2 Corinthians chapter 13 and Christine is going to come and read for us this morning.
So that's 2 Corinthians chapter 13, beginning at verse 1 and that's on page 1167, whether
you've got the blue or the red Bible.
This will be my third visit to you.
Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time.
I now repeat it while absent.
On my return, I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are
demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.
He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power.
Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power, we will live with him in our dealing with you.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?
Unless, of course, you fail the test.
And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.
Not so that people will see that we have stood the test, but so that you will do what is right,
even though we may seem to have failed.
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
We are glad whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
This is why I write these things when I am absent.
That when I come, I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority.
The authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice.
Strive for full restoration.
Encourage one another.
Be of one mind.
Live in peace.
And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All God's people here send their greetings.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Thanks, Chris, for reading.
Thank you.
We come to the end of our studies in 2 Corinthians.
And if you've missed any of the talks along the way, you'll find them on the website.
Most of them are there.
And I encourage you to go back and look through some of the passages in your time.
It's been a great encouragement and help to us as we lean upon God's strength in our weakness.
So let's pray and ask for God's help as we finish up in this letter this morning.
The Apostle Paul writes,
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Father, you know our weaknesses.
You know our struggles.
And how we need to be strengthened and built up in our faith.
And so we trust that through your word and by your spirit, you will make us a strong church.
That together we would walk faithfully with you.
So help us now, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
So how strong are you?
I don't mean how many kgs can you lift or how many chin-ups you can do on the bar at the back there.
I mean, are you strong enough to stand against the blows and punches of false teachers?
Are you working out?
Are you building up those spiritual muscles so that you remain strong in the faith?
Because today we're going to see how we can be a strong church.
So this is going to be a workout session together as we look at God's word.
Look at chapter 13, verse 1.
Paul begins his conclusion with this by reminding us that he says,
This will be my third visit to you.
If you remember back during his first visit, he had arrived in Corinth.
He had preached the good news about Jesus, who had died, and how by trusting him we can have life.
And all those who had believed were gathered together into a church.
Then on his second visit, which was a lot more difficult,
in fact, as described in chapter 2, verse 1, as a painful visit,
Paul had to deal with some serious sin issues in the church.
Now he plans a third visit.
So look at verse 10 with me.
He says,
This is why I write these things.
So the whole letter.
This is why I write these things when I am absent.
That when I come,
that will be my third visit,
I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority.
The authority the Lord gave me for building you up.
Not for tearing you down.
So Paul's hope and desire is that when he visits the church,
they will be built up.
Because being strong is vital,
because there are those who will try to lead us away from Christ and the gospel.
We were warned about this in chapter 11.
If you have a look back in chapter 11, verse 13.
Remember the so-called super apostles had arrived in and were creating and causing havoc in the church.
And we're told about these people in chapter 11, verse 13.
For such people are false apostles,
deceitful workers,
masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder for Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light.
They were teaching things like,
well, you've got God's word,
but your word in your heart is more trustworthy.
Listen to what you want,
what is best.
Let's get back to chapter 13.
So Paul is saying,
look, when I come to visit you,
when I come to you,
I want you to be in good shape.
I want you to be working out
so that you are built up.
In fact, it's even stronger than that.
He's saying,
if you're not in shape,
when I come,
I will knock you into shape.
That's how forceful he is.
Look again at verse 10.
I wonder if you picked it up.
In verse 10, he says,
this is why I write these things when I am absent,
that when I come,
I may not have to be harsh
in my use of authority.
He's saying,
get yourself fit,
or I'm going to get you fit.
Well,
who is Paul
to talk with such authority?
Why should we listen to his words?
Well, he has authority
because he is an apostle.
This is something he's been trying
to teach them through the letter.
So jump back to chapter 12,
verse 12.
He says,
I persevered in demonstrating among you
the marks of a true apostle,
including signs,
wonders,
and miracles.
So all the signs and wonders
that the apostle Paul had done
proved his authority.
It was a mark of authentication
that he was called by God
to this special task.
And he uses that authority
to build up the church.
So chapter 12,
at the end of verse 19,
he says,
and everything we do,
dear friends,
is for your strengthening.
You see,
Paul's words are not to be treated
lightly.
It's not just an opinion
he has.
They come with the very authority
of Christ.
So chapter 13,
verse 3,
he says,
you are demanding proof
that Christ
is speaking
through me.
