave thanks to God Who enabled them to triumph wherever they went through the power of Christ.  When we are successful in presenting the gospel to the world, it is because of our following the leadership of God through the direction and strengthening of the Holy Spirit.  Verse fifteen says, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:  Paul said that they were a sweet savor to God because they were obedient to Him.  The outcome wasn't what made Paul special to God, but the obedience is what mattered.  We cannot guarantee that people will accept the gospel when we present it, but we must always be faithful in presenting it.  Verse sixteen adds, 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?  Paul said that for those who refused to believe that they were a savior of death to death.  We can point people to life through Christ, but we cannot make them accept it.  To those who believed, Paul said they were a savior of life unto life.  Paul was a savior only by pointing others to Christ, the only Savior.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we have life now and we will continue to have life forever. In verse seventeen Paul states, 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 declared that they were not like many who were corrupting the word of God, but God was their witness that they spoke the truth of Christ.  We also must proclaim the uncorrupted gospel.

2 Corinthians 2:1

2 Corinthians 2:1 says, But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.  Paul said that he determined not to come to the Corinthians in heaviness, or to simply point out their failings.  Paul had faith in the church at Corinth to handle the problems that arose there.  Each church, or local fellowship of believers today, is capable of dealing with any problem that might arise in it.  We do not have to rely on someone who is more holy to come and correct any problem.  We are all filled with the same power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?  I believe that Paul was saying that if he were to make the believers at Corinth sorry, or to bring them despair through Christ, then how could he at the same time make them glad through Christ.  We are not called to sorrow in Christ, but to rejoicing in our salvation.  Verse three continues, And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.  Paul said that what he had written was written so that the church could correct their problems so that when he came to them, they might rejoice, or have joy, in their salvation.  If we hear of a problem in a church, we need to point it out to those who worship there, but we must allow them to correct it so that we might have joy together.  We may pray for those that have problems, but they must take responsibility for correcting the problems themselves.  Verse four states, For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.  Paul grieved for the church at Corinth and their problems.  He wrote to them out of love and not out of an attitude of judgment or moral superiority.  We today must have the same attitude.  Problems in any church should cause us to be broken hearted for the people there, and not to cause us to feel superior.  Too often we like to talk about what we see as problems in other churches instead of praying for them and showing the love of God to them.  Verse five adds, But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.  Paul said that the actions of one church member, or even a few members, did not cause him to blame the whole church.  Verse six continues, Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.  Paul had suggested how they should deal with the situation, and the congregation as a whole had done so.  Again, I don't believe Paul demanded that they do what he said, but that he offered advice that they followed.  There is no one Christian, even a Christian leader, who can demand that others do what he dictates.  Each congregation should be led by the Holy Spirit and needs no other advocate before God.  Verse seven says, So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.  Paul said that the attitude of the church toward one who had been removed from the fellowship due to unrepentant sin should be one of love and restoration.  We should never give up on nor look down on others, especially those who are fellow believers.  Verse eight adds, Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.  Paul asked them to reach out to the one who had caused problems in love.  Too often, when a Christian fails in some way other Christians prefer to condemn rather than to forgive them.  We should always welcome those who have failed, whether the failing was big or small, back into the fellowship when they repent and seek God's forgiveness.  I also believe that they should not be welcomed conditionally as one on trial to see if they will fail again, but as an equal in the eyes of God.

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.

