The Spirit Life

INTRO

Before getting into chapter six, there are a few passages in chapter five to highlight that will qualify what we will study in this chapter:

“Indeed, while we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4). Our burden is this Treasure that is inside of us that wants to break out to the outside. This Treasure on the inside gives us the life we want; it consumes our life in the flesh with the life that is from God.

“From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:16–18). In Christ, something new happened in our hearts. That’s why we speak of being “born again.” Our old life passed away and we were given new life. What God has done in us and for us has given us a new identity and a new perspective.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” (2 Corinthians 5:20). God did not desire to simply alter the Corinthians’ behavior. He wanted them to become brand-new people through Christ who were given work to do.

TEACHING

2 Corinthians 6:1-2: Paul did not work with the Lord with his own agenda. Instead, Paul acknowledged he was “working together with Him” (v. 1). Paul allowed the Lord to set the agenda for his ministry and he obeyed. The grace the believers received from God wasn’t something they could take off and put on. Identifying with Christ became who they were. Paul wanted the Corinthians to major in the new life experience in the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 6:3–10: Paul committed to walk so much in the life of the Spirit that no one could claim he was a hypocrite or inauthentic. Paul’s overriding concern was the validation of his ministry. As long as he walked in the Spirit, the power and authority of his ministry could not be discredited. This standard was not just for Paul as a minister. The same standard applies to all believers. The particulars of what that looks like differs according to individuals, but all believers are to walk in the Spirit life to such an extent that the validity of their message cannot be discredited. Paul listed several qualifications of walking in the Spirit life that were born out of his own experience:

• Great endurance (v. 4)—we will walk through things that will take time and will be uncomfortable for us.
• Afflictions (v. 4)—unexpected difficult situations that come up against us.
• Hardship and difficulties (v. 4)—difficult things we must endure.
• Beatings and imprisonments (v. 5)—physical difficulties.
• Riots and labors (v. 5)—people physically coming against you; situations that require physical persistence and effort.
• Sleepless nights and times of hunger (v. 5)—burdens that cause us to not sleep; when pursuing God’s mission leads you to a place where food is unavailable.
• Purity and knowledge (v. 6)—conviction; what has been made known by God.
• Patience and kindness (v. 6)—things that are worth having, but necessary to wait on; moral integrity, not just being nice.
• Holy Spirit and sincere love (v. 6)—authentic love that had to be shown because of the work of God on the heart.
• Message of truth, power of God, weapons of righteousness (v. 7)—the spiritual tools given to all believers.
• Glory and dishonor, slander and good report, as deceivers, yet true (v. 8)—opinion will be mixed; some would resist and seek to discredit the work of ministry.
• Unknown yet recognized, dying but living, disciplined yet not killed (v. 9)—unknown to people, but well known to God; the outward man perishes but the inward man is renewed daily.
• Grieving yet rejoicing, poor yet enriching many, having nothing yet possessing everything (v. 10)—Experiencing difficulty, but focusing on eternal realities; emptying oneself to see others blessed spiritually; laying down one’s life to gain eternity.

Paul’s qualifications will come up again in 2 Corinthians 11:23–27: “Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times. Five times received 39 lashes from Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a day and night in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.”

2 Corinthians 6:11–13: Paul loved the Corinthians and wanted them to know and enjoy the freedom of Christ of which he had been speaking. Paul endured everything he mentioned previously because of his love and concern for the church, but the Corinthians were “limited by [their] own affections” (v. 12). Paul encouraged the Corinthians to open their hearts to hear what he was saying to them.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18: Paul encouraged believers to “not be matched with unbelievers” (v. 14). Believers have Treasure on the inside that unbelievers simply can’t understand. Paul then gave several examples of how different believers are from unbelievers (vv. 14–16). The point is that what was on the inside was more important than what was on the outside.

CLOSING

If we really believe we have Treasure on the inside of us, how important is it for us to guard it, treasure it, keep a high moral integrity, and compel us toward God because we love what He has done in our hearts.