2 Corinthians 6:1

2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 2 Corinthians 6:1,2 Paul entreateth the Corinthians not to frustrate God's grace, 2 Corinthians 6:3 setting forth his own inoffensive, painful, and patient demeanour in the discharge of his ministry, 2 Corinthians 6:11,12 of which he telleth them he spake more freely out of the great love he bare them, 2 Corinthians 6:13 challenging the like affection from them in return. 2 Corinthians 6:14,15 He dissuadeth from any intimate connections with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:16 Christians are the temples of the living God. We then, as workers together with him: ministers of the gospel are fellow workers together with Christ; though but as instruments, serving him as the principal Agent, and efficient Cause: he trod the wine press of his Father's wrath alone, and had no partner in the purchase of man's salvation; but in the application of the purchased salvation, he admits of fellow workers. Though the internal work be his alone, and the effects of his Spirit upon the souls of those whose hearts are changed; yet there is a ministerial part, which lieth in exhortation and argument, by the ear conveyed to the soul; thus ministers work together with Christ. And without him they can do nothing: they are workers, but they must have Christ work with them, or they will find that they labour in vain. Beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: grace signifieth any free gift; and it is in the New Testament variously applied; but here it signifies, the doctrine of the gospel, held forth in the preaching of it, which these Corinthians had received with the ears of their bodies. And this was Paul s, and should be every godly minister s, work, not with roughness, but with all mildness and gentleness, to beseech those to whom they preach the gospel, that they would believe and embrace it, and live up to the holy rules of it; without which, (as to their souls benefit), all the kindness of God, in affording them the gospel and means of grace, is in vain, and lost: though God yet hath his end, and his ministers shall he a sweet savour to God, as well with, reference to them that perish, as those who shall be saved. For the effectual grace of God in the heart, that cannot be received in vain; nor is that here spoken of.