"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." II Cor. 13:11
When Paul addressed the church at Corinth in his first epistle, he identified it as "carnal." That is, though saved by God's grace and so inhabited by His Holy Spirit, they were functioning at the level of the flesh, hence the problems they were experiencing. His aim, in these two epistles, is to instruct and encourage them to behave in a manner that would reveal their spiritual heritage and bring glory to God. Though he addresses the church corporately, the principles must be applied individually. Churches grow and function no better than the individuals who make up their fellowship.
Today's text, taken from the apostle's concluding remarks, contains a summary of things essential to living on a spiritual plane rather than a carnal one. And it is interesting to note, upon a little reflection, that each of these items are elaborated on elsewhere in the New Testament. There are four things we are encouraged to pursue, and a consequent promise we are encouraged to embrace.
As to the pursuits, we are to:
Grow up. That is the meaning of the word "perfect" here. This is not a plea for "sinless perfection," but a call for spiritual maturity. This is enlarged upon in Ephesians 4:11ff, for example:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Through the ministry of the word, whether formally or individually and privately, we are exhorted to make progress toward spiritual maturity. It is not the divine intention that we have churches full of baby Christians, lest we have churches full of tumult and strife, like a hospital nursery.
Then, Cheer up. "Be of good comfort." Far too many believers are defeated by life's circumstances, whether in the market place, the work place, the home or the church. The word "comfort" here is from the same root as "the Comforter," the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:16-18), and the inference is that we find our emotional stability through His resources, not simply finding tranquility, but a stability wrought through a realized relationship with Christ: If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Again, consider the apostle's benediction to the Thessalonian Christians: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. [II Thess. 2:16-17]."
The will of God for the believer is not that we become part of the problem, or run away from our problems, but that we allow the Lord Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, to cheer and encourage us in the midst of the storms of life, "'til the storm passes by."
When the distressed disciples woke the sleeping Savior as they faced the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, He "rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no
faith [Mark 4:39-40]?"
If you, like some of the saints at Corinth, are disheartened by the storm, don't bother changing boats. Remember, you will still be in the same "sea!" Rather, grow up ("be perfect"), and cheer up ("be of good comfort") through faith in the One Who can, and will still the storm in His own good time.
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Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
When Paul addressed the church at Corinth in his first epistle, he identified it as "carnal." That is, though saved by God's grace and so inhabited by His Holy Spirit, they were functioning at the level of the flesh, hence the problems they were experiencing. His aim, in these two epistles, is to instruct and encourage them to behave in a manner that would reveal their spiritual heritage and bring glory to God. Though he addresses the church corporately, the principles must be applied individually. Churches grow and function no better than the individuals who make up their fellowship.
Today's text, taken from the apostle's concluding remarks, contains a summary of things essential to living on a spiritual plane rather than a carnal one. And it is interesting to note, upon a little reflection, that each of these items are elaborated on elsewhere in the New Testament. There are four things we are encouraged to pursue, and a consequent promise we are encouraged to embrace.
As to the pursuits, we are to:
Grow up. That is the meaning of the word "perfect" here. This is not a plea for "sinless perfection," but a call for spiritual maturity. This is enlarged upon in Ephesians 4:11ff, for example:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Through the ministry of the word, whether formally or individually and privately, we are exhorted to make progress toward spiritual maturity. It is not the divine intention that we have churches full of baby Christians, lest we have churches full of tumult and strife, like a hospital nursery.
Then, Cheer up. "Be of good comfort." Far too many believers are defeated by life's circumstances, whether in the market place, the work place, the home or the church. The word "comfort" here is from the same root as "the Comforter," the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:16-18), and the inference is that we find our emotional stability through His resources, not simply finding tranquility, but a stability wrought through a realized relationship with Christ: If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Again, consider the apostle's benediction to the Thessalonian Christians: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. [II Thess. 2:16-17]."
The will of God for the believer is not that we become part of the problem, or run away from our problems, but that we allow the Lord Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, to cheer and encourage us in the midst of the storms of life, "'til the storm passes by."
When the distressed disciples woke the sleeping Savior as they faced the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, He "rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no
faith [Mark 4:39-40]?"
If you, like some of the saints at Corinth, are disheartened by the storm, don't bother changing boats. Remember, you will still be in the same "sea!" Rather, grow up ("be perfect"), and cheer up ("be of good comfort") through faith in the One Who can, and will still the storm in His own good time.
<>
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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