_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 ]