Video teaching coming soon
There is no online teaching for this study yet, but the written notes and any available study resources are still below.
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
II Corinthians 2:1-17
Introduction…
- Overview …
- Paul had 2 main purposes in writing his epistle to the church….
- 1st – To express his joy at how they had obeyed the first epistle to them…
- I Corinthians was written as a rebuke to a carnal church – get right with God!
- II Corinthians was an encouragement and comfort to a church that had repented…
- 2nd – In defense against the false teachers flooding into Corinth…
- Warning about certain doctrinal errors / instruction for Christians
- To defend his apostleship against legalistic teachers who sought to bring bondage…
- I Corinthians 1:1-11 – Greeting to the Church…
- An Apostle of Jesus – Paul established his authority over the church….
- 1st – Greetings to the saints – in spite of all their problems – they were God’s people!
- 2nd – Comfort – Paul wanted to comfort the church – now that they had repented…
- 3rd – Deliverance – God allows us to go through trials so we learn to trust in Him!
- I Corinthians 1:12-24 – Men of your Word…
- 1st – The purpose of Paul’s letters – not to give rules / but to impart grace / point to Jesus
- 2nd – A change in plans – why Paul did not come when he said he would…
- He made plans – but ultimately he was flexible to the Lord – James 4:13-15
- Only Jesus knows for sure – in Him all God’s promises are yes and amen…
- 3rd – Working together in Christ – Paul just wanted to encourage the church in their walk!
- Always Triumphant…
- The sorrowful letter… vs. 1-4
- Paul was determined not to come to Corinth again to correct them…
- He had written two letters – I Corinthians – a letter of correction to the church…
- And his 2nd ‘Severe’ letter – an even sterner rebuke of the church…
- He had even taken a 2nd trip to Corinth – and it had been a HARD visit…
- Paul was unwilling to give up on the church – even if they refused to repent…
- Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
- When we know someone who is caught up in sin – we need to warn them!
- Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
- That doesn’t mean God does not keep fighting for us – but there will come a point…
- If we continually choose sin – hardening our heart towards God…
- God will give us what we want – He will give us over to our sin – Genesis 6:1
- Paul looked at the church as his children – he did not want to be hard on them…
- Paul’s joy was tied into the joy of the church…
- If Paul made the church sad by correcting them – he would also be sad…
- If the church was walking with the Lord – then Paul would be full of joy!
- III John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the truth.”
- No father likes to punish his children – it is the hardest part of being a dad…
- I was a very ‘mischievous’ boy – I was always getting into some kind of trouble…
- Which meant getting spanked by my father was almost a daily event…
- He would always tell me – ‘this hurts me more than it hurts you’…
- I never believed him – till I got older and then began to understand…
- My dad hated punishing me – it tore him up to see me hurting…
- But He loved me too much to let me get away with doing bad things!
- Paul wrote the ‘Severe letter’ in many tears…
- He did not want to hurt the church – he wanted to show them his love…
- Not willing to let them continue going the wrong way – so he corrected them!
- * Hebrews 12:5-8 – “You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD… For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives…’”
- God loves us too much to let us get away with our sin – so He punishes us…
- Not because He is angry – or mad at us – but because of His great love for us!
- God desires to teach us – His kids – how to live a pure and holy life
- Like any child – we have a hard time believing it is for ‘our own good’…
- But when we are ‘punished’ by the Lord – is proves we are His kids!
- If a stranger’s child sins – you do not punish them – not your kid…
- But if your son does something wrong – because you love him – you correct him!
- Repentance and restoration… vs. 5-11
- There had been a problem of sin in the church – I Corinthians 5:1-8…
- It was commonly known – a man from the church was living in sexual immorality…
- The sin was so serious – even non-believers would be ashamed to talk about it…
- A man was living in with his father’s wife – wording suggest it was his stepmother…
- The church – rather than confront this man and his sin – ignored it…
- Paul had told the church to remove the man – for the sake of the church…
- Don’t you know that a little leaven – leavens the whole lump – Galatians 5:9…
- The church thought they were being ‘loving’ by not confronting the sin…
- But in reality they were allowing sin into the church – endangering them all…
- When sin goes unchecked it encourages others to sin…
- Stand outside and look up – see how long it takes for others to look up too…
- The power of example is amazing – people tend to follow – good or bad…
- It only takes a ‘little’ mud to make a glass of water dirty…
- A little sin can quickly spread out and infect a whole family or church!
- The man was to be turned over to satan – so he might be saved…
- We learned as a child not to touch a flame because when we did we got burned…
- It is the consequences of our actions that teach us…
- By facing the consequences of our sin we learn not to sin!
- Better to face consequences now – and learn not to sin…
- Than to live in sin – never have anyone correct us – then end up in hell…
- Now let the man back into the church…
- Apparently the church had followed Paul’s advice – and kicked the man out of church…
- It had the desired affect – the man had broken – and repented from his sin…
- He now wanted to return to fellowship within the church…
- But there were some who did not want him back…
- There was a sense of – ‘he is a sinner’ – and therefore not welcome back…
- Ironic because the church was just as guilty as this man – just with different sin…
- Perhaps they felt less guilty if they focused on the mistakes of someone else…
- People like to remind us of our mistakes – point out our flaws…
- More often than not to hide their own mistakes and shortcomings!
