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Rightly Dividing
the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
Established
November 2008 Published weekly on Friday
This is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (and women) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:3-4)
2 Corinthians (5:10-15) (Lesson 13)
Greetings and
welcome to HBS.
Thank you for being
here with us today.
********
Please
open your Bible at 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
The
Judgment Seat of Christ
For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed
for his (or
her) deeds in the body, according to
what he (or she) has done, whether
good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear
of the Lord, we persuade men (and women), but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest
also in your consciences (10-11).
This
is the second time Paul has warned Believers we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans
14:10). The Greek word for this judgment is bema, the dais upon which the judges in court actions or judges at
sporting events, either sat or stood.
The judges in court room settings dealt out justice, while those at
sporting events dealt out rewards to
those who excelled at sporting events.
The
word bema appears twice in the N.T.
in regards to sporting events (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). This word is never used, however, in
connection with God’s judgment of the unsaved.
All true Believers have only the aspect of bema to face, with its rewards or loss of rewards, the latter of
which can, however, be a most embarrassing and humiliating experience – I would
imagine. I mention this because no
member of the Body of Christ will escape having his or her life reviewed at the
Lord’s Bema Seat Judgment.
The
Scriptures don’t tell us everything we’d like to know about the Bema Seat Judgment except to say we’re all going
to be called before the Creator God and everything we’ve said or done, whether good or bad, will be revealed: For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be
recompensed for his (or her) deeds
in the body, according to what he (or she) has done, whether good or bad (v10).
Personally
speaking, I was a shy, self conscious lad in school. I didn’t enjoy being called up in front of
the class to recite something from memory or to finish a problem on the
blackboard. However, I’m not getting
the impression that the Lord is going to call us up front and then run a video
of everyone’s life from start to finish, handing out popcorn and soda to the
Church audience in attendance. But, as I’ve
said this book doesn’t say how it’s to be done.
Remember this; once we’re in the 3rd heaven there is no time
clock. Time will not be a factor to
contend with, so Jesus Christ can do whatever He wants.
This
book does say: Now if any man (or woman) builds
on the foundation (which is Jesus Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s (or
woman’s) work will become evident; for
the day will show it because it is to
be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of
each man’s (and woman’s) work. If any man’s (or woman’s) work which he (or she) has built on remains, he (or she) will receive a reward. If any man’s (or woman’s) work is burned up, he (or she) will suffer loss; but he himself (or
she herself) will be saved, yet as
through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
I’ve
been teaching my classes from the word “go” we are not saved to sit in church
pews in our Sunday best and then return to the world until the following week; and then repeat. Were not saved by doing good works, but
we’re saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). This book says Believers are accountable for
their actions (Romans 2:6, 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:7-10; 2
Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 1:17).
While
we’re here on earth we are Christ’s ambassadors
of good will (2 Corinthians 5:20). We
speak for the Lord when we plead for people to return to the Father. You may tell someone at home, at work, or a
stranger you meet while waiting for an oil change, in this dispensation God is
in the forgiving business; Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for their
sins, all they need to do to appropriate God’s free gift of grace and salvation
is believe the gospel (1 Corinthians
15:1-4). It’s as simple as that, folks;
easy-peasy.
But
here’s the thing, God is interested in your motivation and not the number of
people you relay this message to; not the amount of work your doing. In other
words, why are you building on the foundation
of Jesus Christ crucified? Is it to
promote Jesus and His kingdom or yours? Believe
me, it’s a very fine line to walk – pride is a terrible thing. Pride gets in the way of a great many things,
including your eternal rewards.
There
was a story circulating amongst the churches awhile back about a youth pastor
who received a medal for being a “humble
servant of the church.” But he was
told to return it when he started wearing it.
This youth pastor experienced a loss
of reward and although this story is told “tongue in cheek,” the biblical
truth concerning Believers experiencing a loss
of reward because the quality of
their work did not stand the
Lord’s test of fire; their labor equaling
wood, hay, and straw is most
certainly not.
Let’s
go to verse 11.
2 Corinthians 5
11: Therefore,
knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men (and women), but we are made manifest to God; and I
hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
Therefore, knowing
the fear of the Lord –
Paul’s still speaking about the Judgment Seat of Christ, adding there is a
certain awe and respect attached to this future event (Acts 5:11, 9:31) because
the Creator God is going to be the Judge of the righteous saints. Knowing this should motivate Believers to
live godly lives, to serve in some capacity using their God-given spiritual
gift(s), and to share the gospel often
for each one will give an account to God.