2 Corinthians 1:8

2 Corinthians 1:8 says, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  Though Paul proclaimed freedom and peace through the gospel, he did not want people to believe that this meant freedom and peace in this world at all times.  Paul wanted the followers of Christ to know that not only would they not always be at peace in the world, but that being true to Christ might bring persecution and suffering.  Paul said that in Asia they were pressed out measure and above their strength.  He also said that they feared for their lives.  Paul was not sharing this to bring honor to himself for his sufferings for Christ, but to call on his fellow believers to remain strong in their faith no matter what.  Verse nine adds, But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  Paul said that under the sentence of death that they knew that their deliverance was not to come by their own strength, but through God Who raises the dead.  Like Paul, we cannot rely on our own strength for deliverance, and even if we lose our life for our faith in Christ, God will still raise us to everlasting life.  Verse ten continues, Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;  Paul said that Christ delivered us from death when we accepted Him as our Savior, that every day He delivers us from the power of death from sin when we follow Him as Lord, and that we can trust Him for the final deliverance into Heaven when He returns.  We are not just saved and left to live by our own power, but once we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, He is with us forever to deliver us from death under sin to life through faith in the grace of God.  Verse eleven states, Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.  Paul said the prayers for those with him and for him helped them in their ministry.  We need to be in prayer for our fellow believers today, especially those who are ministers of the gospel.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.  Verse twelve adds, For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.  Paul said that those with him and he himself rejoiced because they witnessed with the testimony of their conscience.  They were faithful in presenting the truth of the gospel to all those around them.  Paul recognized that this was only possible by the grace of God.  Even while being persecuted, Paul was rejoicing in the power of the gospel in his life.  We need to be the same way today, witnessing about the gospel in simplicity and Godly sincerity to all those we meet.

2 Corinthians 1:1

2 Corinthians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:  Paul identified himself as the author of this letter and gave his qualification to write it.  He did not speak of any degrees he may have earned or any earthly titles he may have earned.  Paul simply identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  This should be the way we view ourselves today, not necessarily as an apostle, but that whatever we are called to be in the church, the body of Christ, we are because of our faith in Christ.  Paul acknowledged Timothy as a brother.  As followers of Christ, we are all brothers and sisters through our faith in Him.  Paul said he was writing to the church of God at Corinth, and to all the saints in Achaia.  What we know is that Paul was writing to us as well.  Just as these truths applied to all believers in Corinth and Achaia, they apply to us today.  Verse two adds, Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul wished them grace and peace.  I believe that these to things are inclusive.  When we are saved by and living under the grace of God, we will be at peace in our lives, no matter the conditions under which we live.  When we are not living under the grace of God, then we can never be at peace in the world.  Verse three continues, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Paul said that he blessed God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This was not two Gods, but two manifestations of the One God.  Paul declared God to be the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.  Only through accepting the mercy of God through our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord can we find comfort in this evil world.  When we have this comfort from God, nothing in this world can take it away.  Verse four states, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  Paul said that since God comforts His people in times of trouble that His people should be able to comfort others.  We are to be caring, compassionate people as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. I believe this means that Christ takes on the suffering for all sins for all time, and since this is true, then our consolation should abound because of our faith in our salvation through Christ.  Verse six continues, And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  Paul was basically saying that whatever state he found himself in, whether afflicted or comforted, that everything he did was for the comfort and salvation of others.  We need the same attitude.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we must continue to witness to and comfort others through our faith in Christ.  Verse seven concludes, And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.  Paul declared his hope for the Christians at Corinth to be steadfast.  They were suffering persecution as was Paul, but he knew that their consolation through Christ would always be there.  When we are suffering due to our faith today, we simply have to rest in the consolation of our salvation.

Habakkuk Review

As always, with Habakkuk as with any book of the Bible, we must look for what it says to us today as followers of Christ.  Though written to a particular group of people at a particular time, the truth revealed about God is everlasting.  The first thing we see is that Habakkuk was troubled by what he saw going on around him.  Not only were God's people subjected to the power of another nation, but many had adopted the worship practices of those they were subjected to.  We can never allow the fact that someone has power over us to cause us to turn away from God and worship anything of this world.  If we see this happening, then we should be burdened. Habakkuk asked how long it would be before God answered him when he cried out to Him.  There may be times today when we don't immediately get the answer that we want to our prayers that we wonder if God is listening.  We can be certain that God always listens and answers the prayers of His followers.  We only need to remain faithful to our relationship to Him and accept the answer when it comes.  Often we are wanting God's endorsement of our plans instead of our looking for His direction, and when this doesn't happen, we feel that God hasn't answered our prayers.  Habakkuk also declared God to be the One Who created and sustains the universe. There is nowhere we can go that God isn't there.  There is nothing we can offer God, except ourselves, that isn't already His.  God can indeed move heaven and earth to accomplish His will.  We can also be certain that sin will be punished, if not in this life, then in the everlasting life to come.  As followers of Christ, our sins have already been washed away by His blood shed on the cross.  Also, we need to be alert to see God's work, even in a world that seems ruled by evil.