Now concerning the
ministering to the saints,
it is superfluous for
me to write to you;
for I know your
willingness,
about which I boast
of you in the Macedonians,
that Achaia was ready
a year ago;
and your zeal has
stirred up the majority.
2 Corinthians 9:1 --
2
Paul is
giving to the Corinthians, even though excusing his need to do so, his earnest
exhortation to charity and presses them to continue such. Paul had no need to be justly urged them on
by further argument, rather he was satisfied that what he had said is already
enough. Let us take notice that Paul
refused to take money from any of the churches that he founded and we find his
reasons expounded in 1 Corinthians 10: Acts 20:34, with only this exception and
that is the Church of Philippi had sent two Paul while he was in prison camps
and this was through Epaphroditus. The
Church of Thessalonica had once sent a gift to him providing some necessity for
Paul. It is found that his letter to
the church at Philippi deals with his gratitude. As we study this chapter in 2 Corinthians 9, we will find that
Paul addresses about gifts, and giving, the providing for the needs of
Christians.
As we have
studied Corinthians, the church at Corinth, we have found that they had many
questions that needed to be answered and had many practices that needed to be
corrected. Also by our study of history
we found that the city of Corinth was a bustling city of commerce and trade from
all around the world causing there be a need to be able to speak in several
languages. Also due to this trafficking
of men from all forms of religion and worldviews the church had entered into
periods whereby they were no longer practicing Christianity as taught to
them by Paul. Paul was not the only one
who had to address the Corinthian church.
Clement of Rome (30 A.D. – 100 A.D.) seems to have been at Philippi with
St. Paul (57 A.D.) and was present when the Western churches were undergoing
great trials of faith. Once again there
was a need for a letter to be written to the Corinthian church not only to
answer some questions they asked, but also to address false practices that had
entered into the church; and we find this in the first epistle of Clement to
the Corinthians.
Owing, dear
brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to
ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to
the points respecting which you consulted us;3
and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to
the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to
such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be
universally loved, has suffered grievous injury.
A
Christian church throughout the ages has had to deal with sedition, false
teaching, and practices that are in contradiction to the will of God so we
should not be surprised that is occurring in some of our churches today. Clement of Rome speaks of their virtuous
life and fear of God:
Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life,
ye did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the
Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.
How sad it is
when Christians leave behind the truthful teachings of God and this the
Corinthian church had done and then lost.
So the worthless
rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were
renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in
years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you,
inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His
faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part
becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming
the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered
into the world.
What occurred in the Corinthian church due to the culture
that was so prominent and secular that they fell prey to the practice that is
unrighteous and not acting as a Christian.
Clement of Rome appealed to them:
Wherefore let us
give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable
rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and
acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look stedfastly to the
blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been
shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world.
Clement of Rome and addresses
several things and one most important was that of faith. If one is to expect reward of any kind from
God your faith must be equal to that of those from the past that we have as an
example: i.e., Rahab is one such example.
Let us therefore,
brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and
foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is
written (for the Holy Spirit saith, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory
in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently
seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness”), being especially mindful
of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and
long-suffering.
Who are you
following? Who is your greatest
example? Who are you obeying? Is it a man, or a woman, some writing by
some person? How is your faith being
manifested?
It is right and
holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who,
through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation.
For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly
yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and
tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good.
In our
Christian growth, our sanctification in this life, it is as Paul wrote in his
first letter to the Corinthian that so often is overlooked: "Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’" (1
Corinthians 15: 33).
Let us cleave,
therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who
hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain
place, “This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from
Me.”
What does
this have to do with what we began this blog with: the giving of gifts? Everything!
For if we are not truthful according to the word of God and faithful in
all that we do then we will not give as God has put upon your heart to
give. Also, by not being true and
faithful to the Word of God within seditious people will come in and teach you
practices that are not scriptural. Let
us obey God, and not the authors of sedition.
The LORD preserves all love Him.
Psalm 145: 20a
Revere God manifested by your faith
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