Written From the Heart
The Letters to the Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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INTRODUCTION:
I- WRITTEN FROM A HEART OF LOVE. (2 Corinthians 2:1-4)
I- WRITTEN FROM A HEART OF LOVE. (2 Corinthians 2:1-4)
2 Corinthians 2:1–4 (NLT)
1 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.
2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.
3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.
4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
A- The purpose for writing:
1- Verse 4 contains the reason why Paul wrote.
a- “I wanted you to know how much love I have for you.”
(ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀγάπην ἵνα γνῶτε ἣν ἔχω περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς.)
B- The proof of his love:
1- The desire to do good, rather than evil, for the recipients. (2 Corinthians 2:1-3)
a- Notice the positive characteristics of love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
2- His attitude in writing them reflects his love. (2 Corinthians 2:4)
2 Corinthians 2:4 (NLT)
4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
a- “great anguish” (πολλῆς θλίψεως = much anguish and suffering)
b- “troubled heart” (συνοχῆς καρδίας = distress of heart)
Word Pictures in the New Testament 2 Corinthians 2:4
Ablative case after ἐκ [ek] (out of). Old word from συνεχω [sunechō], to hold together. So contraction of heart (Cicero, contractio animi), a spiritual angina pectoris.
c- “many tears” (πολλῶν δακρύων = many [a great number of] tears.)
II- WRITTEN TO URGE FORGIVENESS AND RESTORATION. (2 Corinthians 2:5-13)
II- WRITTEN TO URGE FORGIVENESS AND RESTORATION. (2 Corinthians 2:5-13)
2 Corinthians 2:5–13 (NLT)
5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.
6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.
7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions.
10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit,
11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.
13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
A- Paul recognized the obedience of the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 2:9)
1- The individual had hurt the whole body of believers in Corinth. (2 Corinthians 2:5)
2 Corinthians 2:5 (NLT)
5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.
2- The Corinthians had followed Paul’s instructions for discipline. (2 Corinthians 2:6)
2 Corinthians 2:6 (NLT)
6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.
a- The sin committed had damaged the testimony and fellowship of the church. (1 Corinthians 5:1-10)
1 Corinthians 5:1–10 (NLT)
1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.
2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.
3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man
4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus.
5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?
7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.
10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
B- Paul urged forgiveness and restoration of the repentant brother. (2 Corinthians 2:7-8, 10-11)
2 Corinthians 2:7–8 (NLT)
7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:10–11 (NLT)
10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit,
11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
1- The practice of church discipline is to be carried out with redemption and restoration in mind.
2- There is a time to discipline and a time to forgive and restore.
3- Failure to practice discipline biblically and with the right motive will have negative consequences.
a- Satan can use our disobedience as a part of his schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)
Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
III- WRITTEN WITH THE RECOGNITION OF ACCOUNTABILITY. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
III- WRITTEN WITH THE RECOGNITION OF ACCOUNTABILITY. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
2 Corinthians 2:14–17 (NLT)
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
A- We must recognize that God uses us to bring glory to Himself. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
1- We become the trophies of his grace.
2- We become a Christ-like fragrance for the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (NLT)
15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
B- We must recognize that we are accountable to God for the way we live and serve. (2 Corinthians 2:17)
2 Corinthians 2:17 (NLT)
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
1- We must know that “God is watching” as we serve (θεοῦ κατέναντι= in the sight of God)
2- Because of this knowledge, we are to “preach the word of God with sincerity” (ἐξ εἰλικρινείας) and “with Christ’s authority.” (ἐν Χριστῷ ἐκ θεοῦ).
CONCLUSION: