Author: Charlie Garrett

Friday, 14 August 2015

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
2 Corinthians 5:14

There is an ambiguity in the first portion of this verse so that it could read, “For the love of Christ compels us,” or “For our love for Christ compels us.” However, on numerous occasions in Paul’s writings, he speaks of God’s love for us, so the former is probably the correct rendering (e.g. see Romans 5:5; Romans 8:35; 1 Corinthians 16:24; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

As Paul notes, it is this great love which “compels us.” It is the motivating factor which impelled him and the other apostles forward. And the reason why is because of understanding the significance of what Christ’s love means, thus the words rendered as “because we judge this.” They judged the importance of what Christ did and were therefore compelled forward, knowing that their ministry was the only thing between those they encountered and salvation or condemnation. This is reflected in the words, “…that if One died for all, then all died.”

Christ died a substitutionary death. He did not die for His own sins, but for the sins of the world. However, in order for those sins to be forgiven, the message of Christ must be transmitted to people. When they hear and believe, then they are granted forgiveness through His death. The words “then all died” indicate that whoever (they are potential, not actual, until received) receives Christ “dies” with Him. This is reflected elsewhere in Paul’s writings, such as –

“For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:19, 20

In Christ, we die to sin; it no longer has mastery over us. At that time, the life we live is lived to God and we are no longer held by the power of the devil. This is the message which so compelled the apostles, urging them forward in order to bring many to a saving knowledge of what God did in Christ for the people of the world.

Life application: How important are the souls of those you encounter to you? If you are the only person they will meet who could bring them to Christ and you fail to speak, they will face a vastly different fate than they may otherwise have faced if you had simply spoken. Don’t withhold the wonderful message of reconciliation!

Lord, I may be the only person to have the right opportunity to personally speak to someone about Jesus in their whole life. If I speak, there may be a chance of him hearing and believing. If I keep silent, the promise of eternal life will fade from his possible future… all because I was too timid to simply open my mouth and share the life-giving news. What a burden to carry for all eternity. Help me to be bold and to share what Jesus has done with each person I meet. Grant me this burning desire, O God! Amen.

Thursday, 13 August 2015

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 2 Corinthians 5:13

This continues Paul’s thought of the previous verse. To the Corinthians, he said that he wanted to “give you opportunity to boast on our behalf.” How could they do this? Paul explains that when charges are leveled against him as an apostle, they could use the argument in this verse.

It appears that some had said that he and the other apostles were either nuts or at least on their way to the funny farm. This is what he means by “beside ourselves.” It is a charge that was made against Paul in Acts 26 –

“Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!'” Acts 26:24

Even more, it is a charge that was levied against the Lord. Two such examples follow –

“Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. ²⁰ And many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?'” John 10:19, 20

&

“Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. ²¹ But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.'” Mark 3:20, 21

Paul says now that if they were beside themselves, it was “for God.” In other words, their zeal was so strong for upholding the truth of God that others may say they were out of their minds.

On the other hand, for those who understood their position and their zeal, they knew that they were of “sound mind.” And if of sound mind, it was for the sake of those they ministered to. Therefore, they could easily defend Paul and the other apostles, being given this opportunity to boast on their behalf – “He isn’t nuts, except about Jesus! He isn’t crazy, but if he is, it is about the gospel. He is as right as rain.”

Life application: Do you know someone who is a bit eccentric and yet is totally sold out to the Lord? Let the eccentric be overlooked; there is genius behind the zeal for Christ.

Heavenly Father, I often wonder if I’m a bit nuts. And the answer is “Yes, I am nuts for Jesus.” I sometimes wonder if I am looked at as a bit off my rocker. And the answer is, “Yes, I jumped out of that to praise the Lord.” And at times, people say that I should be committed. They forget that I already am; I am committed to You. No shame here! I am on fire for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, and Amen!

Wednesday, 12 August 2015

 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 2 Corinthians 5:12

Based on his words of the previous verse, his detractors could say, “There he goes again, boasting about himself as one of the apostles!” But this isn’t the case. It is a continuation of the defense he made all the way back in Chapter 3 –

“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ² You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

There was no need for self commendation because those in Corinth who came to Christ and who were then schooled in Christ testified to their apostolic ministry. Now he takes that thought and offers it to them to “give you opportunity to boast on our behalf.” If the Corinthians are their “epistle” then they should feel free to make a boasting of them. Thus, there was no need for Paul and the others to commend themselves. Again, this is something he already addressed to them at the beginning of the letter –

“For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. ¹³ For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end ¹⁴ (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 1:12-14

To complete the thought of this verse, he says that their boasting is so “that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.” The term “in appearance” is literally “in face.” The work of Paul and the other apostles was written on the heart, whereas the work of the others was external. They boasted of their eloquence, superior knowledge, the names of their schools, or whatever other external signs of their greatness. Paul will speak of these people directly later in the epistle. They were superficial and they were false teachers.

Life application: Paul had personal defects, he wasn’t known as an eloquent speaker, and he certainly wasn’t flashy. Instead he made tents to support himself and shared the gospel freely to all. Those who opposed him may have been visually appealing and very well-spoken, but they missed what was important – holding fast to God’s word. Now think of those in the world today – whom would you rather trust with the message of your eternal destiny? Does a flashy presentation really matter all that much when put in this perspective?

