richcathers.com

New Testament Survey: Romans thru 2Corinthians

CCEA School of Discipleship

October 6, 2024

Introduction

If you were in person for the class, you’d be given a chance to share what you’ve picked up from the homework this week – our reading assignment in Halley’s Bible Handbook.

Did you learn anything interesting in your reading from Halley’s Bible Handbook this week? Share in small groups.

Learning to use your Bible

I’d like to familiarize you with a tool that most of your paper Bibles use, the “pericope”

A pericope is a short title/summary of a section.

You might consider it the “title” of a chapter, or even a paragraph.

In your Bibles, a pericope may be found at the beginning of a new section or paragraph. It might be found at the top of the page. Do you see them in your Bible?

A pericope can be a useful tool in finding places in your Bible.

They can also be a useful tool to see the flow of the book you’re studying.

When I was in college, I attended a month-long intensive discipleship training with Campus Crusade for Christ at Arrowhead Springs.

In one of my classes on the Gospel of John, they taught us to write “pericopes” for each paragraph, then summarize each chapter with a pericope.

We then memorized the chapter pericopes. To this day I can pretty much tell you where something is found in the Gospel of John because of that exercise.

When I’m teaching through a book, I will tend to put the pericope of the section or paragraph I’m covering at the top of my Powerpoint slides.

With this in mind, I will lay out for you an outline of the book of Romans.

We will spend most of our time in Romans and only give a brief overview of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

Romans

Background

In our class on the book of Acts, I gave you some important information for Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Do you recall where Paul was in the book of Acts when he wrote to the church in Rome?

Paul had been in Ephesus for three years (Acts 19).

When the idol-makers rose up to protest their loss of income due to the gospel, a riot began to break out and Paul decided it was time to leave Ephesus.

(Acts 20:1–3 NKJV) —1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

It’s during those three months in Greece (or, Achaia, or Corinth), that Paul writes his letter to the church in Rome, somewhere around AD 57-58.

Human Connection

Keep in mind, Paul has never been to Rome.

Yet in chapter 16, Paul mentions over 25 people by name.

When you read through Romans, DON’T skip chapter 16. Learn to recognize people.

There’s a fellow Paul calls his “kinsman”, perhaps a family member (16:11)

Paul drops a hint that his own mother may be in Rome (16:13)

One of the interesting couples in Rome were Priscilla and Aquila (Rom. 16:3). These are his old tent-making buddies, who Paul met on his first trip to Corinth (Acts 18:2).

They have been travelling the world like Paul.

They were from Rome, then they met Paul in Corinth. (Acts 18:2)

They went with Paul to Ephesus for a time (Acts 18:19).

In Ephesus, they had a church in their home (1Cor. 16:19).

They were the ones who straightened out a fiery young preacher named Apollos (Acts 18:26).

And now they are back in Rome, again with a church in their house (Rom. 16:5)

Note: There’s a reason we put some dates and letters into the book of Acts. This is how you can arrive at a timeline for Priscilla and Aquila.

Overall Outline

Justification (chs. 1-5)

Sanctification (chs. 6-8)

Jew & Gentile (chs. 9-11)

Practical (chs. 12-16)

This is the “flow” of Paul’s letter to Rome.

Like most of his letters, Paul starts with theological doctrine, and in writing to the Romans he lays out his greatest work on what salvation is all about.

Paul will often end his letters with practical matters, how a Christian should live.

As we sprint through Romans, keep your Bibles open and perhaps circle or underline the verses as I highlight them.

Romans 1-5 Justification

Romans 1 – Gentiles Guilty

Paul starts by laying out the “gospel” basics – salvation by faith:

(Romans 1:16–17 NKJV) —16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Do you see the Old Testament quote? Paul is drawing from the small, obscure book of Habakkuk, Habakkuk 2:4.

This little phrase is also quoted in Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

What does this phrase mean?

It doesn’t mean, “good people trust their feelings”.

It does mean, “People whom God declares “right with Him” (“just”) are people who have found “eternal life” (“live”) by having “faith” in God.”

We are saved by the grace of God through faith.

Paul then goes on to talk about how the Gentile world has sunk lower and lower by exchanging what they know about God for lies.

We can see that there is a Creator God when we simply look at creation.

