2 Corinthians 7 :6

2 Corinthians 7:6 says, Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;  After writing about all their trials and tribulations, Paul says, Nevertheless God.  When we are suffering from trials and tribulations today, we need to be ready for the Nevertheless God.  God will be with us through it all.  Paul said God comforted those who are His who are cast down.  I believe that he was referring to the who put their faith in God.  In Paul's case, God comforted him by sending Titus to him.  Paul traveled constantly to proclaim the Gospel, and often was persecuted because of it.  Having someone come with good news about other Christians had to be a real blessing.  Verse seven adds, And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.  Paul said that what Titus had to say about the church at Corinth caused him to rejoice the more.  Knowing that they were fervently praying for him and mourning for his sufferings let him know that he had been effective in his work in Corinth.  Sometimes, just having a fellow believer come to us when we are down or even being persecuted and let us know that others are fervently praying for us can uplift us and give up us the strength to go on.  Verse eight continues, For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.  Paul said his former letter which contained words of correction had made them sorry, but only for a season.  At times, we may have to offer words of correction to a fellow believer, but we should always make sure we are doing so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and out of an attitude of love.  Paul only repented, or felt bad, that his letter had made them sorry.  He did not take pleasure in having to write to them about the problem.  We cannot rejoice in having to speak words of correction to others.  Notice that Paul, nor we, could really correct anyone.  The correction must come from the person by that person's actions.  Verse nine concludes, Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  Paul said that he rejoiced, not because they were made sorry, but that they sorrowed to repentance.  Anytime someone repents we should rejoice in their repentance and not remind them that they had needed to repent.

2 Corinthians 7:1

2 Corinthians 7:1 says, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  I believe that the promises that Paul referred to were that by our faith in Christ we would have the Holy Spirit living in us and that we would be the sons and daughters of God.  Paul said this should lead us to remove all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, which I believe would be our thoughts or motives, from our lives.  We need to remember that Paul did not divide his letter in to chapters and verses, and that this verse follows God's saying we would be His sons and daughters.  Verse two adds, Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.  Paul asked that they be accepted by the church at Corinth because they had neither wronged, corrupted, nor defrauded anyone.  Hopefully, as followers of Christ, we can have the same testimony today.  Verse three continues, I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.  Paul was not writing to them with an attitude of condemnation, but with an attitude of love and concern.  If we today feel the need to point out something that is wrong in the life of another believer, or even in a congregation of believers, we must be certain that God is directing us and that we do so out of love.  Verse four states, Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.  Paul said he had a great boldness in what he said to them, because he was writing what God directed him to write.  Paul said he was full of comfort, not because of his physical state, but because of his relationship to God.  He was joyful in all their tribulations.  We need to be bold in our witnessing today, even being joyful in our tribulations, because they are but temporary.  Verse five adds, For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  Once more, Paul spoke of the trouble they had in Macedonia, which left them with no rest.  There were fightings without and fears within.  Still, he was grateful.  Too often when we have fears and doubts, we grumble and complain or live in fear, but we need to rejoice in our salvation instead.

2 Corinthians 6:11

2 Corinthians 6:11 says, O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.  Paul said that they were speaking the truth of God to the Corinthians, and they were doing it out of love for them.  Verse twelve adds, Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.  I believe that Paul was stating that even though those with him and he himself witnessed to the Corinthians out of a great love for them, that they could not make the Corinthians right with God.  The Corinthians had to do it themselves though faith in Christ.  Verse thirteen continues, Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Paul asked that the Corinthians share that same love for others.  He said he spoke to them as little children, because they should have already know these things and that they might grow in faith.  Verse fourteen states, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  Paul said that a believer in Christ should not marry an unbeliever.  I know that sometimes the believer may reach the unbeliever, but more often the believer is pulled away from an active faith.  Paul said that righteous and unrighteousness had no fellowship and light and darkness had no communion.  I believe this means that the believer and unbeliever cannot truly become one.  Verse fifteen adds, And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  I believe Paul was continuing to point out that the believer represents Christ, and the unbeliever represents the devil.  We either belong to Christ through faith or we belong to the devil.  Verse sixteen continues, And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Paul said that believers, followers of Christ, were the temple of God.  The Holy Spirit lives in us, and since we are His temple, we are to do nothing that would bring dishonor to Him.  Verse seventeen says, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  I believe that this is a command that we live by a different standard than the world and that we are to be set aside to live for God.  I don't believe that this means that we are to avoid all contact with sinners.  We cannot reach people if we do not go into the world.  As believers though, we are to be separated from sin, but not from sinners as we witness to them.  Verse eighteen adds, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  As followers of Christ, we are the sons and daughters of Christ.  This is what separates us from the rest of the world.

