My sermon notes for Sunday, Oct. 20th as we continue our study through 2 Corinthians. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
2 Cor. 13:1-10
INTRO THOUGHTS:
- Final words of exhortation
- Paul’s concern for their spiritual maturity (example of football players that are talented, but “mentally weak” … make terrible decisions in the heat of the battle)
- Regardless of all that had happened to him in Corinth, all Paul was concerned about was their sanctification.
- Saved By Christ, Growing in Christ, Living for Christ
- 12:19, 13:10 – Building up.
- Taking Serious our Faith, Sanctification, Spiritual Maturity
Warning, Looking, Praying. THE KEYS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY/Christ-likeness
The Warning – vv. 1-4 (taking sin seriously)
I warned those who sinned – v. 2
- This is where the concept of church discipline comes from
- Warning those within the body of Christ.
- WHY WARN? “Warning. Warning.” TO KEEP SOMEONE FROM HARM.
- Discipline is in place to help people.
In Weakness and Power – vv. 3-4
- Christ as the example. Humility, yet we know who He is. He came to serve yet rose victorious
- Paul had appeared weak but is filled with the authority and power of God.
- Why did they not recognize it? How was he to prove his power? NO PROOF NEEDED. Those that are His will recognize those that come in HIS NAME. THAT IS WHAT THE SPIRIT DOES!!!
Thought –What if they do not hear or do not care? John 16:1-3, 12-15 (READ) they do not recognize the voice of The Father, because they are NOT ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.
The Looking – vv. 5-6
We need to look, so that we can have ASSURANCE
- It is crucial that we are sure of our salvation. (From our mind to our heart.
- I know that I know.
Look in before we look out.
- Me before I judge others.
Examine Yourself – v.5
- Look and see. (The Word is my Light)
- I am ok. What I believe. Who I am in the faith
- IF, people would just examine themselves… they would get right or get saved. I do not know, BUT GOD DOES.
Test Yourself – v. 5
- Your actions prove your faith (The Word is the Light)
- My life matches what the purposes, plan and promises of God’s Word teach.
Fail the test (not approved) – v. 6
- The ultimate test is Jesus Christ. Are we IN CHRIST or not?
- Matthew 7:21-23 – I NEVER KNEW YOU
The Praying – vv. 7-10
Seeking God. The nuts and bolts of who we are in Christ.
- We commune with Him. For obedience. For restoration. For maturity/growth
Do not do wrong – v. 7
- The do and the do nots. We pray because we want to be right. Live Right, Think Right. Do Right.
ACCORDING TO/BASED ON
Against the truth/Only for the truth – v. 8
- Simple, yet so profound. The Bible is the Truth of God. His Word is sufficient.
For our Restoration – v. 9 (receiving forgiveness)
- Paul would be glad to consider himself weak, so that they may be strong
For our Building up – v. 10 (maturing into the likeness of Christ)
- The heart of Paul was the BUILDING UP OF OTHERS… NOT TEARING DOWN.
- BUILDING UP. INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST
- The more I serve, the more I know, the more I accomplish…IT SHOULD MANIFEST ITSELF INTO CHRIST-LIKENESS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
2 Corinthians 13:1–10 – [1] This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [2] I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—[3] since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. [4] For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
[5] Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! [6] I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. [7] But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. [8] For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. [9] For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. [10] For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. (ESV)
John 16:1–3 – [1] “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. [3] And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. (ESV)
John 16:12–15 – [12] “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [15] All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (ESV)
Matthew 7:21–23 – [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)