Yet instead of following after the One True God, the Gentiles turned to idols.

When men ignore the truth about God, they end up going into a cesspool horrible immoral behavior, not just with homosexual behavior (which some people like to focus on entirely), but…

(Romans 1:29–31 NKJV) —29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

Romans 2 – Jews Guilty

Paul then turns and points his finger at the Jews. They aren’t without guilt either.

They may have the Law of God given by Moses, but they didn’t follow the Law –

(Romans 2:13 NKJV) (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

The Jews too are also guilty before God.

In fact …

Romans 3 – All Guilty

Every person ever born has been found guilty before God. Did you notice all the Old Testament quotes in vss. 10-18?

Then Paul drops this:

(Romans 3:23–25 NKJV) —23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

We say that we are “saved by grace”, but what does that mean?

Grace is something God does that you didn’t deserve, but more specifically, it’s the grace that God showed when He gave His Son to shed his blood as a sacrifice for us.

Some churches teach that you can receive saving grace by doing things like attending church or helping others. That’s not what the Bible teaches.

It is only by believing in Jesus’ sacrifice for us that we can be considered right before God.

Romans 4 – Faith required

Paul goes on to share that both Abraham and David gave us examples of how a righteous, holy God, could forgive a sinful man’s transgressions.

It only happens through faith in God.

(Romans 4:3 NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Romans 5 – One for all

Paul declares that when we have faith in God, we’ve been made right with Him and we now have peace with God (vs.1)

This didn’t happen because we were somehow good enough people for God to love…

(Romans 5:8 NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You might also wonder how one person like Jesus could bring about something that affects the whole human race.

Paul tells us that this principle is nothing new.

When Adam sinned, all men suffered the consequences.

Adam sinned, but Jesus obeyed. His obedience through His sacrifice can open forgiveness to all.

Romans 6-8 Sanctification

Sanctification is that process where we grow to be more like Jesus.

Romans 6 – Dead and Alive

When we realize that God can forgive sinners, we might ask, “Well why not just go out and sin a whole bunch (since it’s so fun), and then God can look really good by forgiving us?”

Paul’s answer?

(Romans 6:2 NKJV) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Paul explains this by sharing how the picture of baptism teaches us about our new relationship with God.

Because our faith now connects us to Jesus, we’ve been buried with Jesus (just like being put under the water in baptism), so we are now “dead to sin”.

We’ve also been raised with Jesus (like coming up out of the water), so now we can be “alive to God”.

(Romans 6:11 NKJV) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you’re not careful, you can stop reading Romans right here and think that all Christians should no longer sin, right? We might even think that “baptism” solves everything, right?

Romans 7 – I still sin

Yet the truth is, even though there is a spiritual connection between us and Christ’s death and resurrection, we still have a sin nature that likes to crop up and cause trouble.

Paul himself writes,

(Romans 7:19 NKJV) For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

All Christians still sin. Paul still sinned.

I still sin. You still sin.

To claim anything else is not being honest.

If we are growing in Christ, we will certainly learn more and more to sin “less”, but we will never be “sinless” until we get new bodies.

So do we just give up?

Romans 8 – Spirit Life

Paul found that even when we keep doing things we don’t want to do, there is still forgiveness in Christ.

There can also be power and freedom from the carnal pull towards sin.

Freedom comes as we learn to yield more and more to the Holy Spirit within us.

(Romans 8:6 NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

We have to learn to live daily under the power of the Spirit. We need to keep our minds on the Spirit. We need to yield to the Spirit.

There are way too many treasures in Romans 8 to point them all out.

On one of my teaching trips through Romans, I spent seven weeks unpacking chapter 8. You will probably expect me to point out verse 28, but instead look at…

(Romans 8:31–32 NKJV) —31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Lesson

He’s for me

(here’s the “quiz” answer – be sure to write it down)

Be careful that you don’t interpret difficult situations as if God has turned His back on you. He’s already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that He’s on your side.

You may not understand why He’s allowed a difficult situation into your life, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you.

Isaiah writes,

(Isaiah 49:14–16 NKJV) —14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. 16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

What does it mean for God to “inscribe” us on the palms of His hands? Perhaps it just means that He wrote down our name so He wouldn’t forget. Perhaps it’s talking another kind of mark on His hands, perhaps the nail prints.

