Epistles – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Today we have come to the final 3 chapters of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Hope we all have a clearer picture of why and how Paul wrote these 2 epistles to the Corinthians, but more importantly to apply those things that we have learned. Now let us continue to read and find out what else does Paul say to the Corinthians, and consider how can we apply them to our daily walk with God.

Bible Passage:  2 Corinthians 11-13

We all know that the end of all things is near, and surely Satan knows better.

During a discussion session in one of the Youth Services recently, we were asked to raise our hands for the following questions, “How many of you believe that the 2nd coming of Christ is real?” and “How many of you is leading a life knowing the 2nd coming is near?”

Nearly all of us raised our hands to the 1st question, but none of us raised our hands to the 2nd question. From these questions, we realized that we all can believe that the End Days is real, but what about leading a life knowing that the End is near? This is something that is very important for us to ponder and do.

What has this got to do with today’s Bible reading? Paul says in 2 Cor 11: 4,

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted–you may well put up with it!

What Paul warns the believers is happening right under our noses in these End Times.

Even during the apostolic times, there were already people who were preaching another Jesus, but in these End Times, this will get more and more rampant. So it is our duty, and also for our salvation sake that we know the pure Truth preached by our Lord Jesus, and to stand firmly on it.

Be mindful of the happenings around us so as not to be fooled by the deceptions of the antichrist.

As what our Lord Jesus had warned us in Matthew 24, not to be deceived by anyone proclaiming to be coming in the name of Jesus.

There is a gospel called the “Prosperity Gospel” where they claimed that Jesus would give us wealth or any material things we desire if we ask of Him, for God does not want His children to be materially poor Christians. Is this the Jesus whom we know from the Bible?

Well it is not wrong or sinful to be wealthy, but desiring to be wealthy or desiring to have great possessions in this life is against the will of God. For the things of the world are vanity and temporal, but the riches that God wants us to have are spiritual and can last forever. Our Lord Jesus assures us of treasures that are more precious and imperishable; Mat 6:19 – 20

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

And our Lord also makes us ponder when He asked in Mat 16:26,

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The ploys that Satan uses to devour the elects of God will be very subtle, like what Paul mentions in 2 Cor 11: 14 that Satan disguises as the angel of light.

This reminds me of the classic saying “wolf in sheep skin”, appearing to be gentle and harmless, but whoever comes near will be devoured. So we have to rely on the Holy Spirit and the Truth to discern between the truth and falsehood, between true servants of God and Satan’s.

Imagine if you were to be an apostle, you labor hard for the ministry, going through all the hardships that are listed in 2 Cor 11: 24 – 28, would you be able to continue to do God’s works faithfully?

You maybe thinking that here I am working and laboring hard for the Lord, yet I have an infirmity so painful that I wish the Lord can remove it. But the Lord does not remove it and yet says to you, “My grace is sufficient for you”, how would you feel? Can you also accept what the Lord says, “for My strength is made perfect in weakness’? I believe not many of us can accept these words and to continue to labor for the kingdom of God.

Was Paul not as human as you and I? The infirmity in him was so painful that he prayed THREE times that the Lord might remove it.

Did God remove it? No, God did not.

Then did Paul give up on God for not answering his prayers?

No he did not also. Because he knew God did not give up on him when he was weak, but continued to shower him with His abundant grace and strength to grow stronger spiritually to carry on. Paul’s love for the Lord and the brethren, coupled with his understanding of his predicament is truly worthy of our pondering and emulation, especially his words in 2 Cor 12: 10 really motivate and touch me a lot,

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Indeed, I feel that in times when we are weak and needing help from God, our prayers are earnest with cries that come from deep within our hearts. Have you such experience before?

The following video is a song with a story that I want to share with you, don’t give up when we meet with problems, and don’t give up when we feel tired or weak while doing the works of God.

The final chapter of 2 Corinthians seems to be a summary of Paul’s purpose of writing these 2 letters to them. With the zealous love he has for the church, he wants to set the church in order, so that no further damage will happen, especially the damage to their faith in the True Gospel and the true apostleship of Paul.

We who are part of the Body of Christ must also consider what Paul admonishes the Corinthians; especially in 2 Cor 13: 5,

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.

How long have we been a Christian? Some of us may have been a Christian since birth, but have we ever feared that we may be disqualified? We have attended countless services, heard countless sermons and have never missed the Holy Communion Sacraments, but do we take time to ponder over what we are doing constantly?

I remember a Christian friend told me several times, “It’s good to be a Christian. Once you confessed that Jesus is your Savior, you are assured for an eternal life in heaven, just so simple; you don’t have to do anything.”

Later I understood that he believes in the concept of “once saved, always saved”, that a Christian would be guaranteed to go to paradise regardless whether one does the will of God or not and no matter what sins one may commit after they had given their lives to Jesus.

Well, as members of the True Jesus Church, we know that this concept is not Biblical. For in Philippians 2:12, Paul wrote

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Obedience to the Word of God is very crucial to our faith and spiritual lives. Obedience includes understanding the commandments and to DO THEM. So we have to constantly examine ourselves to see if our faith is stagnant or not. Are we obediently doing the commandments of God?