Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

While the Lord gives time, let all unsaved repent and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The Apostle Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ rejection by Israel and the salvation wrought by Christ Jesus upon the cross culminating in His resurrection from the dead.

The Apostle Paul emphasized that the gospel team spared no effort to preach the gospel to the Corinthians as Christ’s ambassadors. It is his prayer and earnest hope that the Word will find fertile ground in their hearts. It is his desire that the Corinthians would be established in the faith. The fruitful heart is good ground, good soil. The heart is basically sinful. The heart that is sanctified by God’s grace, produces fruit.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

The benefit of the Christian faith needs to be explained. This is God’s only way of salvation for mankind. William MacDonald said well, “Paul is not here telling the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. They are already believers in the Lord Jesus. But he is telling the Corinthians that this is the message which he preaches to the unsaved wherever he goes.”

It is a great privilege that God bestows upon us to share the word of reconciliation in the Gospel of Christ. The Apostle Paul speaks of this privilege.

The late Pastor Dr Martyn Lloyn-Jones made this observation concerning the times. We are living in these last times, the last of the last days, the last hour of human history before Jesus would come as Judge, no more as a Lamb, but the Lion from the tribe of Judah, he said, “There is no more urgent question for this present time than just this: What is Christianity? I say that because the gospel is the only hope in the world today. Everything else has been tried and found wanting. Everything else has failed. You will not find hope with the philosophers or with the statesmen, and you will not find it in the so-called religion. Here is hope and here alone.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

William MacDonald said well what this verse does not mean, “This verse is a favourite with those who have recently been born again, and is often quoted in personal testimonies. Sometimes in being thus quoted, it gives quite a false impression. Listeners are apt to think that when a man is saved, old habits, evil thoughts, and lustful looks are forever done away, and everything becomes literally new in a person’s life. We know that this is not true. The verse does not describe a believer’s practice but rather his position. Notice it says that if anyone is in Christ. The words in Christ are the key to the passage. In Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new. Unfortunately, “in me” not all this is true as yet! But as I progress in the Christian life, I desire that my practice may increasingly correspond to my position. One day, when the Lord Jesus returns, the two will be in perfect agreement.”

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

After we become the children of God, with the indwelling Spirit of Christ and the Word of God to guide us, we see men as souls in the light of eternity. Whether they will perish eternally without Christ or will they enjoy life with Christ in this present life. Our knowledge of Christ is not merely enjoying His humanity, One who wrought miracles and comfort the lost with the Word of God. But Christ who died upon the cross for our sins, rose the third day and ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father. We know Him now in His exalted position.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live not for ourselves. Be not self-centred, selfish, motivated for self-interest. But live for Jesus, the One who bought us with His life. Jesus’ life was lived in obedience to the will of His Father. He was obedient even unto death, the death on the cross. His obedience purchased our redemption. Because of our Lord’s willing sacrifice, we are given spiritual life. We shall escape the wrath of hell-fire.