God’s love for you ought to be one of the unquestioned “anchors” in your life. It ought to be one thing that you can always count on.

Illustration

An old seaman said, “In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way (to survive); we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”

Commenting on this idea, Richard Fuller wrote:

This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may—winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and his everlasting love in Christ Jesus.

This is having Christ’s love for you as your “anchor”

Just in case you are still not convinced that God is on your side, Paul lays down one more idea, the ultimate proof that God is “for” you and not “against” you.

God gave His Son to die in your place.

He’s not against you. He’s for you.

Illustration

Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a father and his teenage son. In the story, the relationship had become somewhat strained, and the teenage son ran away from home. His father began a journey in search of that rebellious son.

Finally, in Madrid, Spain, in a last desperate attempt to find the boy, the father put an ad in the local newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, Meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father.” The next day, in front of the newspaper office, eight hundred Pacos showed up. They were all seeking forgiveness. They were all seeking the love of their father.

-- George Munzing, "Living a Life of Integrity," Preaching Today, Tape No. 32.

It’s time to come home to the Father.

If you feel like you aren’t as close to God as you once were, keep in mind that God’s heart towards you has never changed.

He still loves you. He’s for you.

Turn to Him.

Romans 9-11 Jew and Gentile

Romans 9 – God chose Israel

There are some difficult things in this chapter about God’s choices, and some folks struggle with this. Is God unjust to “choose” Israel? Paul says God can choose whomever He wants, because He is God.

Yet the bottom line is this –

Even if God has “chosen” Israel, salvation still only comes to those who have faith.

(Romans 9:30–32 NKJV) —30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

Do you want to know if God has “chosen” you? Then have faith in Jesus and you will find that God has indeed chosen you.

Romans 10 – Israel needs the gospel

This is a marvelous chapter and I wish I could take the time to unpack it for you. There is a big connection in this chapter with Deuteronomy 30, and Paul bases much of the chapter on his exposition of Deuteronomy 30.

If you want to know more, email me and I’ll send you an expanded set of notes on the chapter.

Because salvation comes by faith, Israel, as well as the world, needs to hear the good news about Jesus so they have a chance to have faith.

(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The whole world needs to know about Jesus’ sacrifice for them so they can have this faith.

We often think of this verse in how we build our own faith by reading God’s word. But in context it’s really about bringing the non-believer to faith by sharing God’s message of salvation with them.

Just share the word.

Suppose a bank robber comes into a local bank, pulls out a gun, points it at a teller’s head, and tells him to fill up his bag with money. Let’s say that the teller is a wise guy, and responds to the robber, “I don’t believe in guns”. If the robber pulls the trigger, will the bullet have any effect on the teller, even if the teller says he doesn’t believe in it?

God’s Word is powerful. Don’t be afraid to use it.

Illustration

Follow the example of one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the world, Billy Graham. He was famous for saying over and over again throughout his messages, “The Bible says …”

Romans 11 – Israel rejected for now

Even though most of the nation of Israel has rejected Jesus as Messiah, there will be a day when they will turn to Him.

(Romans 11:25 NKJV) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 12-16 Practical

Romans 12 – Act like Christians

Paul deals with lots of different subjects here – using our gifts, humility, and revenge.

KEY VERSE ALERT - One of the key verses of the book is here (this is worth memorizing)

(Romans 12:1–2 NKJV) —1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This is what the rest of the chapter flows from.

Living the Christian life starts with giving yourself to God and allowing Him to change you.

When you do that, you will see Him work out His will in your life, and you will know that His will is good, acceptable, and perfect.

Illustration

God does not always choose great people to accomplish what he wishes, but He chooses a person who is wholly yielded to Him.

Henrietta Mears (Bible teacher at Hollywood Presbyterian Church, who remained single all her life, and who taught and encouraged many of today’s great Christian leaders including Billy Graham and Bill Bright).

Romans 13 – Submission

The principle area is about submitting to the government.

(Romans 13:1 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Then he moves into how important it is to love one another.

Romans 14 – Gray areas

Paul talks about the issue of eating meat that’s been sacrificed to idols. Is it okay or not?

In this he lays out the principles that there are going to be gray areas where Christians disagree, but rather than argue or judge one another, we ought to treat each other in love.