2 Corinthians 6:1

2 Corinthians 6:1 says, We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  Paul said that all believers were workers together in Christ.  We are called by grace to the free gift of salvation, but we then are called to be laborers for Christ.  I believe that the only way to receive the grace of God in vain is to not truly accept the gospel.  A person might claim to believe for their own benefit, but Paul said that those who really believe will be at work for Christ, reaching out to others with the gospel. Verse two adds, For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)  Paul said that God heard those who had cried out to Him for salvation, and when the time was right, He sent Christ to redeem mankind.  Since the death of Christ, every day is the day of salvation for the lost, if they only accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We do not have to wait until we think everything is right, because Christ made all things right between God and us.  Now is the day.  Verse three continues, Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:  Paul said that he would live in such a way as to give no offense to others, that his ministry might not be blamed.  Do we live the same way, or do we allow our own self will to get in the way of our witnessing?  Verse four states, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  Verse five adds, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  Paul listed many bad things that were happening to them but said that they lived in patience to approve themselves as ministers of God.  We often hear people today say that God wants us happy, but He really wants us to approve ourselves in the gospel, no matter what.  Verse six continues, By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,  Then verse seven adds, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  Paul stated how they were able to live for Christ.  They did it by all the things that are good about belonging to God, pureness, knowledge of God, longsuffering, kindness, by the power of the Holy Ghost, and by love that did not fail.  Paul continued adding that they relied on the word of truth, the power of God, and by being surrounded by the armor of righteousness.  In the next three verses Paul states how much differently they were viewed by people.  Verse eight says, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;  Verse nine adds, As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; Then verse ten concludes, As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Paul declared that no matter what happened to them in this world, nor how they were viewed, that they would do everything to approve themselves as ministers of God.  So must we today.

