 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Meditation God’s grace births new creation, compelling God’s people to open wide our hearts to one another, deepening unity in a fallen and fractured world. Common identification in Christ is a result of union with Christ, leading Christians to “work together with God” (1) by mutually participating in one another’s lives. The new creation reality (5:17) has burst into the present and we must not “receive the grace of God in vain” (1). “Now is the favorable time” when God listens, helping Christians by providing salvation (2). Paul‘s validation of his apostleship also highlights godly virtues from kingdom life lived together in reciprocal relationship(3-10). The difficult circumstances birthed new life in Paul’s relationship with the Church, bearing fruit similar to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul’s words reflect Christ’s upside-down ministry marked with rejoicing in sorrow, discovering riches in poverty, and possessing everything while having nothing. The capstone is a life transformed by the grace of God that is “wide open” in relationship with one another (11-13). The fracturing of mutual participation in one another’s lives comes when believers unequally yoke, committing to walk with the wickedness of the world rather than guard God’s design for His family (14-15). The Church is a new people, God’s temple, the fullness of God’s ancient plan to dwell with His people and make a new family (16-18). New creation has come and Christians must cut the commitments we have made with the fallen world that cultivate fracturing and friction. Now is the favorable time for fruitfulness in and through our life together. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in how the new creation reality from chapter five fuels fruitful life together as God’s people? -Where do you see the church yoked with the world in a way that furthers friction and fracturing more than fertilizing fruitful relationship with one another? Where have you participated in this problematic pattern? -How does our union with Christ, common identification in Him, and the fullness of God’s promises to make the Church His dwelling place and His family, refocus your faith and free you to open wide your heart to other believers- to participate in the life of other Christians? Be specific. Key Verse 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open…. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. Comments are closed.
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