_Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God._ PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS Note-- I. The blending of lowliness and authority in Paul’s designation of himself. 1. He does not always bring his apostolical authority to mind at the beginning of his letters. In the loving letter to the Philippian... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort._ WHY WE SHOULD BLESS GOD What good can we do to God in blessing of Him? He is blessed, though we bless Him not. Our blessing of Him-- I. Is required as a duty, to make us more capable of H... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who comforteth us._ .. that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble_._ DIVINE COMFORT IN TRIBULATION 1. There is no tribulation either for the kind or degree of it, but God can and doth comfort His people therein, and God’s comforts do far exceed all philosophical remedies, as mu... [ Continue Reading ]
_For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboundeth by Christ._ THE SUFFERINGS AND THE CONSOLATION Our cross is not the same as Christ’s, yet we have a cross. Our sufferings are not the same as Christ’s, yet we have sufferings. The cross is like Christ’s, and the sufferings... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whether we be afflicted … or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation._ PERSONAL SUFFERINGS I. Are often experienced in the rest of enterprises (2 Corinthians 11:23; 2 Corinthians 11:29). II. Are ever necessary for the rendering of the highest service to mankind (ver... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye also helping together by prayer for us._ HELPING TOGETHER You have four girls; Mary does the work of the rest--such help is not good. All help is dangerous for any of us when there is absence of mutuality. I am not allowed to think of myself as in one of those boat excursions, where some sit i... [ Continue Reading ]
_For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience._ THE JOY OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE I. When Christians have the testimony of conscience in their favour. When it testifies-- 1. That they have done what is right. 2. That they have done right from right motives. II. That this testimony of... [ Continue Reading ]
_For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us._ ALL THE PROMISES I. The dignity of the promises. They are “the promises of God.” 1. They were each one made by Him according to the purpose of His own will. 2. They are links between His decrees and His a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God._ ESTABLISHING GRACE I. The Christian needs not only converting but establishing grace. He that hath begun any good work in us must perfect it. The weakest with this grace will stand, and the strongest without it will fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts._ SEALING OF THE SPIRIT What are we to understand by the sealing of the Spirit? It is that act of the Holy Spirit by which the work of grace is deepened in the heart of the believer, so that he has an increasing conviction... [ Continue Reading ]
_I call God for a record … that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth._ WHY PAUL DID NOT VISIT CORINTH His reasons were-- I. One of mercy: to spare them pain (2 Corinthians 1:23)--to save them from the sharp censure their lax morality would have necessitated. It was no caprice, no fickleness,... [ Continue Reading ]