Well,
that's a big thing
to claim,
isn't it?
To say that everything
that I say
and the words that I write
is Christ
speaking
through me.
But that's exactly
what he is saying.
Because the words
that we read here
in 2 Corinthians,
as we listen
to these words,
we are to listen
to them
as if they were
the very words
of Jesus Christ.
It's like Paul
is their spiritual
gym instructor.
He is using
his authority
to build
and strengthen
the church.
Now,
I hope we know
that physical exercise
is good for you
and that if we
don't exercise,
then physically
we get out of shape.
we become
unfit
and those
health issues
arise.
Well,
in the same way,
we need to be
fit spiritually.
We need to be
strengthened together
as a church
and built up.
Paul put it
like this
when he was
encouraging
a young pastor
called Timothy.
I don't have it.
You'll just have
to listen to it.
He says to Timothy,
he says,
train yourself
to be godly.
For physical
training is of
some value,
but godliness
has value
for all things.
In other words,
he's saying to them,
prioritize
strengthening
yourself
spiritually.
Prioritize
strengthening
the church.
Listen to
and submit to
the apostolic
authority
which is
God's word
which we are
looking at
right now
today.
This is
God's word
written down
so that we
can stand
strong
in the face
of opposition
of false
teachers
who may want
to lead us
astray.
So how are we
going to do
that?
We've set the
scene,
be fit,
be strong,
let us be
built up together.
How is that
going to happen?
Well, we're
going to go
through four
spiritual
exercises
to help us
be strong.
So get on
your sweatpants
and your
joggers
and let's
get into
the gym.
Here's the
first exercise.
Deal
with
sin.
Verse
two.
I already
gave you
a warning
when I
was with
you.
on that
second
visit.
I now
repeat it
while absent.
On my
return,
I will
not spare
those who
sinned
earlier
or any
of the
others.
Sounds
heavy-handed,
doesn't it?
But these
are words
of deep
loving
concern
for the
church.
Remember
what he
said in
chapter 12
verse 21?
he says,
I'm afraid
that when I
come again
on this
third visit,
my God
will humble
me before
you and
I will be
grieved over
many who
have sinned
earlier
and have
not
repented.
sinned.
He's
tackling
unrepentant
sin,
not dealing
with those
behaviours and
attitudes that
weaken us
spiritually and
can destroy
the church.
So he's
saying deal
with that
unrepentant
sin,
sort it
out.
well how
do we
do that?
Well we
can summarise
it like
this.
We can
summarise it
like this.
Christ is
at work
in his
church
to deal
with sin
by his
spirit
through his
word.
Christ is
at work
in his
church
to deal
with sin
by his
spirit
through his
word.
Look at
verse 3,
the end
of verse 3.
He,
that is
Christ,
is not
weak
in dealing
with you
but is
powerful
among you.
Christ
is present
and active
right now
amongst us
here as we
gather.
He is
powerful
amongst us.
How?
Well look at
verse 4.
For to be
sure,
Christ was
crucified
in weakness.
He was
beaten
and nailed
to a cross
with a
crown of
thorns
crushed in
his head.
Yet he
lives
by God's
power.
Christ's
death on
the cross
was the
means for
defeating
our sin
once and
for all
and now
the risen
Jesus is
present by
his spirit
amongst the
church and
the spirit
applies the
finished work
of Christ
to all
who will
turn in
repentance.
So Jesus
is saying
come to
me and
I will
forgive you
now.
Repent
and I will
remember your
sins no more.
I am
powerful
amongst
you.
My word
goes out
to you
and my
spirit will
enable you
to turn
and to
repent.
You see
Christ is
serious
about sin.
He's so
serious about
it that he
provided the
means for
defeating it.
So let's
start exercising
that truth
within the
church.
You see
when we
become a
Christian
we don't
live in
isolation
God places
us into
a community
of believers
the church
and God
does that
for our
very good
for our
best
because we
need people
around us
to remind
us of what
Christ has
done for us
on the cross
and people
who will
take us
back to
the cross
to deal
with issues
in our
life.
That's
exactly what
he's saying
here if you
look at the
second part
of verse
four.
So it's
not just
Christ
who is
powerful
amongst
the church.
Look at
the rest
of verse
four.
Likewise
we are
weak in
him
yet by
God's
power
we will
live
with him
in our
dealing
with you.