(Romans 14:15 NKJV) Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

For us, this principle might apply to things like:

To watch TV or not.

To drink alcohol or not.

Whether or not to be vaccinated.

Who you vote for.

I know that some of us hear these subjects and we instantly get our defenses up and are prepared to argue for our side of things.

Don’t lose sight of Paul’s principle.

Romans 15 – Plans

This chapter has a few different threads, but the main thing is Paul discussing what he plans to do in the future, mainly to preach the gospel where it hasn’t been preached before.

And so he wants to go to Rome on his way to visit Spain

(Romans 15:23–24 NKJV) —23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

Romans 16 – Friends

No not those friends.

This is the great chapter where Paul sends greetings to all those he knows in Rome and mentions those who are with him.

1Corinthians

If you were in the in-person class, you may recall that I might have cut some of this short because I was expecting Romans to take some time. But lucky for you online viewers, I’m not cutting back on the next two books as much.

Background

Corinth was a key city of ancient Greece, but was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C.

Julius Caesar rebuilt the city in 46 B.C. as a Roman colony. Though the official language was Latin, everybody spoke Greek.

In Paul's day, Corinth was the capitol of the province of Achaia (southern Greece).

Video: Corinth map clip

Corinth was located on the narrow strip of land that connected the northern and southern parts of Greece.

Because of its location, it was an important trade center. Trade going north and south through Greece had to pass through it. Ships in the Aegean and Ionian Seas would stop and either offload their cargo and have it transported over land to the other side of the isthmus, or some smaller ships were even dragged the 3 ½ miles across the land rather than go the 200 miles around the southern part of Greece.

Pay attention to the tall hill that overlooked the city.

This tall hill was where the Temple of Aphrodite stood.

Every night 1,000 temple prostitutes would come down into the city from Aphrodite’s temple and entice the men to worship Aphrodite through sexual immorality.

The drunkenness and immorality were so rampant that the Greeks coined a word, korinthiadzomai, to act like a “Corinthian”. When Greeks put on stage plays, the immoral character in every play was called “the Corinthian”.

In Paul’s day, the population was 700,000, two-thirds (460K) were slaves.

Paul started the church while on his second missionary journey (Acts 18). He had stayed there for 18 months in AD 51-52.

On Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 19), Paul was staying in Ephesus when a delegation of three men came from Corinth with bad news. There was immorality in the church and quarrels. They had questions on a lot of issues. Paul wrote back from Ephesus. It was AD 55-56.

This is that letter.

1Corinthians 1 – Factions

The Corinthian church had a lot of good things going for them, but they were also quite divided.

(1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NKJV) —12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

There is a nugget in this chapter for those who believe you must be baptized in order to be saved –

(1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV) 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.

1Corinthians 2 – God’s Wisdom

Paul contrasts man’s wisdom with the wisdom of God.

We need God’s help to understand spiritual things.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Corinthians 3 – God’s Church

In their little divisions, they were ignoring the fact that the church didn’t belong to certain leaders, but it was God’s church.

Then he writes,

(1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NKJV) —16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Some use this verse and apply it to suicide, but that’s a misunderstanding of the verse.

The “you” is plural (“you all”).

When the church is gathered together, Christ dwells in them. If someone is trying to divide the church, they will have to answer to God.

1Corinthians 4 – Paul’s defense

Paul has been criticized by some in the church and Paul reminds them of who he is.

(1 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV) For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

1Corinthians 5 – Incest

Paul now turns to rebuke the church for a problem in their midst.

A man was committing incest with his stepmother and the church was proud in their “tolerance” of such a thing.

Paul commands them to put the fellow out of the church.

1Corinthians 6 – Lawsuits & Immorality

Another rebuke from Paul comes because people in the church were taking one another to court and suing them.

He said that there should be mature believers in the church who could handle such disputes between people.

Paul switches subjects and commands them to run from immorality. Remember this is the city with 1,000 temple prostitutes

(1 Corinthians 6:18–20 NKJV) —18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1Corinthians 7 – Marriage

There were questions in Corinth about marriage.

Is marriage a good thing? (answer – yes)

Is it okay to allow my daughter to get married? (yes and no)

1Corinthians 8 – Meat & Idols

Just like Romans 14, Paul deals with the issue of whether or not it is okay to eat meat sacrificed to idols.