We persuade men (and women) but we are made manifest to God – Some
of the Corinthians brought false charges against Paul declaring he was
influenced by improper motives. Paul’s
response to this is seen here. Paul’s saying
God sees his true aim and purpose in the ministry, i.e. our motives are known
to Him. Paul plants a grace-filled
comment as well with this: I hope that we are made manifest also in
your consciences. It disturbed Paul
to have to defend his apostleship and his ministry constantly. We see some of his frustration in the
following verses.
Paul
Defends His Ministry
2 Corinthians 5:12-15
We are not again
commending ourselves to you but are giving
you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for
God; if we are of sound mind (Paul wasn’t crazy), it is for you. For the love of
Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all
died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for
themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
We are not again
commending ourselves to you – this phrase mirror’s Paul’s comment at 2
Corinthians 3:1: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Paul uses the term “to commend” often in this letter because of the ongoing conflict
with the antagonistic false teachers from Palestine who elevated themselves
above Paul and his co-workers by besmirching him, his background, and denying his
gospel. He used the same expression in a
negative sense in 1 Corinthians re: some of the church member’s beliefs (2
Corinthians 4:18).
So that you will
have an answer for those who take
pride in appearance and not in heart – this describes one of the problems in the
Corinthian church. They were impressed
and took pride in a person’s appearance and not in (their) heart
following the pattern of the world. They
looked down on Paul and his co-workers because his glory was not in appearance but
in heart. Paul was terribly ordinary in
appearance. He was a poor public
speaker. In 2 Corinthians 10:10 he
acknowledges that many in the Corinthian church were criticizing him for his unimpressive
preaching. Some folks, according to the
account in Acts 14:19-20 found his appearance to be revolting, but this was
after he was stoned in Lystra by the Jews and they dragged his body outside the
city believing him to be dead. I for one
believe he did die, but God intervened and kept him alive. (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). They didn’t use rocks for this act they used
boulders; these would crush bones especially a person’s skull, which prompted
Paul to remark to the Galatians, “…I
bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17).
By
carefully explaining to the Corinthians how God worked through his struggles
and trials, for momentary, light
affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
comparison (v17), Paul gave those folks
an
answer.
Let’s
look at verse 13.
2 Corinthians 5
13: For if we are
beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
To
understand this verse you have to remember what Paul has been saying all along
to these Corinthians or consider the context.
The Corinthian church was a backsliding bunch of Believers. We know this from Paul’s first letter, a
letter of rebuke, and most recently from verses 10-11. Paul informs them every Believer will appear
before the Judgment Seat of Christ, every person will be recompensed for the
things they have done, whether good or
bad; a frightening prospect for a backsliding church I would imagine. Knowing, then, the terror of the Lord, he said, he persuaded men, realizing he himself was manifested to God and trusting that he and his way of life would be
made manifest also in your consciences.
This
information helps us to understand verse 13.
With all this persuading and warning, some people may be thinking
that Paul would be “beside himself” or extremely frustrated. But Paul, in effect, is saying, “That’s for God to say and not you.” “But on the other hand, if you acknowledge me
to be of sound mind, then remember I
have done all this intense persuading
and warning for your sakes – that my
words and my ways might commend themselves to your consciences in the sight of
God and that this might bear fruit in your lives.”
Let’s
go to verses 14-15.
2 Corinthians 5
For the love of
Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all,
therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no
longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their
behalf.
Considering
all that is written in the O.T. concerning God’s love for all people, particularly His chosen people the Israelites, even
though they rejected the LORD and repeatedly wronged Him, God continued to love
them (Exodus 34:6-7; Jeremiah 31:20, 32:40-41; Psalm 145:14-17). This foreshadows the love of Jesus Christ. When
we see Him born as a baby in Bethlehem, becoming one of us, read about Him going
about His Father’s business doing deeds of mercy in the four gospels, demonstrating love is indeed a verb, and at the end of
His ministry and His life prayerfully loving those who put Him to death, “Father forgive them for they not what they do.” When we consider all this, I find it truly
remarkable the phrase: “the love of
Christ” is found only three places in the entire Bible. All three of these short but meaningful
phrases are in Paul’s letters. They are:
Romans
8:35 – Who will separate us from the love
of Christ?
