2 Corinthians 1 - 4 (4th December) - Sky

2 Corinthians 1

This Chapter serves as an encouragement and yet a harsh yet real truth to us all.

V4-V6
Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from GOD. For just as the sufferings of Christ flower over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation, if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

The only thing recorded in the bible that said we will suffer is persecution. Christians will suffer because we identify ourselves with Him. Paul is also asking the church to comfort one another. At times we may have difficulty feeling Christ’s comfort. But others can encourage us with their physical presence, sharing our pain and suffering. Their spiritual strength can flow into our lives, not as pat answers, but as genuine grace.

Christians may go through tough times. But we won’t go through it alone.

Here you see Paul changing to plan of visiting Corinth the 2nd time.
But apart of his plans we can learn something in this short passage.
We see here the usage of Amen. Its meaning is a Hebrew word carried over into English, which means so be it. It is used to confirm or endorse what has been said. It also expresses our humility before GOD.

Also we see here what is the seal of ownership? This seal was their grantee that the promises would be fulfilled in Christ through his death and resurrection.

2 Corinthians 2

Here we see Paul demanding obedience, testing their faith of his young congregation. Were they willing to name sin for what it was? Willing to discipline one of their own? Here he taught that it can be difficult to offer forgiveness and mercy in the face of genuine repentance as it is to discipline. But he will enforce to forgive and comfort that person.

Next section we see our favorite verse for this year.

V14 But thanks be to GOD, who always leads us in triumphant procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

2 Corinthians 3

We see in V6 the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

This letter is referring of the law GOD gave to Moses. Following the law does not kill, but anyone who tries to follow the law falls short of its requirements. In face, such failure convinces us we are sinners. So the law does a valuable service: though we can’t follow it and be saved by it, the law shows us our spiritual need which is Christ.

The next section we see how Paul describing the glory if the new covenant which is by God’s grace is surpassing the glory if the old covenant which is by God’s Law. Also describing that unlike Moses we do not put a veil over his face. We who with unveiled faces all reflect with ever-increasing glory which comes form the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Once the veil is remove we can see that the old covenant has been superseded by the new and that Christ fulfills the law.

2 Corinthians 4

This chapter is a chapter we can all relate to and be encouraged.

V8 we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

V17 for out light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

In a certain frame of mind that we can begin to see eternal glory of Christ. What is the glory if Christ to you? What is his glory? Is it just a manifestation, a light, a power, strength?