What’s the big deal? The pagan temples had meat markets behind them where they sold off the excess meat from animals sacrificed to the pagan gods.

That meat was quite cheap compared to what you could get at Albertsons.

Yet some folks struggled with the concept of eating this meat, due to their “BC” days when they used to worship these idols.

Similar to Romans 14, Paul says,

(1 Corinthians 8:13 NKJV) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1Corinthians 9 – Paul’s support

Paul makes a case that it was okay for an apostle (or pastor) like himself to accept financial support from the churches that he had started.

1Corinthians 10 – Don’t fall away

Paul turns to the Old Testament to warn the Corinthians against falling away from the Lord. He cites several examples of when the Israelites fell away from the Lord.

KEY VERSE ALERT: (worthy of being memorized)

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Lesson

Use the exit

God will make a way out of our temptations, but we need to take it.

Illustration

There was once a man on a diet who prayed, “Lord, if you don’t want me to go get donuts, then let there not be any parking spots at the donut shop.” But he had to give in to the donuts because sure enough, when he got there, there was a parking spot right in front of the door … after his twentieth time around the block.

Sometimes the “way out” means you stop circling the block looking for a parking space.

There was a time when David was being pursued by King Saul.

Saul was insanely jealous of David and came out with his army to hunt down David and his men. During the chase, David and his men went around one side of a mountain while Saul and his men went around the other side to cut them off.

(1 Samuel 23:27–29 NKJV) —27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. 29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

David didn’t stay where he was and wait for Saul to come back.

He left. He took the “exit”.

Illustration

The smartest man on earth, a pastor, and a Cub Scout were taking a plane trip when the pilot came on the intercom and announced that they were having serious trouble and they were going to crash. He suggested that everyone grab a parachute and jump out of the plane. Then the pilot jumped out himself. The three looked at each other and realized that there were three of them, but only two parachutes. The smartest man on earth said, “I’m a very important person, the world needs me, I need to be saved!” He grabbed a parachute and jumped out of the plane. Then the pastor said to the little boy, “Son, I’ve lived a long life and I’m ready to meet the Lord. You take the last parachute.” Then the little boy responded. “Hey mister, no need to worry! The smartest man on earth just took my backpack and jumped out of the plane!”

When you find the way out, take it. Just make sure you are really taking the “exit” and not just the Cub Scout’s backpack!

I think we could learn a lesson from a dog named “Walter”. He found his “exit”.

Video: Run Walter Run

Perhaps if we would learn to “run” from sin as hard as Walter runs, and then dive into the ocean of God’s presence, we might do better with our temptations.

1Corinthians 11 – Women & Communion

Paul will talk about women wearing head coverings.

He also gives instructions about communion and having the right heart when we take it.

1Corinthians 12 – The Body and Gifts

The next three chapters are really a group – they are all about how the Corinthians are supposed to act when they are together as a church.

This chapter is about spiritual gifts - we have been given spiritual gifts and these gifts help us to function as the body of Christ.

1Corinthians 13 – Love

This is the famous “Love Chapter”.

Of course, the better way to get along as a church is to learn to love one another. Don’t forget that the reason this chapter is here is to teach the Corinthians about how to get along.

1Corinthians 14 – Tongues

Paul’s last chapter about their behavior as a church is about tongues and prophecy, learning to exercise their spiritual gifts properly.

(1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV) Let all things be done decently and in order.

1Corinthians 15 – Resurrection

This chapter is all about the resurrection of Jesus – it’s importance to the gospel, and it’s hope for our future.

(1 Corinthians 15:51 NKJV) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

(the theme verse for Nursery workers)

1Corinthians 16 – People and Plans

Paul ends with mentioning people he knows, as well as encouraging the church to get ready to collect money for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

2Corinthians

Background

Last week we gave you the framework of these three letters we’re looking at today, found in Acts 19:21 – 20:3.

Paul wrote 1Corinthians from Ephesus, then 2Corinthians a little later from Philippi.

He will write Romans later from Corinth

2Corinthians 1 – Comfort

Paul has been through quite a bit of difficulty, like the riot in Ephesus. Yet he has found God’s comfort in all his difficulty.

(2 Corinthians 1:3–5 NKJV) —3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

2Corinthians 2 – Discipline over

In Paul’s first letter, he told the church to put the unrepentant immoral man out of the church.