2 Corinthians 5:16

2 Corinthians 5:16 says, Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.   Paul declared that they knew no man after the flesh, even though they had once known Christ after the flesh.  Christ's time on the earth as a human being had ended with His death, so He could no longer be known after the flesh.  Paul was also saying that those who did know Christ in the flesh had no spiritual advantage over those who came to Him after his death.  Even those who walked with Christ while He was on the earth could only be saved by faith.  A close proximity to Christ, or to the church today, cannot bring salvation.  Only a personal relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord can bring salvation, and this is a spiritual condition.  Verse seventeen adds, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  Paul tells us that if we are followers of Christ that we are a new creature.  We may not want to think of ourselves as creatures, but we are all a part of God's creation, and compared to God we will always be but a creature, a part of His creation.  We will never be gods.  Still, when we accept Christ as Savior and Lord we become a new creature.  Old things, those things ruled by the flesh pass away and all things become new.  We live by faith and not by sight.  Verse eighteen continues, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  Paul acknowledged that everything that we do as followers of Christ is to be for God and because of His empowering us.  God reconciled Himself to all who will accept Christ through faith.  Since God redeemed us and made us a new creature, we are the be ministers, or witnesses, for Him.   Verse nineteen states, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Here Paul declared the heart of the gospel.  God was in Christ.  Christ was not just a human but was Himself God.  God reconciled the world to Himself through the life and death of Christ.  We can be reconciled to God only by believing in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Paul also said that God had committed to them the word of reconciliation, as He has with every Christian.  Verse twenty adds, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  Paul said that followers of Christ were ambassadors for Him.  We represent Christ to the world in all that we do.  Verse twenty-one continues, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  Christ Who was sinless, took on the sins of all people for all time so that by our faith in Him our sins might be forgiven.  Yet, many people refuse to accept this forgiveness and choose instead to be eternally separated from God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Paul said that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for the things that we have done, whether good or bad.  We might say that as followers of Christ we have our sins washed away by His blood, and though this is true, we are not given the freedom to sin without any responsibility.  Verse eleven adds, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.  Paul appealed to people to accept salvation made available through Christ so that they would not face the terror of the Lord.  Denying God or not accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord does not mean that we will not one day face God's judgment.  Paul said that the way that he lived his life should show His obedience to God.  Verse twelve continues, For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.  Paul did not commend himself to glorify himself, but that God would be glorified.  He said that other believers could us him as an example for those who did not believe except in things that they could see.  Some people will not believe in Christ based simply on what we say is in our heart but need to see our faith lived out in our everyday life.  Verse thirteen states, For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.  I believe that Paul was saying that sometimes they were excited, or beside themselves, and sometimes they were more sedate in their actions, but it was all for the glory of God and the benefit of those that he was witnessing to.  I do not believe that Paul was acting in the way he witnessed but was simply relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to lead him in the way he presented the gospel.  We cannot demand great excitement in worship, nor can we deny it.  We must react as the Holy Spirit leads us and not just react as others react.  Verse fourteen adds, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  I don't believe that Paul was saying that the love of Christ constrained them from witnessing but constrained them from putting any glory in themselves.  Since Christ died for all, no one believer is to be exalted above any other.  We are not made saints by anything we do of our own ability, but are made saints, those set aside for God, by our faith in Christ.  Verse fifteen continues, And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  Paul says that as followers of Christ, since He died for us, we should live for Him.  Though Christ died for all, for His death to have meaning for any person, that person must accept His salvation by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1 says, For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  Paul was not speaking of an actual house, but of the temporal body.  Paul said that even if we die and this body passes away that we have a building, a body, not made by hands, but by God.  Through the sin of mankind, this body became temporal.  Verse two adds, For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  Paul said that this earthly body caused them to groan in the desire to put on that heavenly body.  As followers of Christ, we should have a great desire to put on that heavenly body, but we like Paul must declare that we are dedicated to doing the work that God has for us to do.  Verse three continues, If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  When God clothes us in His righteousness, we will never be found naked.  Verse four states, For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  This is another promise that we may suffer for Christ in this world, but that even if this mortal body groans, we as followers of Christ will ultimately have a resurrected body that rejoices in God.  Nothing will be left to cause us to groan.  Verse five adds, Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Paul tells us that God is the One Who gives us this promise of everlasting life and that He seals it with the Holy Spirit.  Though today we may groan from the problems and persecutions of the world, we have God's assurance that this is only temporary.  Verse six continues, Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  Paul declared that they were confident, not just if things seemed to be going well, always.  He recognized that in this life we can never be totally present with God.  We are not removed from the trials and tribulations of the world, but we are never overpowered by them as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse seven says, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  Paul saw persecution and possible death by his earthly sight, but he saw everlasting life by faith.  We today must walk by faith, just as Paul did.  If we walk simply by sight, by the things we see in the world, we can easily end up in despair.  If we walk by faith in God, we can rejoice no matter what is happening in our lives. Verse eight adds, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Paul said that they were confident to die for their faith.  Paul knew that when he was absent from this body, or died, that he would be present with God.  As believers in Christ, we should never let the fear of death cause us to waver in our faith.  Verse nine continues, Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  Paul said that they labored so that they would be acceptable to God, whether in life or death.  This does not mean that they were working to earn their salvation, but they were working to show their obedience to God.  We today should be laboring for Christ in all that we do.