September 12

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? ~ 2 Corinthians 12:15

Isaiah 10:1-11:16
2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Psalm 56:1-13
Proverbs 23:6-8

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New Testament: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Summary: Concern for the Corinthian Church

I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:21

As we have said before, Paul wanted his return to Corinth to be a joyful occasion. However, Paul could not be happy if many of the church members were not behaving in a proper manner.

Before they became Christians, several of the members were carrying out wrong sex acts*. God changed their lives completely when they became Christians*. However, it is clear from Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 that this wrong behaviour still tempted them. He mentions one man whose evil acts were especially severe*. However, Paul now says that many of them were doing these wrong things. So, he urges them to stop all this wrong behaviour and to turn back to God.

God had given Paul the serious responsibility for the churches where he worked*. Paul thought of Corinth’s Christians as if they were his children*. Of course a father cannot be happy when his children are doing wrong things. So of course Paul would only be joyful if Corinth’s Christians were serving God properly. It was not enough that their church was large and successful. Paul wanted them to be loyal to God in both their hearts (minds) and their actions.

If they were not, then Paul’s return to Corinth would be a serious and sad occasion. Paul would spend his time there in serious prayer about the Christians who were not serving God. He would have to act strictly against them*, as he did in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. His hope then would be that those serious actions would cause those people to return to God.

From: usefulbible.com – by Keith Simons