Paul Expresses His Love

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Paul Expresses His Love

Date: Apr. 26, 2016

Passage

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 (ESV)

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 11:2

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

First, I promised you to Christ (1-11). At this point in his letter Paul began to speak "foolishness." But he prefaced it by expressing his unique love for the church. He loved the church in Corinth with a godly jealousy. Why was he so protective of them, at times bold, at other times timid? In all things Paul served the purpose of presenting them to Christ, pure and spotless. Paul might not compare in their eyes to the "super-apostles" in speaking ability or knowledge, but his love for them was beyond compare. Paul reminded them of how he became a burden bearer for them. One thing he would always boast about was his love for them.

Second, deceitful workers (12-15). God's people love others and build them up in the gospel as pure followers of Christ. But there are others who are deceitful, masquerading as apostles so that others may commend or follow them. They are not servants of Christ or of righteousness. An apostle is one who loves, who serves Jesus and bears the burden of others so that they may belong purely to Christ.

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to love others and bear their burdens. Use me to present others to Christ.

One Word: Be a loving apostle

“look, I Am Coming Soon”

Revelation 22:10-21

Key Verse: 22:12

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Today's Question

What is the tenth commandment?

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