LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 30 MAY 2021 am
2 CORINTHIANS 6
This is perhaps the third or fourth letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian church Only 2 are in our bibles as some other letters were lost. Paul is pointing out the importance of unity, getting on with one another, speaking to one another and holding no malice or spite against one another. In chapter 5 he speaks of Christ's ministry of reconciliation. Christ came into the world to reconcile a lost world unto himself. He came into the world sinless and perfect. He came into the world to die that you and I might be saved from our sins. He was reconciling us unto God again. Verse 1 "we then as workers together with him" we are still carrying on that work of reconciliation today. Relationships are important in the body of Christ. There were people in Corinth who didn't like Paul and his ministry. In chapter 7 all that changes. Titus comes to Paul and he is encouraged in what he is told. The Corinthians believers are now fully behind him, they are looking forward to seeing him. What is our part in reaching men and women with the gospel? We should be taking the message to men and women, helping them to see their need of Christ.
First of all there is a role here that Paul proclaims of himself - "we then as workers." Paul identifies his role within the body of Christ - he is a worker, determined to get things done. He is not doing it alone. He realises that there is nothing he could do of himself. He realised this role from the day he was saved. When Ananias was summoned to go into the street called Straight he was to knock on the door of a man called Judas There he would find Paul praying. Ananias feared so much, he had heard so much of Paul. Acts 9 verse 15 "for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles." He was called to be a worker for Christ from that first day. We all have a role in the body of Christ since the day and hour we were saved. We are not spectators, not encouragers but workers. Paul likens this body to a human body, he talks about the function of that body and how each limb is useful. We are baptised into one body. There is only one body - the church of Jesus Christ. The moment you are saved you give your life to Christ then he baptises you into the body of Christ. We become a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about how each limb responds to each other. Verse 12 "for as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that body being one body." He is getting back to the basics of his letter. Fellowship, relationship and reconciliation. Think of your own body. It is the braan that gives you the instructions. The brain governs all you think and do. The brain is telling each limb what to do. We take our instructions from Jesus Christ. We respond to the head who is Jesus. We are workers today. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." Your role or function in the body of Jesus may be that of a preacher, a singer, someone who testifies, someone who gives out a leaflet or speaks to someone. You are a worker in the body of Christ. The body parts are equal. Each body part is important. I am no more important in the body of Christ than you are. Whether my role be as the cleaner in the church or the preacher in the pulpit all of us have a work to do in the body of Christ. Paul said "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." (1 Timothy 2 verse 7) Think of the story Jesus told of the man going into the far country. He didn't want his business to suffer so gathered his servants and gave them talents. To one he gave 5, another 2 and to one person he gave only 1 talent. The person that got the 5 talents was of no greater value than the one who received 1. Each man was given as the master saw their ability. The master knew what each could handle and could bring forth a good profit. Each was worthy of the talent given to them. Then came the day when he returned from the far country and he called his servants in. One day the Lord will call an end to this world, when the books will be opened and we will stand before God and he will ask what we have done in our lives. The man with the one talent was afraid, he took the talent and hid it. He gave the talent back to the master. The master expected more. What will God expect when we stand before God?
A responsibility Paul prescribes. Paul identifies his role and now he prescribes his responsibility. Here was a worker. In Acts 13 as the people prayed the Holy Spirit came and said "separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." They were in communion with God and the Holy Spirit asked for these 2 men to be separated. Paul took his role seriously. He had received something that one day he must given an account for. 1 Corinthians 5 and Romans 14. One day I will appear before Christ. That is how responsible he was. You will stand at the judgment seat and every idle word you have spoken will be accountable. "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9 verse 16) Paul had a concern for men and women lost in their sins. Romans 10 "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved." Have we that same longing today? It is further strengthened when he says in Romans 10 verse 3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Remember how Paul spoke to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20? He was about to leave and knew there would be false preachers who could come in and split the work, divide the people. He reminded them that he had kept nothing back that was profitable until he had taught them publicly from house to house. Paul used every opportunity to present the gospel. He spoke of his work and ministry. "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." 1 Corinthians 9 verse 19
A relationship that is present. "we then as workers together with him" In John 17 Jesus said "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." When Jesus was on the cross he cried out "it is finished." He spoke to Peter "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus has given us details to keep on building the work of God. One day he is coming again and we must stand before him. He is building the church of Jesus Christ and we are workers with him. He started the work and he will finish the work but are we carrying it on with and for him?
The response that he prayed for - "that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." Paul knew as a preacher God was working. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." God's grace is more than my words. They are the avenue to grant his grace to men and women. "Oh that you receive it not in vain."
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