II Corinthians 6

• II Corinthians 6:1-2 – Compare I Corinthians 3:9. The quote is from Isaiah 49:8.
• II Corinthians 6:3-6 – Paul was very cautious of his behavior so that his critics could not speak against him. See II Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul spelled out all that he had to go through to bring the gospel to them.
• II Corinthians 6:7-10 – See I Thessalonians 5:8. Paul spoke often of spiritual warfare.
• II Corinthians 6:11-13 – See Philippians 4:15. He had been open to them. He wanted them to be open in return. See I John 3:16-17. We must be willing to open our hearts to others and to serve them.
• II Corinthians 6:14-15 – This is a prohibition against fellowship with unbelievers. See Romans 1:29-32.
• II Corinthians 6:16-18 – Paul is showing how our relationship with God should work.

II Corinthians 7

• II Corinthians 7:1 – We should work to perfect our relationship with God. Is every part of my life glorifying God?

Introduction

• Matthew 4:23-25
• This sermon was a great departure from what most people thought true religion was at the time.
• This sermon was not a call to arms for physical warfare.

It is easy to misunderstand and misapply (if we ignore context and harmony)

• Matthew 5:14-16 – Jesus spoke in a way that everyone could understand.
• Matthew 5:29
• Jesus was practical and to the point.
• Matthew 5:44
• Matthew 6:7, 24
• Jesus was the perfect teacher, but it is still possible to take his words out of context and misuse them.
• Matthew 6:19; 7:1 – Is it wrong to have a bank account or judge others?
• If we fail to understand, the mistake is ours!
• Matthew 7:15, 7
• Matthew 6:33

There is a balance of dos and don’ts.

• Matthew 5:3, 11-12
• Matthew 5:13 – Be salty, don’t be tasteless.
• Matthew 5:20
• Matthew 6:2
• Matthew 7:13-14
• We want to have this same balance that Jesus had.

Jesus taught with obvious authority.

• Matthew 7:28-29
• John 7:45
• Matthew 5:17
• There was nothing physically unique about Jesus. It was the context of His teaching.
• Matthew 5:21
• Matthew 5:43-44
• Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus is saying He will be there and be in charge at the judgment.
• Read with reverence!

Introduction

• II Timothy 3:2
• Proverbs 16:18
• Matthew 11:29

Humility with God

• Jeremiah 10:23
• Luke 18:9-14
• Romans 12:3-8 – Don’t underestimate yourself. Whatever God has given you the ability to do in service to Him, do it the best you can! Be competent and confident in what you can do!

Humility in leadership

• Numbers 12:3-8
• Numbers 16:3
• Moses was a leader but maintained his humility.
• Matthew 20:20-28
• Philippians 2:3-8
• People are more willing to follow when the leader is humble. The followers of a humble leader will also be more humble themselves.

Humility in parenting

• I Corinthians 9:17
• My job is to humble myself enough to pass on God’s instruction to my children.
• Proverbs 29:15
• I Kings 1:6 – Daved never disciplined Adonijah.

Humility with peers

• I Peter 5:5-7 – We must be humble to each other!
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• James 2:8-9
• Pride poisons relationships!

Introduction

• Ezra 9:1-4
• Proverbs 8:13
• Romans 12:9

Don’t think that sin is okay if the leaders are doing it.

• Ezra 9:2; 10:5-11 – They all got together to talk about the sin – in the rain!
• Sinful leaders were a big part of Israel’s problem.
• Nehemiah 13:26 – Even Solomon committing sin didn’t make it right.
• I Timothy 5:17-21 – Elders are not above God’s law.

Acknowledge our guilt and God’s justice.

• Ezra 9:5-15
• Luke 23:41
• God has always been moved by earnest prayer.
• We need to develop the ability to be honest with ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us.

Summon courage and take initiative.

• Ezra 10:1-5
• What do I do when I see something that needs to be changed in my life?
• Ezra 7:10
• Deuteronomy 7:3
• Ezra 10:14
• How can I know something in my life is sin? By studying God’s law.

II Corinthians 5

• II Corinthians 5:1-3 – “Tent” here refers to the earthly human body. See II Peter 1:13-14. We have an eternal component that is temporarily housed in an earthly body. See Mark 14:58; John 1:14; I Corinthians 15:50-55. Paul had talked about this idea with them at length.
• II Corinthians 5:4-5 – While in our physical bodies, we yearn to be back with God. We are being prepared to go back to live with God. Truly understanding that should change how we view this life.
• II Corinthians 5:6-7 – While on earth, we are separated from God in such a way that we must choose to seek God.
• II Corinthians 5:8-10 – See Luke 23:43; I Thessalonians 4:1. Jesus is in heaven, where we all desire to be. Verse 10 refutes the “once saved, always saved” doctrine.
• II Corinthians 5:11-12 – Operating based on outward appearance is the wrong perspective.
• II Corinthians 5:13-15 – Verse 14 is saying that Jesus died, so we must put away our old lives.
• II Corinthians 5:16-17 – We should not judge people based on outward appearance. We should use a spiritual standard. See Colossians 3:9-11; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:23-24.
• II Corinthians 5:18-19 – When we are forgiven, we are reconciled to God. See Colossians 1:19-23; Romans 5:11.
• II Corinthians 5:20-21 – Paul is using a figure here. Jesus became the sacrifice for sin. See I Corinthians 5:7; I Peter 1:18; 2:22; 3:21.