You see
by ourselves
we cannot
deal
with sin
but Christ
has given
us the
power of
his spirit
and the
authority of
his word
given to
his church
so that we
can help
one another
repent of
the sinful
behaviours and
attitudes
that are
weakening
our life
and weakening
the church.
you see
Christ
is at work
in his
church
right now
as we
gather
to deal
with sin
by his
spirit
through his
word.
it's a
serious
thing.
It's
crucial
that we
get this
spiritual
exercise
right.
It's not
our job
to defeat
sin.
Christ
has wonderfully
done that
on the
cross.
Our
role
the
exercise
we need
to do
is to
bring
God's
word
to one
another
and to
be
praying
for the
spirit
to be
at work
amongst
us.
And this
is what
all church
members
must do.
We can't
opt out
of this
exercise
and go
I don't
like the
idea of
this.
I don't
think I
want to
do it.
That's
like a
little bit
saying I
want a
six pack
but I
don't
want to
do any
sit-ups.
This is
the way
in which
the church
is built
up and
strengthened.
And as
he concludes
his letter
he says
deal with
the things
that need
dealt
with.
Otherwise
you will
spiral out
of control.
So let
us together
speak
God's
word
and pray
for the
spirit to
be at
work
and watch
the body
of the
church
grow.
So
exercise
one
deal
with
sin.
second
exercise
has to
do with
our
hearts.
Examine
your
heart.
We need
a healthy
heart,
don't we?
Verse
five.
Examine
yourselves
to see
whether you
are in
the face.
Test
yourself.
when I
go to
the gym
one of
the first
exercises I
try to
do is
on the
rowing
machine
and I
have a
target.
I click
in the
number of
meters,
2,300
meters I've
got to do
in 10
minutes.
That's the
aim at
least.
I don't
always get
there,
most of
the time I
don't,
but at
least it's
a target
to aim
for.
I need
to examine
my
fitness.
Well,
we are
to examine
and test
ourselves
to see
whether we
are in
the faith.
So how
do we go
about testing
ourselves?
Am I
in the
faith
today?
Look at
the second
part of
verse five.
Do you
not realise
that Christ
Jesus is
in you
unless,
of course,
you fail
the test?
Is
Christ
Jesus
in you
today?
You think,
well,
what would
that look
like?
What would
that look
like for
Christ
Jesus to
be in
me today?
Well,
it should
be two
things,
two related
things.
If Christ
Jesus is
in me
today,
there will
be repentance
of sin,
which we've
just looked
at,
and a
reliance
on God's
grace.
That's
the test.
Am I
in the
faith?
Is
Christ
Jesus
in me?
Am I
repenting
of my
sin,
and am I
relying on
God's
grace?
Am I
turning away
from the
behaviours
and attitudes
that weaken
my life,
or am I
trusting
wholeheartedly
in the
forgiveness
of the
grace
of God?
That's
the test.
So,
verse 5,
examine
yourselves
to see
whether you
are in
the faith.
Test
yourselves.
Do you
not realise
that Christ
Jesus is
in you
unless,
of course,
you fail
the test?
So,
here's
the
question
for us
now.
Have
you,
have I,
passed
the test,
or have
I failed
the test?
Am I
relying on
myself,
or am I
relying on
God's
grace?
Well,
there's
two good
news items
for us.
Good
news
if we
have just
failed the
test.
Good
news if
we've just
failed the
test.
There is
hope.
Go back
to chapter
six with
me.
Chapter
six.
The
good news
is,
if we
have failed,
there is
hope.
look at
verse one
of chapter
six.
As
God's
fellow
workers,
we
urge you
not to
receive
God's
grace
in vain.
Well,
what's
this
grace
he's
been
talking
about?
Well,
it's
in the
preceding
verse.
Chapter
five,
verse
twenty
one.
God
made
Christ,
who had
no sin,
to be
sin for
us,
so that
in
Christ
we
might
become
the
righteousness
of
God.
That
is
good
news.
That
is
great
news.
So,
we
urge you,
chapter
six,
verse
one,
not to
receive
this
grace
in
vain.
Verse
two,
for he
says,
in the
time of
my
grace
I
heard
you,
and in
the
day of
salvation
I
helped
you,
I
tell
you,
now
is
the
time
of
God's
grace.
Now
is
the
day
of
salvation.
You
see,
God's
grace
is
available
to
us
in
bucket
loads,
and
the
opportunity
is
there
for
us
to
turn
to
him
now.