- But God doesn’t hold onto our past – He removes/forgets our sin – Psalms 103:12
- It doesn’t matter how many times we make a mistake – if we are willing to repent…
- God is ALWAYS willing to take us back – ready to receive us with open arms!
- Being kicked out of the church was punishment enough…
- There is a difference between conviction and condemnation…
- The man had been convicted of his sin – and he had repented…
- But without help – he could become condemned – overcome by sorrow…
- Sin separates us from God – the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin to restore us…
- When we repent and turn to the Lord – there is forgiveness and restoration!
- Condemnation is when we dwell on our mistake – we know we messed up…
- Instead of looking to Jesus – we focus on ourselves – and sink into despair
- Conviction draws us closer to God – condemnation pulls us away from Him!
- Do not let him become discouraged…
- If the church did not take this man back into fellowship – he might not recover…
- Imagine if you made a mistake – and everyone at church knew about it…
- You are already hurting – broken over your sin – ashamed of what you did…
- And when you show up – everyone stays away / whispers behind your back…
- Would you go a second time – or would you feel abandoned / discouraged…
- Forgive / Comfort / Love…
- Paul gives the church 3 things the church was to do for this broken man…
- Forgive him – God already had – who are we to hold onto his mistakes…
- Comfort him – he is already beaten up – start to mend the wounds…
- Love him – he needs to see the Love of God practically through the Church…
- Instead of staying away and whispering – walk over and give them a hug!
- Show them they are welcomed back into the family of God!
- We are not ignorant of satan’s devices…
- Satan would love to keep a sinner from being restored by the Grace of God…
- If he can keep someone condemned – beating themselves up – he will…
- Don’t let satan rob the church of a child of God Jesus died to save!
- If you know someone who has messed up – but wants to get right with God…
- Reach out to them – represent Jesus – forgive / comfort / love!
- Fragrance of Christ… vs. 12-17
- Waiting for Titus… vs. 11-13
- After Paul left Ephesus – on his way up to Macedonia he stopped in Troas…
- He preached the Gospel there – and God opened a door – Revelation 3:8
- Apparently there were many who were responding to the Gospel message…
- It would have been reasonable then to assume Paul would have stayed there…
- But Paul had no rest in his spirit…
- Paul had sent Titus from Ephesus to Corinth to deliver the ‘Severe Letter’…
- He was supposed to then meet up with Titus in Troas to hear how it was received…
- Troas is the port city in Turkey opposite from Greece/Corinth/Macedonia…
- It was in Troas Paul received the vision that led him to Greece – Acts 16
- But Titus was delayed – leaving Paul anxious – worried for the church in Corinth…
- Paul went ahead to Macedonia – where he finally met Titus – II Corinthians 7:5
- There at last he heard news – the church in Corinth had repented!
- Thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph of Christ… vs. 14-16
- Paul bursting out in praise reflecting on all God had done…
- The man who had been caught up in sin – had repented and come back to God…
- The Lord had opened a door to preach the Gospel in Troas…
- Most of all – God opened the heart of the church in Corinth – they had repented!
- The Triumph of Christ…
- When a conquering nation returned – there was always a triumphant parade…
- Those who had been conquered were led in as trophies of war…
- Heralds would go before announcing the wonderful feats of the King…
- Flowers were thrown at their feet – the sweet fragrance of victory…
- Jesus triumphed over sin / death / and satan through the work of the cross…
- Colossians 2:15 – “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
- Part of His spoils of war was us – and He takes us along with Him in His procession…
- Announcing as we go to the whole world the defeat of sin – the hope of salvation!
- The fragrance of His Victory going before us into every place…
- We are the fragrance of Christ…
- To those who are being saved – we are the fragrance of life…
- To those who are perishing – we are the fragrance of death…
- We smell – whether we know it or not – we have an odor (not that we need a bath)
- It is the fragrance of Jesus – to those who are saved – it is a wonderful smell…
- Every notice when you walk into a room with believers in Jesus…
- Even if you have never met them before – it feels like a family reunion…
- There is immediate sweet fellowship through our common faith in Jesus!
- They see the cross of Jesus in your life – and the hope of new life / forgiveness!
- To those who are not saved – it is the stench of death – repulsive / offensive…
- In contrast when you enter a room full of people who do not know Jesus…
- They give you a look like as though you smell like a rotting dead animal – you stink!
- They also see the cross of Jesus – but see only death – because they do not believe!
- We are not frauds…
- There are many who preach just to make money – take advantage of people…
- Paul spoke in sincerity – knowing that God was watching him…
- His motive was pure – he only purpose was to preach Jesus so many could be saved!
- But there were many who questioned Paul – false teachers…
- Men who did not want to build up the church – but rather bring it into bondage!
- Paul picks up in chapter 3 with his defense of these frauds / charlatans…