2025-01-26
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
2 Corinthians 1:1–11 (NKJV)
Today, we begin a new series as we begin our study of the book of 2 Corinthians. While we call this a book, it is really a letter to the church at Corinth. This church was one which was very important to Paul. He planted this church and had a great love for its people. He wrote several letters to the church; two of which are 1 & 2 Corinthians. The others were letters which were not Scripture, but Paul mentions them in his writings.
Corinth was an important city which was heavily influenced by the paganism and sin which had infiltrated the people. There were numerous temples located here, and the evil of the city had been a pressure point for the church. In fact, 1 Corinthians dealt with many of these issues as Paul corrects the church for its acceptance of pagan and sinful activities. In this letter, Paul makes a personal statement to the church to continue living the right way regardless of the sin which surrounded them.
1. The God of all comfort
Vss 1-3 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort
- Paul opens this letter as he often did, speaking from authority as an “apostle”
- He makes it clear this letter is to the church in Corinth, but it is for all believers
- While every believer experiences troubles and suffering, Paul quickly points the reader to the hope which is found in the God of all comfort
Douglas Moo says, “All that human beings can know or experience of God is found in Christ, and so Christians, simply by virtue of being Christians, have access to all this knowledge and all these experiences.”[1]
- He clearly points to God as the source of mercy and the God who comforts
- Comfort is not found in anything other than God’s promises and His presence
- Life is never free from trouble, but God can always be counted on to bring His perfect peace
2. You’re not the first and certainly not the last
Vss 4-7 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:4–7 (NLT) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
- God will use our sufferings as a “classroom” so we will know how to comfort others
- No matter how great the suffering, the comfort will always be greater
- No one can escape the pain of this world but through God and His love, we can experience the promise of encouragement
- The “community of believers” is the greatest resource on this earth to help us through difficult times
- We can never allow our troubling times to pull us away from our encouraging faith
It is very difficult to be humble if you are always successful, so God chastises us with failure at times in order to humble us, to keep us in a state of humility.[2] – Martin Lloyd Jones
3. God is always faithful
Vss 8-10 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us
- God is faithful…always!
- Paul shares with the reader how his troubles were many, but His God is greater
- He uses his own story as one to encourage the reader that they are not alone in the suffering
4. You should be faithful too…because it matters!
Vs 11 You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
- We are called to be faithful in our trust in God
- We are also called to recognize the power of prayer for ourselves and others
- God uses our troubles to strengthen us and use us to help others
1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV) But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Application:
- Don’t allow your suffering to create “stinking thinking”
- Take time in the midst of the valley to notice the mountain tops which create the valley
- Take notice of how God comforts you during your difficult moments so you will be able to encourage others in theirs
[1] Moo, Douglas J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2008.
[2] Draper, Edythe. Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World. Tyndale House Publishers, 1992.