By this second letter things have changed.

Paul finds out that the Corinthians did what he asked, and the unrepentant man has changed his ways.

It’s time to bring him back into the church.

(2 Corinthians 2:7 NKJV) so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

2Corinthians 3 – New Covenant Glory

The Old Covenant (with Moses) had a certain measure of glory as Moses glowed each time he came from God’s presence.

But if the Old Covenant had glory, how much more glory is there in Christ?

(2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) 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 by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are changed when we spend time in God’s presence.

2Corinthians 4 – Broken Vessels

The glory of knowing Jesus has been hidden inside clay pots (us), and when we are “broken”, the light of Jesus shines through.

It’s kind of like Gideon’s war with the Midianites.

He had torches hidden in the clay pots. When the signal came, they broke the clay pots and the line coming out startled the Midianites.

For us, our afflictions can at times cause us to be “broken”, and there can be purpose to this –

(2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NKJV) —16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Corinthians 5 – New Bodies & Reconciliation

We will exchange these old “tents” for much better heavenly dwellings.

Illustration

THE ELEVATOR

An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again. The boy asked his father, “What is this, Father?” The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, “Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life. I don’t know what it is!” While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, as an old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched small circles of lights with numbers above the walls light up. They continued to watch the circles light up in the reverse direction. The walls opened up again and a beautiful 24-year-old woman stepped out. The father said to his son, “Let’s go get your mother!

We also have a call from God to encourage people to be made right with God (reconciliation)

KEY VERSE ALERT:

There is a great verse here about what God has done to make us right with Himself.

Paul starts with this –

(2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

reconciled – katallasso – to change, exchange coins for others of equivalent value; to reconcile individuals who are at odds

When you travel to a foreign country, if you are going to pay cash for anything, you might need to “exchange” your currency. You exchange your “dollars” for the currency of the land - rubles, shekels, pesos, or euros.

Note that the act of reconciliation was accomplished by God. (vs.18)

We had nothing to do with the accomplishment of reconciliation. It was all done by God.

Here’s the Key Verse. Paul tells us what this currency “exchange” looked like –

(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God took our sin and put it on the sinless one, Jesus. An exchange.

(Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

God exchanged something with our sin. He took Jesus’ righteousness and gave that to us.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t just come as a fully grown man and die on the cross, perhaps all in a weekend?

Why would He become a little baby, spend thirty years growing up, three more years in ministry, and then die on a cross?

When John the Baptist argued with Jesus and said that he wasn’t worthy to be baptizing Jesus, Jesus said,

(Matthew 3:15 NKJV) But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Jesus spent thirty-three years on planet earth living a life of righteousness, a life of doing the right things.

God “reconciled” us by taking our sins, putting them on Jesus, and “exchanging” them for Jesus’ good deeds.

2Corinthians 6 – Paul’s sufferings

Paul reminds the Corinthians of what life is like as an apostle. It’s about suffering.

2Corinthians 7 – Repentance

Paul commends the Corinthians on their repentance.

When he rebuked them (1Cor. 5) about the immoral man in the church, they responded and turned to God!

(2 Corinthians 7:11 NKJV) 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.

Repentance isn’t just crying over your actions. It’s a complete turn around in your behavior.

Many a spouse has struggled with their abusive spouse crying and promising to change.

If the change is real, you will see it in actions.

2Corinthians 8-9 - Giving

Paul encourages the Corinthians to do what they had promised earlier – come through with a significant monetary gift for the suffering church in Jerusalem.

2Corinthians 10-11 – Paul’s defense

Paul once again is having to spend more time defending himself.

2Corinthians 12 – Thorn in the flesh

Paul talks about his being “caught up into heaven” and hearing heavenly things.

God gives him a “thorn” in his flesh, difficulty to keep him humble. Paul asks God to remove it, but God says, “No”.

(2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Corinthians 13 – Intentions to visit

Paul is really hoping to see them again (he will)

Quiz

Fill in the blank:

God is for _____

Homework

Assignment: Read in HBH “How We Got Our Bible” (it’s in the back under “Supplemental Materials”) but only read sections 1 & 2. If you want to be really bold, read all the sections (your extra credit rewards will be in heaven)