Lesson 507

(Lesson 507)(01-05-13) 2 Corinthians Chapter 13, "This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. 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. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

This lesson tells us that just as the Hebrew people of Moses' day reacted by reverting to idolatry when Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the commandments, The Corinthians had begun to stray from their faith because Paul was not always there with them.

They acted as if Paul's presence gave them the strength they needed to adhere to the gospel he had so eloquently taught them.

We should all know that, just as Paul was telling the Corinthians, our spiritual strength comes from the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, through our belief and faith in the His message, it does NOT rely upon the presence of the messenger.

Through the actions of these early Church members and Paul's letters of admonition to them, we can easily understand why there is so much derision toward, and division among, today's "churches".

The inherent sin of Adam and the omnipresence of Satan are constantly pulling us away from what we know to be right in the sight of God. It is our individual duty, being one on one with God and represented in His presence by Jesus Himself, to maintain our zeal toward His righteousness. We cannot rely on some preacher, or any "church" personality, to keep us bound to our duty toward the fulfilling of Jesus command, we must be willing to step away and bear the cross of Christ on our own.~