God’s Comfort 2 Corinthians 1:1-10

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Consider Corinth… One of the most decadent, debauched, depraved, sick cities in the Ancient Roman world Filthy Rich… Perverted Religions… Moral Confusion & Anarchy…

Background

Temple Worship "Venus de Milo," marble statue of Aphrodite from Melos, c. 150 BC. In the Louvre, Paris.

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Consider Corinth… One of the most decadent, debauched, depraved, sick cities in the Ancient Roman world The most arrogant, unloving, anti-church church of all Paul’s churches… Full of fights & egocentric posturing Incest Prostitution Drunkenness and irreverence False teaching Rejecting Paul’s leadership & authority…

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Consider Corinth… He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them 1:12,13 One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos… Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 3:2,3 … you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you… 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 1 Corinthians 6:15 4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us… Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34 4:19,21 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power… Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness? 6:6 ... I say this to your shame Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? 11:20 14:23 if unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Consider Corinth… He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them But also to teach them about real love …if I do not have love, I am nothing 1 Corinthians 13:2

Paul’s Amazing Introduction Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Consider Corinth… He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them But also to teach them about real love It stirred a rebellion in the church! You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! 2 Corinthians 11:20-21

Paul’s Amazing Introduction I’m so tired of dealing with you… Grace to you and peace … 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 I really don’t need this… Consider Corinth… He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them But also to teach them about real love It stirred a rebellion in the church! Alienation! Withdraw? 2 Corinthians contains the most personal disclosure by Paul of himself… He bares his heart like nowhere else! He could lose this church!

Paul’s Strange Offer of Comfort 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 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. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even 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. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. Comfort!!

God’s Comfort: from Suffering Suffering Brings Comfort v.4 “He comforts us in all our troubles…” v. 5 “For the more we suffer…the more God will shower us with his comfort” "It will make you stronger..."

God’s Comfort: from Suffering Suffering Brings Comfort Not a Me-Centered Comfort v.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others… v.5 the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort…

God’s Comfort: from Suffering Suffering Brings Comfort Not a Me-Centered Comfort Not For All Suffering Doing Wrong Natural / Unavoidable Suffering …the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Col. 2:23 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 1 Peter 4:15 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” Rom.8:28

God’s Comfort: from Suffering Suffering Brings Comfort Not a Me-Centered Comfort Not For All Suffering A Choice to “Suffer for Christ” (v.5) v.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort

God’s Comfort: from Suffering Suffering Brings Comfort Not a Me-Centered Comfort Not For All Suffering A Choice to “Suffer for Christ” (v.5) A Choice to Suffer for Others (v.6) v.6 when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation!

God’s Comfort: Suffering for Serving Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose 1 Pet. 4:1 Getting Equipped Financial Giving Personal Investment! Getting Burned! Falling Down! Rejection and Persecution! Loss of “Creature Comforts…” Agony of the Heart! Spiritual Attack! Time-Consuming! Dazed & Confused! Frustration!

God’s Comfort: a Choice to Love Others "Father, forgive them..." "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5

Alternatives to God’s Comfort? Deep, Unresolved Suffering Inner Loneliness Lack of Purpose Life Without God A Slow, Miserable Death

Alternatives to God’s Comfort? Deep, Unresolved Suffering Inner Loneliness Lack of Purpose Life Without God Withdraw!

Alternatives to God’s Comfort? Deep, Unresolved Suffering Inner Loneliness Lack of Purpose Life Without God Withdraw! Corinthianize! The FUN People!

How Much of God’s Comfort? v8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; v.6-7 we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer… as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us

How Much of God’s Comfort? Trusting God who raised the dead: A thankful heart: “Blessed be the … God of all comfort” v.3 Faithfulness: “and our hope for you is firmly grounded” v7 Eyes Off Self: “…not trust in ourselves…” v9 v8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; v9  indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 2 Cor 4:17