Heavenly Father, please help those who are seeking You to look past the externals of eloquence, physical ability, and flashy presentations. Instead, I would pray that they would seek out those who hold fast to Your word regardless of their physical appeal or exceptional speaking abilities. Trading sound doctrine for ear-appeal is not a very good deal when one considers that eternal rewards and even salvation itself are at stake. Open hearts to Your word alone! Amen.

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:11

In the previous verse Paul noted that all believers will “appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” This is judgment for the saved, not the lost. Understanding this, the word phobos which is translated here as “terror” is not what Paul is conveying.

Rather, the word should be rendered as “fear.” Phobos “is commonly used in Scripture – sometimes positively (in relation to God) but more often negatively of withdrawing from the Lord (His will)” (HELPS Word Studies). Christians, knowing that their judgment lies ahead, are to have a reverential fear and awe at the strictness by which they will be judged. However, “terror” is not a part of this judgment. In Christ, there is no condemnation.

With that in mind, we should each know that we will, in fact, be judged according to what we have done and we should be therefore be on guard to act in a right and proper manner at all times. It is because of this coming judgment that Paul and the other apostles “persuade men.” It was their desire that those who had called on Christ not let their guard down as if there were no judgment at all coming upon them.

And this lesson needs to be conveyed now by all who preach and teach the word. In many ways, the Christian world has come to believe that “getting saved” means that judgment is behind us and all is peachy between us and the Lord. Concerning salvation or condemnation that is true, but that is not the end of matter.

To finish this thought, he writes that “we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” Paul is not telling the Corinthians anything which contradicts their own status as apostles. They are not “saying one thing and doing another.” Rather, what they have been imploring in others, they have lived out among themselves. This is confirmed by his words from the previous chapter –

“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2

Life application: Getting saved is not the end of our responsibilities before the Lord. Rather, it is the beginning. We will all be judged when we stand before Him, and that judgment will be based on our adherence to His word (our instruction manual) from the time that we were saved. Are the losses of eternal rewards worth ignoring His guidelines?

Heavenly Father, I have noticed that fellow believers often assume that once they are saved their judgment is behind them. I would pray for anyone who feels this way to reflect on what Your word says. Getting saved isn’t the end of our responsibilities to Christ, it is the beginning. Eternity is a long time and our judgment for rewards will be based on our Christian walk now. Help me to relay this to others so that they will receive reward and not loss on that great Day. Amen.

Monday, 10 August 2015

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

The words here should be perfectly understandable on their surface. The verse is not speaking to unbelievers at all. They will receive a different judgment, one of condemnation. The judgment of this verse is one of salvation.

Paul notes that “we must all,” meaning all believers, “appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” This is the Bema Seat of Christ. In Greek bema indicates “an elevated place ascended by steps, a throne, tribunal.” Charles Ellicott notes that –

It “is the tribunal of the Roman magistrate, raised high above the level of the basilica, or hall, at the end of which it stood. The word was transferred, when basilicas were turned into churches, to the throne of the bishop, and in classical Greek had been used, not for the judge’s seat, but for the orator’s pulpit.”

At the time of Paul’s writing though, it had the original Roman sense of being the place of a tribunal. This is what each Christian will face. And the reason is “that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” As noted, this is not a judgment for either salvation or condemnation. That was determined when the individual received Jesus by faith. As Paul notes about every person who is in Christ –

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:10, 11

The judgment which Paul speaks of here is one of works, done in the body, while in Christ. He speaks of this same judgment in 1 Corinthians 3 –

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

At that time we shall stand before the Lord and He will search us out. This will be a complete evaluation, right down to the motives of the heart. Nothing will be overlooked and the thought of divine reckoning is an appropriate way of explaining what will occur. He has saved us; we will be evaluated based on what we have done with that salvation; and we will be judged according to how we responded to it in our Christian life.

The same word translated as “appear” in this verse is translated as “reveal” in 1 Corinthians 4:5 –

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

In other words, the secret things of the heart will not be unknown to the Lord. His evaluation will search us out completely and it is with this judgment that we will receive our eternal rewards or losses. And with all certainty, there will be a standard by which we will be judged. It will not be arbitrary or unfair, but it will be perfectly just and righteous. For those who have adhered to His word, there will be reward; for those who have disobeyed it, there will be loss.

Nobody will be able to complain that their judgment was unfair. And all will be satisfied with the results of the judgment they receive.

Life application: Oh how shallow we are to trade heaven’s riches for temporary gain. The word has been given and we have been asked to pursue it and adhere to it. How many stand in disobedience to it, supposing that their dismissal of what He has spoken will be ignored. Let us not be so small-minded when we contemplate the Lord who judges.

Heavenly Father, I know that every person who has received Christ will stand before Him and give an account for the deeds they have done while in the body. I know also that Your word has been given now to direct us in our walk so that we can have a good reward if we adhere to it. How shallow we are to suppose that our judgment will be based on something other than what You have already revealed. Help me to pursue You through Your word, understanding that it is my standard for Your evaluation of my life. Amen.