Unequally Yoked
Unequally Yoked
2 Corinthians 6
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial (ancient name of Satan meaning worthless one) or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols. For we are the temple of God..."
This passage is fairly straightforward. However, I'm struggling this morning with fitting it into the context of this chapter. In other words, it seems to come out of nowhere without being easily connected with the previous verses. When this happens, I believe it is best to take it at its simplest meaning without forcing it too much into the context. Read more
Defending and Commending
Defending and Commending
2 Corinthians 6
As Paul is defending his ministry, he turns it into an opportunity to urge the readers to give themselves to ministry and service. Chapter 5 ended with,
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Read more
Health, Wealth & Happiness
Health, Wealth & Happiness
2 Corinthians 5, part two
As we wrote about yesterday, the false teachers were most likely mixing Christian principles with worldly success. It was some form of correlating Gods blessings with health, wealth and success. This appeals to people. Paul's enemies used this philosophy to make Paul look bad. So, Paul writes in the opening verses of this chapter a more accurate view of the temporal versus the eternal. Read more
New
This is a prayer garden at a retail store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
New
2 Corinthians 5
To say that this chapter is rich is an understatement. It is exceedingly, abundantly rich. Let's start with the end of the chapter first and then go back.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the Old has passed away; behold new things have come," verse 17. Read more
Do Not Lose Heart
This week I'll posting pictures from our recent vacation in North and South Carolina!
Do Not Lose Heart
2 Corinthians 4
"we do not lose heart," verse 4:1
Last time we saw that Paul didn't lose heart over the verbal attacks of the false teachers. He clung to his clear conscience. Later in the chapter, Paul speaks of another type of attack.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (clay pots), so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body," verses 7-12. Read more
All's Clear!
All's Clear!
2 Corinthians 4
"Therefore, since we have this ministry (announcing the New Covenant) as we have received mercy, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the Word of God."
"Therefore, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."
Sticks and stones … Read more
I Can See
A scene from my home state of Washington!
I Can See
2 Corinthians 3:18 and Luke 24:13ff
As I've been thinking on 2 Corinthians 3:18 the last couple of days (it has always been one of my favorite verses in the Bible) I began to realize that one of my favorite stories in the Bible beautifully illustrates the verse. After all, the best way to understand the Bible is to let the Bible interpret the Bible and to use biblical stories to illustrate Biblical truth. Read more
The Mirror
Nate and Ryker in their new city of residence, Sofia, Bulgaria
The Mirror
2 Corinthians 3
The last verse of this chapter (verse 18) provides a climatic conclusion and summary of the glorious results of the New Covenant.
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord the Spirit." Read more
To Receive
Today Leigh and I celebrate 36 years of marriage bliss! :)
To Receive, Not to Do
2 Corinthians 3
I'm having a difficult time moving forward from this chapter. It is very rich. The theme is the glory of the New Covenant. The false teachers that infiltrated Corinth after Paul departed were doing what others have continued to do over the last 2000 years since Christ. They inappropriately mix the Old Covenant laws with the New Covenant grace.
Their first error is they consider the laws and commandments of the Old Covenant as guidelines to follow that impart grace. In other words, following the law produces favor with God, grants "righteousness" and induces the grace of God. This is a wrong interpretation of the law. Read more