Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (ESV)
To listen to the audio of this message, click below…
This is the 42nd & last message from 2 Cor. Paul began & ends with comfort (1:2-3 then 13:11). Paul’s point is the CHURCH is to be a place of peace & comfort!
13:11. After all Paul has written to a troubled dysfunctional church… after threatening to implement church discipline… after imploring them to examine their conversion… he writes for them to “REJOICE!” That struck me as odd… at first…
With all the bickering, divisions, confusion, & difficulties… he writes for them to rejoice?! Why? Because rejoicing TOGETHER (“brothers” 13:11) was unifying. For a church that was divided over many things, it was imperative they come together in worship… rejoicing! Consider this illustration…
At football games there’re Democrats & Republicans… liberals & conservatives… rich & poor… black & white… old & young. Diverse group! But during the game they’re unified… on the same side… cheering together. Right? Why? They have their TEAM in common.
Christians, were on the same side! It made no sense for God’s people to fight, fuss, bicker, argue, & attack each other. When it happened, it was not of God… it was of Satan.[i] The Corinthians had a bond that transcended all! GOD is Father… Jesus is brother[ii]… & The Spirit is IN ALL. Christians can/should REJOICE!
In 2 Cor 11:13-15 we said the one thing Satan can’t defeat is forgiveness. His goal is to divide & conquer, our answer is to FORGIVE (2 Cor 2:10). Unwillingness to forgive is disobedience to God’s command and Jesus’ example. Then Paul wrote…
“Aim for restoration” (ESV), “Perfection” (NIV). “Be made complete” (KJV & NASB).
{Commentator} The key… (is) not adding something that is lacking, but putting things in order… adjusting (what is) out of adjustment. It is used… of fishermen mending their nets (Mt 4:21). Paul exhorted the Corinthians to mend their ways, straighten themselves out, & restore harmony among themselves. Spiritual wholeness comes when the church… collectively & individually, is in… conformity to God’s Word.[iii]
Whether perfection, made complete, or restoration is used in a translation, it is a return to the way things should be… & better! Better? Yeah! Think about Peter after Jesus was arrested, killed, & resurrected.
Peter failed by denying & cursing Jesus.[iv] Except for what Judas did… there was not a more grievous sin committed by one the twelve. And what did Jesus say to Peter after the resurrection?
“I had plans for you, but you blew it! So I’ll use someone else. You’re a great guy, but you’re NOT going to lead MY church now!” Right? No…
In Jn 21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter… “Do you love me?” Three times Peter said yes. Jesus told Peter: “Feed My lambs,” “Tend My sheep,” & “Feed My sheep.” When Peter realized Jesus chose HIM to lead the Church… an huge sense of comfort & affirmation must have flooded his soul!
Imagine failing like Peter & being trusted AGAIN! Jesus forgave & reconciled Peter! That must have brought great PEACE to Peter. The Corinthians had failed on many levels… but there was hope IF they would follow Christ. Hear the words of Jesus from Lk 6:27…
I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, & from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, & from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 Do unto others as you would have them do to you. {Ever meditated on the Golden Rule?!}
When one you love is hurting you put your arms around them (1:2-3) & comfort them. As a result there’s rejoicing (13:11-C). However… Jesus commands we help, strengthen, bless, & encourage who?? OUR ENEMIES! That’s what makes His followers different from others.
People will fail you & you’ll fail others. Christians forgive & comfort, because they’ve been forgiven & comforted by God (2 Cor 1:2-3)! Look at what Paul writes next…
“Agree with one another.” That takes work because agreeing isn’t always easy. But it is not an option for believers. What is to be agreed on? Consider the following…
God’s glory is #1. Agree? Jesus is salvation. Agree? We’re to build the Kingdom. Agree? We’re to share the Gospel. Agree? Others are more important than us. Agree? We’re to conform to Jesus. Agree? We’re to love others. Agree? We are to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Agree?
And when we DON’T agree, we LOVE! Rupertus Meldenius:[v] “In essentials… unity, in non-essentials… liberty, in all things… charity (love).” Christian love is an act of the will. Christian love is treating a person as LOVE would have us treat them. Love is the greatest & 2nd command from Jesus.[vi]
Then Paul writes “Live in peace” (13:11-D; Ro 12:18).[vii] Living in peace is a conscious choice we make as C’ians… as those who believe & obey God’s Word. Ephesians 4:1-3…
As a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility & gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE.
Because the Prince of Peace lives in Christians, they seek… live… & work for peace. Jesus in Matt 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for THEY shall be called sons of God.”
Notice the connection (13:11-D)… “And the God of love & peace will be with you.” God is most active in our lives when we live in peace with one another. Is it any surprise then Satan uses whoever he can to disrupt the unity & peace in YOUR life? YOUR home? YOUR work? At HBC?!
Look at Eph 4:1-3 for maintaining peace. Humility (Thinking of yourself less). Gentleness is our conduct, attitude, & words. Patience with others as God works in them.
{John MacArthur Writes} Bearing with others IN LOVE is unqualified & unselfish love that gives whether it receives in return or not. It is unconquerable benevolence, invincible goodness. Love that goes out to enemies & prays for its persecutors[viii] (Mt 5:43-44).
We must ask ourselves if WE “bear with others in love?” Then decide from the heart to love, whether our love is returned to us or not.
Last in Eph 4:3 is “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE.” This is our connection back to 2 Cor 13:11. Being “eager” is a heart motivation that can’t be faked. By examining our heart’s desire, we know whether or not we’re following Christ…
If that IS our desire, we will conform to The Scripture. This Bible is God’s Word. Ephesians was a “Circular Letter” for ALL the churches to read… & apply. It is God’s will for all congregations… not just A church AT Ephesus 2,000 years ago. This is for us today…
Now… if we are people of The Word & committed to applying Scripture… Then what we have examined today must be meditated on & followed faithfully. Read 2 Cor 13:11 again…
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; & the God of love & peace will be with you.
What happens when we’re faithful & obedient to 2 Cor 13:11? The God of love & peace is with us! What we aim for, we get. When it is restoration, comfort, & peace… God blesses with those.
When God’s people keep His word, there is joy & peace (13:12). They’re glad to see each other & greet each other warmly. The whole church… everyone… loves one another (13:13).
Where are we compared to 2 Cor 13:12-13 this morning? How do Paul’s words apply to us individually? Is God saying something to us (Let Him worry about others)?
Invitation…
[i] Message on 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 at HBC on September 30, 2012.
[iii] John MacArthur New Testament Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:11.
[vii] Ro 1:7, 2:10, 8:6, 14:17, 14:19; 1 Cor 14:33; Gal 5:22; Eph 2:14-15; Col 3:15; 1 Thess 5:13; 2 Thess 3:16; 2 Tim 2:22; And in almost every letter salutation Paul wrote.
[viii] John MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Ephesians 4:2.
Ron's Sunday Sermon 