Today
is
the
day
of
salvation.
Listen
to
this
wonderful
free
offer.
Don't
delay.
Don't
put it
off.
If
you
have
not
yet
passed
the
test,
and
you
are
not
in
the
faith,
ask
God
to
save
you
now.
Because
where we
fail,
Christ
has
won
and
succeeded
on
our
behalf.
But
maybe
you
are
a
Christian,
and
you're
struggling,
and
you're
thinking,
well,
am
I
in
the
faith?
Because
I
know I
haven't
been
walking
in
obedience.
Rather
than
dealing
with
sin,
I've
just
been
ignoring
it.
I
hear
the
call
to
turn
and
trust,
but
I
just
resist
it.
Well,
the
message
is the
same.
Don't
receive
God's
grace
in
vain.
Act
on it
now.
Being
able to
stand
before
God
and be
able to
explain
what
grace
actually
means,
but
never
having
experienced
it,
act
on it
now
so that
we
pass
the
test.
So
that's
good
news
if we
fail
the
test.
Here's
good
news
if we
do
pass
the
test.
We
have
assurance
and
confidence.
Look at
this
verse
with
me.
Chapter
1
verse
21.
2
Corinthians
chapter
1
verse
21.
Good
news
if we
have
passed
the
test.
Do you
see it
there?
Now it
is God
who makes
both
us
and
you
stand
firm.
So
God
who
called
you
will
hold
you.
He
anointed
us,
set
his
seal
of
ownership
on
us
and
put
his
spirit
in
our
hearts
as
a
deposit
guaranteeing
no
doubts
absolute
assurance
of
what
is
to
come.
Let's
go back
to
chapter
13.
So
we
should
examine
ourselves
to see
whether
we are
in the
faith
and
know
that
because
of
God's
grace
if
we
fail
we
can
pass
because
of
his
grace
and
if
we
do
pass
there
is
assurance
and
confidence
because
of what
Jesus
has
done.
We
would
do
well
to
pray
this
prayer
daily
in
our
life.
It
comes
from
Psalm
139
search
me
God
and
know
my
heart
test
me
and
know
my
anxious
thoughts
see
if
there
is
any
offensive
way
in
me
and
lead
me
in
the
way
everlasting.
So
exercise
two
examine
our
hearts.
Exercise
three
pray
for
restoration.
Look at
verse
seven.
Now
we
pray
to
God
that
you
will
not
do
anything
wrong.
Now
jump
down
to the
end
of
verse
nine.
And
our
prayer
is
that
you
may
be
fully
restored.
A
prayer
for
restoration.
You
see
drift
can
happen
in
the
life
of
the
church.
When
we
don't
deal
with
our
sin
and
when
we
stop
examining
our
hearts
that's
the
very
moment
we
become
weak
and
not
strong.
And
the
only
right
response
for
that
is
that
we
would
pray
for
full
restoration.
In
fact
in
verse
eleven
we're
encouraged
to
strive
for
full
restoration.
Now
when we
stop
our
physical
exercising
our
health
can
deteriorate
but
when we
get out
into the
walking
and do
some
running
or whatever
we do
for our
fitness
then
our
body
it
almost
restores
itself
doesn't
it?
We're
able to
do
things
that we
weren't
able to
do
before.
Our
body
is
made
useful
again.
Well
that's
exactly
what
the
prayer
is
here.
That
we
would
be
restored
to
full
spiritual
health.
That
we
would
be
made
useful
rather
than
drifting
we
would
be
in
the
service
of
God's
people.
Now
let's
be
very
clear
being
restored
doesn't
mean
we
reach
a
standard
of
perfection
that
we'll
never
ever
sin
again.
No
being
restored
is
that
we
will
do
the
exercises
God
words
gives
us
dealing
with
our
sin
examining
our
hearts
that
is
what
a
restored
Christian
life
is
like.
The
disciplines
that
God
gives
us
for
our
good.
You
see
this
prayer
is
powerful.
Look
at
verse
9.
We
are
glad
whenever
we
are
weak
but
you
are
strong
and
our
prayer
is
that
you
may
be
fully
restored.
As
we
pray
God's
power
is at
work
in
our
life.
So
let's
commit
ourselves
to the
exercise
of
praying
for
restoration
in
our
own
lives
and
in
the
lives
of
each
other.
