2 Corinthians 1
Paul always begins his letters with greetings of grace and peace followed by praise for God because of the salvation Jesus has won for us. That’s a good way for us to begin our day as well.
We live in God’s grace – love that He has poured out on us even though we don’t deserve it. This is key for us. Everything begins with God loving us. He takes the initiative. He sends His Son. Jesus chose to sacrifice Himself to redeem us. We receive that love through faith – another gift from God formed in us by the Holy Spirit. And through faith we receive forgiveness.
Because we have received grace, we have peace. The peace here is not merely an absence of conflict, it is peace with God. Think on that for a minute. Peace with God.
Does this mean we have not always had peace with God?
Yes. That’s exactly what this means. Sin in rebellion against God. And we have lived in open rebellion against Him. This peace is a great, great gift and it comes at a high cost: Jesus’ blood shed on the cross!
How can that be peace? Well, first, Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. That restores our relationship with God. But second, if God loves us that much we can face affliction, suffering, struggles and death confident of God’s love and mercy. “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope and He will deliver us again.” Peace is often found in knowing we stand on a solid foundation. And that we do in Jesus.
Paul mentions one of the areas that peace is displayed in our lives in Vs. 12. “For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God …”
The Gospel changes our priorities. We don’t need to chase after all the things the world says we need: power, wealth, pleasure, comfort, etc. These things will all fade anyway.
Building our lives of God’s grace and peace in Jesus allows us to enjoy simplicity and be sincere. We need not play the “Game.”
Focus on God’s grace as the best things you can have – He’s already given it to you. And be at peace.
2 Corinthians 2
What can Jesus’ forgiveness forgive?
Not that we want to toe up to that line to receive “Maximum forgiveness.” So to speak. Sometimes people get to a point where they wonder if they can be forgiven for “that.” Or if this time was one time too many. Perhaps Jesus can’t forgive me anymore because I’ve stumbled here too many times. That is if we apply this question to ourselves at all.
Too often we ask this question of others. Can God forgive him/her for that? We are usually better at applying God’s law and judgment to others than ourselves.
How great of a sin will Jesus forgive?
Big ones. Great ones. All sin is forgiven in Jesus’ death.
Paul gives us a picture of that today. If you read 1 Corinthians, perhaps you remember a man whose sin was so scandalous. Paul ordered the church to “Deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” The man had taken his father’s wife. In 2 Corinthians 2 we continue his story, “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”
Jesus’ forgiveness overwhelms all sin!
It is important for us to cling to that truth. Paul talks about being “outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
The name Satan means “accuser.” Remember that. The Devil is a liar, a twister of truth, and an accuser.
We have triumph over him in Christ, and His forgiveness. Always keep that forefront in your mind and heart. Don’t be accused. Be forgiven. Live in God’s peace, and share that forgiveness. That may be one of the most powerful examples we ever set in this world, forgiving as Jesus has forgiven all sinners – even you and me.
Paul always begins his letters with greetings of grace and peace followed by praise for God because of the salvation Jesus has won for us. That’s a good way for us to begin our day as well.
We live in God’s grace – love that He has poured out on us even though we don’t deserve it. This is key for us. Everything begins with God loving us. He takes the initiative. He sends His Son. Jesus chose to sacrifice Himself to redeem us. We receive that love through faith – another gift from God formed in us by the Holy Spirit. And through faith we receive forgiveness.
Because we have received grace, we have peace. The peace here is not merely an absence of conflict, it is peace with God. Think on that for a minute. Peace with God.
Does this mean we have not always had peace with God?
Yes. That’s exactly what this means. Sin in rebellion against God. And we have lived in open rebellion against Him. This peace is a great, great gift and it comes at a high cost: Jesus’ blood shed on the cross!
How can that be peace? Well, first, Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. That restores our relationship with God. But second, if God loves us that much we can face affliction, suffering, struggles and death confident of God’s love and mercy. “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope and He will deliver us again.” Peace is often found in knowing we stand on a solid foundation. And that we do in Jesus.
Paul mentions one of the areas that peace is displayed in our lives in Vs. 12. “For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God …”
The Gospel changes our priorities. We don’t need to chase after all the things the world says we need: power, wealth, pleasure, comfort, etc. These things will all fade anyway.
Building our lives of God’s grace and peace in Jesus allows us to enjoy simplicity and be sincere. We need not play the “Game.”
Focus on God’s grace as the best things you can have – He’s already given it to you. And be at peace.
2 Corinthians 2
What can Jesus’ forgiveness forgive?
Not that we want to toe up to that line to receive “Maximum forgiveness.” So to speak. Sometimes people get to a point where they wonder if they can be forgiven for “that.” Or if this time was one time too many. Perhaps Jesus can’t forgive me anymore because I’ve stumbled here too many times. That is if we apply this question to ourselves at all.
Too often we ask this question of others. Can God forgive him/her for that? We are usually better at applying God’s law and judgment to others than ourselves.
How great of a sin will Jesus forgive?
Big ones. Great ones. All sin is forgiven in Jesus’ death.
Paul gives us a picture of that today. If you read 1 Corinthians, perhaps you remember a man whose sin was so scandalous. Paul ordered the church to “Deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” The man had taken his father’s wife. In 2 Corinthians 2 we continue his story, “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”
Jesus’ forgiveness overwhelms all sin!
It is important for us to cling to that truth. Paul talks about being “outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
The name Satan means “accuser.” Remember that. The Devil is a liar, a twister of truth, and an accuser.
We have triumph over him in Christ, and His forgiveness. Always keep that forefront in your mind and heart. Don’t be accused. Be forgiven. Live in God’s peace, and share that forgiveness. That may be one of the most powerful examples we ever set in this world, forgiving as Jesus has forgiven all sinners – even you and me.
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