Therefore we make it our aim .... to be well pleasing to Him

2 Corinthians 5:9
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

There are many things we can do for God. Indeed, there are many He asks us to do for Him. However, in doing so, there can be a human tendency to lose focus from God to other things including pleasing the people, being pleased at our own work or just overly focused on the actual work. This leads to losing focus on the Lord Himself, who should be our prime focus.

Of course there is a practical need to be focused on the physical thing we are doing, whether serving others in church or community, etc. Hence it is all the more important to set aside time to have with God alone. At the start or end or in the middle of the day, make a break from the daily routine and call out to God.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Paul is speaking to believers in saying that we all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We know that we are saved by faith in Jesus, not by our own moral standards. Yet we do give an account even though we are saved. So this is a good reminder for us to keep in mind when we deliberately or unconsciously drift away. Though we do fail and sin from time to time, another thing to keep in mind is that we also have an Advocate as our Defender in the person of Jesus Himself.

We have been made as the filth of the world

1 Corinthians 13
being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul was referring to the believers being made the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things. They are being regarded as the lowest members of society. Yet the implication is that Paul would continue his work of preaching the gospel, even though this is the reason he is made filth of the world.

To preach the gospel, that is to make known to the world that the kingdom of God has come, may put us in similar position of being rejected by the society. The challenge is whether we would willingly do this for our Lord Yshua, knowing that these are the consequences.

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel

1 Corinthians 9
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Paul stating that he needs to preach the gospel, almost being compelled to do so. The word 'woe' adds significant weight and urgency to it, implying that there is really no other option for him. This is not to say Paul is reluctant, on the contrary, there are many evidences of his strong willingness to do so on his part. However this also says that the Lord compelled Paul to preach the gospel, especially appearing to Him in such a fashion on the road to Damascus.

When a believer reads this and ponders, he will be asking himself, does God require all born again believers to preach the gospel, beyond giving a personal testimony about their conversion. By looking from the Bible itself, we see there are different roles including pastors, teachers, evangelists and so on. And another fact to remember is that preaching of the gospel is not the condition of our salvation. So there is no question of being saved if we believe and accept Jesus as Lord after our repentance. Another way to answer this is if one feels compelled to preach the gospel, and not out of personal gain, then that could be the calling to preach.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel

1 Corinthians 1
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

A few things we can learnt from this passage. Firstly, Paul is very clear of his mission. Just as John the Baptist was appointed to preach repentance and baptize the people in water, Paul's mission was to preach the gospel. The gospel is the good news of salvation through faith in our Lord Yeshua. Paul could have done many things, but his main purpose was to preach the gospel.

The second part is that the way he preached the gospel did not depend on wise words to be effective. Here we have to imagine beyond Paul's writings in the New Testament. Although Paul was educated and eloquent in his writing, his contribution was guided by the Holy Spirit. Moreover, his writing was quite a different task to the many days and years that Paul spend preaching the gospel directly in person to other people. The core of the gospel must be, not due to the power of convincing words, but the work done by Christ on the cross.

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance

Paul wrote this letter to express his joy and comfort to see that the Corinthians have repented from the various things which Paul wrote to them earlier about. Paul did not regret that he wrote the previous letter of rebuke because it caused them to have godly sorrow about it and led to repentance. Paul received this news of their repentance through Titus who visited him. This is a letter of encouragement to the Corinthians that Paul was very pleased with their progress and would boast about them.





2 Corinthians 7

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Corinthians’ Repentance

2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

The Joy of Titus

13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers

Paul describes the hard work of bringing the gospel to people. He encourages believers to hold dear to the grace of God, and not receiving it in vain. He tells the Corinthian church, and this could apply to us all, to be not unequally yoke with others. Although this is commonly taken to mean marital relationships, it is actually more general and refers to any kind of relationship. More general, it warns us not to be yoked with unbelievers who are generally in the world system.



2 Corinthians 6
Marks of the Ministry

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”[a]
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, 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 yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy

11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you[b] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”[c]
17 Therefore

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”[d]
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”[e]