Notes on 2 Corinthians 6

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (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.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

How can we receive the grace of God in vain? Through disobedience, by acting as if we were never saved at all. When we continue to live as we did before we were saved, in carnality and the lusts of the flesh, we bring discredit to the Gospel, and trample the blood of Christ underfoot. The world is always looking for opportunities to label Christians as hypocrites, and we frequently afford them that opportunity. We give offence by being unwilling to pay the price of discipleship; as long as things are going well, we cheerfully serve God, but he doesn't need or want fair weather Christians. Persecution of Christians has already begun in this country, and will continue to worsen in the coming years. Those who seek comfort over commitment, and convenience over sacrifice, will fall away, and turn their backs on Christ. Whether we face active persecution or not, though, Paul, under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, offers a list of characteristics and attitudes that should mark our lives as Christians. Patience is not a virtue easily cultivated in our culture; we are taught to expect instant gratification and instant results. If we find the boldness to witness to someone for Christ, we expect them to get saved right then and there. When that doesn't happen, many become discouraged, and conclude that soul winning is just not for them. When we pray for a need, and the answer to our prayers doesn't materialize in short order, we decide that God's not listening when we pray. Patience comes from having to wait, and just learning to wait is a major part of our growing in maturity.

The part about afflictions, and the negative things listed after, is the part we want to gloss over. After all, that's something restricted to Christians in other countries, not anything we should have to endure here. Afflictions, though, can take many forms, and can include illness, loss of work, broken relationships, even zoning regulations that forbid any public display relating to Christ. Needs, necessities, can be emotional and spiritual, as well as physical. We can experience anguish at the loss of a child, a parent, or a friend, quite apart from any direct persecution. The message is that, no matter what troubles come our way, no matter what the cause of sleepless nights (watchfulness), we should persist in trusting God in Christ, and living in such a way that others can see and know we are faithful, no matter how severe the challenges that face us.

Next is a list of attributes characteristic of the obedient servant of Christ. Pureness, or purity, means that nothing else is mixed in with the Spirit of God in our lives, nothing in the way of lust, or greed, or unforgiveness, or anything else that are marks of the world. Knowledge is that knowledge that comes only from the Holy Spirit, our teacher, of the will and way of God, in the instruction of his Word. Longsuffering is akin to patience, but in the sense of bearing the abuse and weaknesses of others without growing angry or resentful. Kindness is the hallmark of brotherly love, of treating others with respect, compassion, and concern, even when they don't deserve it. All of this comes only by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the redemptive love that defines who God is, and that should work through us. The next phrase concerns our equipment, the spiritual armor Paul addresses more fully in Ephesians 6. The word of truth is the Gospel itself as personified in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. By the power of God, we have authority over the Enemy, Satan, and the power to resist and overcome all of his attacks by the armor of righteousness, which we have only in Christ. Whether we are honored or disgraced, praised or slandered, considered liars or bearers of truth, we are Christ's, and must be counted faithful if we are truly his. Whether we know fame or oblivion, life or death, punishment that denies the release of death, we are his. Though our circumstances may be full of sorrow, we can still rejoice in our relationship with Christ. Even though we are poor in worldly possessions, we can share the riches of salvation with others, and our wealth consists in treasures laid up in heavenly places, not stored up here.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 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.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Our love and affection toward you is not restricted or hemmed in, Paul tells them. Any sense of being hemmed in or having limits set on their growth in love, and as Christians, comes from within themselves, not because Paul was trying, in his first letter, to limit their liberty in Christ. Evidently, the church had concluded that their liberty extended to maintaining relationships with those outside the church, perhaps even those who came with elaborate letters of recommendation. Perhaps they continued to maintain relationships with temple cults, seeing not conflict between such relationships and their role in their church. Whatever the actual circumstances, the lesson is the same, both for them and for us: while we can't leave the world, or live outside it, we should not embrace it. Christians should not belong to godless organizations, such as lodges that profess beliefs that are opposed to the clear teachings of scripture. We should not employ strategies and techniques in business or our personal lives that conflict with the standards of righteousness we are called to obey. Beyond all else, we should never indulge in occult practices such as consulting mediums or horoscopes, or playing with Ouija boards or tarot cards. Our call is to be separate, set apart, sanctified to God's use. To the extent we let anything or anyone come between us and God, we are idolaters.

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