Ephesians
3:19 – and to know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of
God.
2
Corinthians 5:14 – For the love of
Christ controls us,
Paul’s
letters are filled with the message of Christ’s
love to him, the church, and to a Christ-rejecting world. If you want to take the time to review
his letters, you’ll find each one opens with words of mercy, grace, and love: Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of
all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:2-3).
For the love of
Christ controls us – the
Greek word for controls is Sunecho (pronounced: soon-ekh’-o), a Verb, Strongs Greek # 4912,
it’s a strong word meaning: to compress; to hold fast as a
prisoner. The Apostle Luke used it in
8:45: And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched
Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are
crowding (Sunecho) and pressing in on You.”
The
Lord could not exit the multitude that had gathered around Him. Our Apostle Paul was similarly controlled by love; it swept him along as a rip current would off of a Florida
beach after a strong storm. We’re not discussing
Paul’s love towards Jesus Christ, but the
love of Christ towards him. God’s
love is perfect. He set the standard
of perfection for love in this
statement: “But
I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke
6:27-28).
But
here’s the thing, our human understanding of love is quite limited. This book says we are to love others as God
has loved us. The world has a different opinion.
They love those who can further their career or provide something they
need and that is not godly love. One
other aspect of human love is it waxes and wanes; more than 50% of Christian
marriages end in divorce for example. But
the love of Christ to us, His
church, and to a Chirst-rejecting world never
changes; like true north it’s a
constant (Romans 11:29; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17, 13:8; James 1:17; 1 John
4:7-8).
Having concluded (make a logical
judgment about) this, that one died for all,
therefore all died – this verse says what it means and means what it
says. The Lord Jesus Christ died our
death, was buried, and rose again; according to the Scriptures, so that all
those who choose to believe the
gospel will have life in Christ, so
that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died
and rose again on their behalf (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
That’s
the gospel my friends and Paul is not ashamed of it. He talks it up wherever he goes and it doesn’t
change just because the people who make up his audience changes because that’s
how God intended it. But as to his
statement about Jesus Christ dying for
all, for all have died, this is
not the only place you’ll find it in your Bible. Please turn with me to Romans 3:22:
“even the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for (who) all those who believe; for there is
no distinction; for (how many) all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Flip
on over to Romans 11:32: “For God has shut up all in disobedience so
that He may show mercy to (how many) to
all.”
I
hope your Bible is starting to show some wear-and-tear like mine because this
means you’re flipping pages and chasing down these Bible passages, one right
after the other, searching for “the truth.” Let’s head on over to 1 Timothy 2:3-4. If you aren’t familiar with this one, I’d be
surprised because I run it as a banner-passage in my heading every week: “This
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (and
women) to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”
Let’s
look at the verses 5-6 that follow the ones above: “For
there is one God, and one mediator
also between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a
ransom for all, the testimony given at
the proper time.”
I
think we have time for one more. Follow
me to Hebrews 2:9: But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the
angels, namely, Jesus, because of the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He
might taste death (for who) for
everyone.
Remember,
earlier in this letter our Apostle stated quite clearly the lost will perish
because the god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of
the gospel of the glory of Christ – and be saved (4:4).
The lost is a rather vague term
for all those who deny these statements from Paul, his apostolic authority, the
deity of Christ Jesus, or all the above.
The lost do not agree with
Scripture, i.e. with God when it clearly says by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit: all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God because
they are descendants of Adam (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). They think by not believing in Adam, this
Bible, and in God this all goes away… they say there are no absolutes. Enter the theory of relativism which believes
concepts such as right and wrong, goodness and badness, or truth and falsehood
are not absolute but change from culture to culture and situation to
situation. Since there is no God, and no
sin, there will be no judgment day.
The
saved are aware who’s deceiving the
masses, however, the lost are oblivious;
Paul’s gospel is veiled to those who are
perishing (4:3).
Please
pray for the lost.
These
verses are worthy of our time, so I’ll not hurry through them, for your sake.
We’ll
bookmark this spot and pick it up here when next we meet. I pray you have a great week; be kind to one another (Ephesians
4:29-32) and full of faith (1 Peter 4:19).
(To
be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
All
Rights Reserved
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