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 2^nd ‘Severe’ letter – an even sterner rebuke of the church…
      • He had even taken a 2^nd 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…

Don’t tell them – instead help them – encourage them in Jesus!