So
that's
exercise
three.
Then
last
exercise
four.
Encourage
each
other.
Look
at
verse
11.
Finally
brothers
and
sisters
rejoice.
You
see
church
is
brothers
and
sisters.
It's
not
an
individual
lived
out
experience.
The
Christian
life is
never
to be
lived
alone.
We
need
one
another.
So
look what
it says
verse
11.
Finally
brothers
and
sisters
rejoice
strive
for
full
restoration
encourage
one
another.
Verse
12.
Greet
one
another
with a
holy
kiss
or a
fist
bump
or a
handshake
or a
hug
or whatever
is culturally
sensitive
to you.
Now I
don't know
about you
but
getting
to do
exercise
is hard.
There's
always
easier
things to
do
isn't
there?
Like
just
sitting
on the
couch.
It's
hard
to
motivate
yourself
to
keep
going
to
get
out
for
that
walk.
It's
much
easier
if you
have
people
around
you
to
encourage
you.
Well here
we are.
Look
around
you.
God
has
placed
you
into
a
community
of
people
to
encourage
you
and
support
us
in
our
building
up
of
the
faith.
So
what's
encouragement
of one
another
going to
look like?
Well
we're just
going to
focus in
on verse
14.
Look
at the
very
last
verse
of this
letter.
May
the
grace
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
the
love
of
God
and
the
fellowship
of
the
Holy
Spirit
be
with
you
all.
You
see
it's
in
our
weaknesses
that
we
commit
to
one
another
to
pointing
each
other
back
to
verse
14
God
the
Son
God
the
Father
and
God
the
Spirit
it's
reminding
each
other
of
the
sufficient
grace
of
Christ
it's
teaching
one
another
of
the
steadfast
love
of
the
Father
and
it's
depending
together
on the
strengthening
fellowship
of the
Holy
Spirit
you
see
I
need
you
I
so
desperately
need
you
to
tell
me
of
Christ's
sufficient
grace
that
every
time I
fall
or fail
that
you
will
tell
me
Johnny
God's
grace
is
sufficient
for
you
and
in
my
struggles
I
need
you
to
tell
me
and
to
remind
me
of
the
Father's
steadfast
love
that
when I
want to
give up
or
things
have
overwhelmed
me
so much
I
need
you
to
come
alongside
and
say
the
Father's
love
is
unbreakable
he
loves
you
he
will
not
let
you
go
and
in
the
days
where
I'm
tempted
to
rely
on
my
self
sufficiency
that
I
can
go
it
alone
and
do
it
my
own
way
I
need
you
to
come
alongside
and
tell
me
of
the
Spirit's
strengthening
fellowship
Johnny
you're
living
a lie
you
cannot
do
it
without
the
Spirit
the
sufficient
grace
of
Christ
the
steadfast
love
of
the
Father
the
strengthening
fellowship
of
the
Spirit
this
simple
benediction
is how
we
encourage
one
another
and
build
each
other
up
it's
a
daily
exercise
that we
can
begin
with
so
that
together
we
become
a
strong
church
and
strong
in
the
faith
so
that
whatever
challenge
may
come
our
way
we
will
stand
firm
so
exercise
number
four
encourage
one
another
God
has told
us to
watch
out
for
false
teachers
those
who will
lead us
away
from
his
word
and
away
from
Christ
but
he
has
provided
us
with
one
another
to
encourage
one
another
in
these
simple
disciplines
of
dealing
with
sin
examining
our
hearts
and
praying
for
restoration
let's
commit
ourselves
to
exercising
these
things
together
well
let's
pray
that we
will
do
so
father
god
thank
you
that
you
have
given
us
all
that
we
need
to
be
a
strong
church
so
we
come
father
and
we
confess
our
sin
afresh
we
examine
our
hearts
and
we
lean
and
rely
afresh
on
the
wonder
of
god's
amazing
grace
we
pray
for
personal
restoration
of
our
life
and
ask
that
you
would
continue
to
transform
us
into
the
likeness
of
christ
and
we
pray
father
that
you
would
do
this
with
the
help
of
one
another
brothers
and
sisters
to
encourage
and
support
thank
you
for
the
family
of
this
church
and
for
each
other
today
now
may
the
grace
of
our
lord
jesus
christ
and
the
love
of
god
and
the
fellowship
of
the
holy
spirit
be
with
us
all
amen
well
we're
going to
sing
together