My sermon notes for Sunday night, February 25^th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon

2 Cor. 10:3-6 – The Battle for Truth

2 Cor. 10:3-6 – [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5] We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, [6] being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV)

To me Paul is my apologetics (defense of the Christian faith) hero.  Who better to look at and see an example of “NOT FALLING FOR THE LIES” (DNOW 2018 theme.) He was a man that knew how to live in a tough world with crazy values and hostility toward the Gospel yet made such a difference for Jesus Christ.  As He admonishes the church in Corinth, we too can learn from Paul’s “apologetic battle plan”

Background:

• Chap 10 is the beginning of a new section (10-13)
• Paul ministered in Corinth 20 months. False teachers had since infiltrated the Christian community.  Paul knew it MUST be dealt with.
• Therefore, we notice a change in his tone. He is more authoritative and direct. He loved them and wanted the best for them.  He was concerned over the lies that would be spread by the false teaches.  HE KNEW THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS BEST.

2 Cor. 10:3-6 – Our Battle Plan for Truth

 It is a battle of the mind

Ideas, what we think.  OUR WORLD VIEW

What is a World View?

• Our big picture. How we make sense of life and the world.
• How we interpret reality. The lens from which we see the world.
• How we do life. The means by which we live and respond to the things around us.
  • (You behave according to what you believe.)
• WE MUST HAVE A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
  • Seeing the world through God’s perspective
    • Everything is filtered through our world view
    • Shapes our moral compass
    • Affects what you believe about everything.
      • God, Jesus, Church
      • Politics
      • Marriage
      • Society

It is a battle for truth

It should be obvious that Paul really, really, really, believed that what he believed was right.  He knew who Jesus was to him and what the Gospel had done in his life.  HE WAS FIGHTING FOR TRUTH!!!

• For an absolute truth
  • Not a spiritual experience
  • Not cultural morality
  • BUT THEOLOGICAL TRUTH
• God’s truth. God revealing Himsaelf to mankind
• John 17:17. Sanctify them… Your Word is truth)

The Battle is aggressive and exclusive

• Taking over, replacing, new order
  • Not adding truth to something, but total replacement.
  • Replacing error with truth
• Everything, Every thought, every disobedience
• EVERYTHING IS LAID OPEN BEFORE THE WORD.
  • THE BIBLE 2 Tim. 3:16…
  • God revelation of Himself to man.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

• Why can we get so involved, emotional, angry and defensive over issues like gun control and yet not give a thought over more biblical issues.

It is battle waged with divine power

It is not fought in the flesh.  It is fought in the spirit.  It is a spiritual battle.  DEFEAT IS INEVITABLE IF WE LIVE OUR LIFE WITH A NOT-BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW.

But, because it it fought in the spiritual realm we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS in CHRIST JESUS. (Rom 8:37)

THEREFORE:

• Gear up – 6:13
• Be ready – 2:8:37
  • Gnostism was attacking the sufficiency of Christ.
  • Today all sides attack the sufficiency of:
    • Christ
    • The Word
    • The church
• Give/Present your life to Him – 12:1-2
• Follow after/Imitate HIM – 5:1-21
  • Keep loving Him
  • Keep growing. Bible, Prayer, Christian community
  • Keep going – I John 1:9 (when we do sin, then confess and keep going. He has never demanded perfecting, just obedience)