II Corinthians 12, continued:

• II Corinthians 12:19 – Compare II Corinthians 5:12.
• II Corinthians 12:20-21 – See Revelation 21:8 and I Corinthians 1. Paul is here saying that he’s afraid these things may be happening.

II Corinthians 13

• II Corinthians 13:1-2 – See II Corinthians 12:14. Paul did end up making this third trip and stayed in Achaia about three months. This is a quote referenced from Deuteronomy 19:15; Numbers 35:30.
• II Corinthians 13:3-4 – See Matthew 12:38-39. This is similar to the request for proof that Jesus was continually getting.
• II Corinthians 13:5-6 – The idea here is that of testing a metal to see if it is genuine. We fail this test when we forget whose spirit we are part of. Paul wanted them to test themselves against the objective standard of God’s word.
• II Corinthians 13:9-10 – Paul was hopeful for their restoration. He waited until the end to mention authority as that was not his primary tact, but he did have authority from God for his teaching.
• II Corinthians 13:11 – This is translated a number of different ways. “Farewell” vs. “rejoice.” “Be complete” vs. be “restored.”
• II Corinthians 13:12-14 – Paul’s end for the letter echoes his words in II Corinthians 1:2.

Introduction

• Matthew 6:9-13 – The Lord’s Prayer
• thelema – translated “will” as in, “will of God”

Exceptions!

• Matthew 21:31
• John 1:12
• I Corinthians 7:37; 16:12
• Ephesians 2:3
• II Timothy 2:26
• I Peter 4:3

Jesus was perfect, sinless …

• Hebrews 7:26
• II Corinthians 5:21
• I John 3:5
• Hebrews 4:15

The will of Jesus

• There is a distinction between the will of God and the will of Jesus, but Jesus never sinned.
• Matthew 26:26-56
• John 5:30; 6:38

By the will of God

• John 1:1-14
• Romans 1:8-10; 15:30-33
• I Corinthians 1:1
• II Corinthians 1:1; 8:5
• Ephesians 1:1
• Colossians 1:1
• II Timothy 1:1

According to the will of God

• Matthew 18:10-14; 26:39, 42
• John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40
• Galatians 1:3-5
• Ephesians 1:3-12
• I Peter 3:14-17
• Revelation 4:11

Being in the will of God

• Matthew 7:21; 12:46-50
• John 7:15-24; 9:30-34
• Romans 2:12-24
• Ephesians 5:15-21; 6:5-6
• Galatians 1:7-14; 4:12
• I Peter 2:13-15
• Hebrews 13:20-21
• I Peter 4:12-19
• I John 2:15-17
• We can be confident of the will of God even though we don’t fully understand it. God’s thoughts are much higher than our thoughts.

There is someone else

• Ephesians 6:13-17
• James 1:13-14
• I Peter 5:6-10
• The devil still has abilities in modern times, although not to the degree that he did in the New Testament times.

Conclusion

• I Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:12-23
• Hebrews 10:1-39
• Luke 12:35-48
• Romans 12:1-2
• God’s will in heaven needs to be done here on earth.

Why written

• I John 1:4; 2:1, 7-8, 12-14, 26; 5:13 – John tells us why he was writing. He was writing to combat Gnosticism.

Subject matter

1. Jesus – The first 14 verses tell you everything you need to known about Jesus and sin.
2. Sin
3. False teaching / teachers
4. What we know.
5. How we know it.
6. Love
7. Action
8. Conditions: if

Jesus

• From the beginning – I John 1:1; 2:13
• Manifested, historical figure – I John 1:2; 4:2
• Destroyed works of devil – I John 3:8
• With the Father – I John 1:2
• Blood cleanses from sin – I John 1:7; 3:6, 16
• Propitiation for sin – I John 2:2; 4:10
• Is righteous – I John 3:7
• Have spiritual life through – I John 4:9; 5:11
• Savior of the world – I John 4:14
• The Son of God – I John 4:15; 5:5
• Begotten of God – I John 5:1
• Came by water and blood – I John 5:6
• Gives us understanding – I John 5:20
• Is the true God and eternal life – I John 5:20

False teachers and teachingThe basics

• I John 4:1, 2, 6 – Don’t be naïve and gullible. Study for yourself!
• Strong language
  • Liars – I John 1:6; 2:4, 22; 4:20
  • Children of the devil – I John 3:10
  • Antichrist – I John 2:18-19, 22; 4:3 – There are many antichrists. Those that deny Christ are antichrists.

Sin

• All are sinners – I John 1:8, 10
• What it is – I John 3:4; 5:17
• Two walks – I John 1:6-7
• How to avoid – I John 3:6, 9; 5:18
• Provisions for – I John 3:5; 1:7; 2:2; 4:10
• Consequences of – I John 3:6, 8, 10
• When we sin – I John 1:9; 2:1

Introduction

• I John 3:16
• How do we as parents teach our kids spiritual lessons?
• Philippians 2:5
• I Peter 2:21

Examples are powerful – just look at Jesus.

• Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 29; 11:1
• Philippians 4:9
• Titus 2:7
• I Timothy 4:12
• I Peter 5:3

It’s our job to show them WHAT is possible.

• I Thessalonians 1:6
• I Timothy 1:15-16
• II Timothy 3:15
• James 5:10
• Roger Bannister ran a four-minute mile, showing that it could be done. Now, more than a thousand people have done it!

It’s our job to show them HOW to do it.

• John 13:5, 14 – Jesus showed them directly how to do what He was commanding. The apostles probably remembered this for the rest of their lives!
• John 13:34
• Acts 20:17-21, 31-34 – Paul showed them how to behave.
• Acts 17:24-27, 30-31 – It’s possible to honor God as Creator in this world!

II Corinthians 11, continued

• II Corinthians 11:30-33 – Damascus was Paul’s original destination when he was blinded on the road, leading to his conversion. From the time of his conversion, there were threats on his life. See Galatians 1:17. Paul uses this as an illustration of the threats he was under.

II Corinthians 12

• II Corinthians 12:1-2 – See Galatians 1:12; 2:1. Paul received the gospel via direct revelation. In their way of speaking, the first heaven was the sky, the second heaven was the domain of the sun, moon, and stars, and the third heaven was paradise, the abode of God.
• II Corinthians 12:3-4 – Paul’s vision happened about 42 A.D. This would be about ten years after his conversion.
• II Corinthians 12:5-6 – Paul did not tell more to prevent accusations of boasting from his opponents.
• II Corinthians 12:7-8 – Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to torment him. It was a painful experience to prevent pride.
• II Corinthians 12:9-10 – God’s power is perfected in man’s weakness. We must not view our troubles as impediments but as ways that God is helping perfect us.
• II Corinthians 12:11-13 – Paul is reminding them that they were taught by someone with authority.
• II Corinthians 12:14-15 – Paul was again going to refuse to accept support from them. See I Corinthians 4:15; II Corinthians 6:13. Paul saw himself as their parent. He was coming to give, not to take.
• II Corinthians 12:16-18 – Paul is using sarcasm and irony here to refute the claim that he sent in to take advantage of them.