Daily Scripture Reading 2Corinthians 12:17 - 13:14

Most Christians today assume that people who associate themselves with an evangelical church are saved. Even when people within evangelicalism live lives full of sin, the assumption is they are saved, just backslidden.

As we finish reading 2Corinthians today, we will see that there was a lot of sin in the church in Corinth. It was so bad that Paul commanded the so-called believers to examine whether or not they were truly in the faith. When we confront habitual sinners in the modern church, perhaps that should be our first question.

When we stopped reading yesterday, Paul was defending his apostleship, reminding the Corinthians that the signs of an apostle were performed by him among them. Then he said he was ready to visit Corinth the third time, but that he would not be a financial burden to them, just as he was not a burden on prior visits.

2Cor. 12:17 Have I taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you?

2Cor. 12:18 I encouraged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit—in the very same steps?

The answer to those questions is no.

2Cor. 12:19 ¶ All this time you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ in the sight of God. And all these things, beloved, are for your building up.

Paul wrote many sentences in 2Corinthians that defended his apostleship, but the ultimate purpose was not to defend himself, it was to build up the Corinthians. It would build them up because in order for them to treat Paul’s words as a message from God, they had to believe that he was an apostle.

2Cor. 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.

Paul was hopeful that when he arrived in Corinth, he would find them righteous, but he was afraid he would find the opposite, and he listed some of the sins he feared he would find.

If Paul found those conditions, then he would have to be discipline- minded, which was not what the Corinthians would have wanted.

2Cor. 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.

Paul had been in Corinth before and knew of their sins, including impurity and sexual immorality. He was afraid that those who did those had not repented and were still practicing those sins.

2Cor. 13:1 ¶ This is the third time I am coming to you. BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED.

Paul was writing about the need to confront sin, but he reassured the Corinthians that every matter would be confirmed by two or three witnesses. In other words, no one had to fear that they would be wrongly punished due to a single accuser making a false allegation.

2Cor. 13:2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

2Cor. 13:3 since you are seeking proof that Christ speaks in me; He is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

According to 2Cor 10:10, the Corinthians thought Paul was weak when talking face-to-face, even though his letters were strong. At this point in his letter Paul was warning them that Christ is not weak, and if Paul found the sin he feared he would find, then he would not spare anyone.

Look at the phrase “seeking proof that Christ speaks in me”. As an apostle, Paul spoke on behalf of Christ. The Corinthians wanted proof that Paul was an apostle, which was one of the reasons Paul wrote this letter.

2Cor. 13:4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God toward you.

2Cor. 13:5 ¶ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Look at the phrase “if you are in the faith”. Because of the rampant sin in the church in Corinth, Paul commanded the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they were true believers.

Most Christians today assume that people who associate themselves with an evangelical church are saved. Even when people within evangelicalism live lives full of sin, the assumption is they are saved, just backslidden.

Being a servant of Jesus and obeying Him is a core part of being a Christian. If a so-called Christian lives a life full of sin, then at some point the question has to be asked whether or not the person is truly a Christian.

2Cor. 13:6 But I hope that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

2Cor. 13:7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong, not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.

2Cor. 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

2Cor. 13:9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong. This we also pray for, that you be restored.

Paul did not merely want to punish the sinners, he wanted them restored.

2Cor. 13:10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

2Cor. 13:11 ¶ Finally, brothers, rejoice, be restored, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2Cor. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2Cor. 13:13 All the saints greet you.

2Cor. 13:14 ¶ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Paul knew there were many in the church in Corinth who lived lives marked by sin. He encouraged those sinners to examine whether or not they were truly in the faith. When we confront rampant sinners in the modern church, we should also encourage that examination.

Who are some well-known personalities within evangelicalism whose lives are marked by sin?

At what point, and in what manner, should their salvation be doubted and questioned?

Who are some people in your church who claim to be Christians, but their lives are marked by sin, thus indicating a need to confront whether or not they truly are believers?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”