2 Corinthians 10:5
[5] “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
The context of this verse is that the Corinthians had some people who were attacking Paul’s apostleship and influence at the church of Corinth. There needed to be some church discipline and the Corinthians needed to do this themselves. So Paul offered some guidance.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5] We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
We do not fight with fists and clubs and knives and guns (except under specific circumstances which are not being addressed here). We destroy arguments. We destroy ‘lofty opinions’ raised against the knowledge of God.
There are presuppositions, mental attitudes that prevent people from knowing God. In todays culture they are as thick as oil. It is the duty of Christians to be so immersed in Gods Word that our presuppositions (the things we hold to be true that underlie and found our ability to process facts). Having such a strong grasp of the Truth will prevent us from believing the many lies of our culture from the ‘right’ or the ‘left’.
And so, what that means, among many other things, is that we do not believe everything we think. Just because you can say (or write) something doesn’t make it true. Instead, we compare our thoughts and those of others captive, we compare it to what we know of the Bible. We so believe and therefore act that anyone around us will know that we are biblical (as opposed to for example: Christian Nationalist or flat earth or whatever other pseudo-intellectual garbage floating around on the virtual ether).
Because (well, because we are given Paul’s command and example here), even if some of the other ideas floating around are ‘correct’ it will benefit us far greater to be right with Scripture and therefore God than being ‘right’ with whatever is the soup du jour online today.
Take whatever you are tempted to be sidetracked with and compare it to the truth of Jesus. This includes the above but also just plain sinful thoughts about yourself, your circumstances, your ‘rights’, and see how they stack up against whatever it is that God says about himself, you, and the world.
Paul is not specific (though the context is clear—the arguments are aimed against the truth of Scripture esp. re the functioning of the church and the gospel). Paul is not specific because our thoughts can wonder in many directions that are not helpful (I just gave two easy types of examples: many others could be given). The point is: captivate your mind with Jesus and the things of this world will grow strangely dim…
Praise Jesus!!!
2 Coritnthians
All Sufficiency?!?
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
One of the struggles of my heart is the constant feeling of insufficiency. On the one hand, this is exactly correct: I am not sufficient for the challenges of this life and neither are you. As Christian we must guard against any feeling that ‘we got this’ when it is so clear that we do not! On the other hand: we must also guard against a fear of stepping into the fray around us and be willing to risk whatever it is we fear to lose in order to win souls and make disciple making disciples!
So let’s break down this passage so that we can see Paul’s logic and how we must think about our work in this world:
“And God…”
First and foremost: God is the subject of this sentence. He is the Actor. He is in charge: so let him be. As you do anything and everything, keep your eye on Jesus. Psalm 123:2 calls us to pay attention to what God is doing in your life and the lives of your near ones. This isn’t some mystical mumbo jumbo: it means you are staying close to God in his Word and prayer and doing the next right thing. And it means you are moving in what you know of his revealed will.
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you”
It is crucial that we know that grace is Gods undeserved power to accomplish his purposes in/through/for us and our near ones. When we do we will recognize that whatever it is that God calls us to (three months of unemployment for example; a body that isn’t working right for example) he will empower us to glorify him. We don’t need to be afraid of insufficiency: he will grace us with the power we need to glorify him! That is all he has promised to do.
“so that having all sufficiency”
Whose sufficiency? His. Amen.
“in all things”
All things. Yes. Keep reading, Paul qualifies appropriately.
“at all times”
All times. Yes. See immediately above (then below!).
“you may abound”
Not just some of the time; he wants you to make it noticeable to all near you that you belong to him!
“in every good work.”
Every good work means the work you do (by his grace! See above)! Every good work means what you accomplish for his kingdom, not your own!
And, it is helpful to get the context of the verse or we can make it say whatever we want it to say:
The Context:
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [9] As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
Sowing in this case relates to monies the Corinthians said they would give to the poor Christians in Israel. You can be sure that whatever you sow: time, talent, treasure you will reap.
So do not fear. You may not have extra cash. Don’t fret, God knows and he expects you to give according to your ability (2 Cor 8:11-12) not what you don’t have! So, give encouragement to the discouraged. Give prayers for those suffering. Give time to those who are short on it. You are sufficient to do this because God made you sufficient by his grace for his work.
This is how you will…
Praise Jesus!!!
Godly Grief
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (ESV)
Ever get that sick feeling in your stomach? What did I do? What will happen? What will people think if I get caught?
You’ve experienced worldly grief.
You lay in bed with zero chance of sleep. You play over and over in your head what happened. You start changing what happened, spinning it for yourself, preparing for the inevitable conversations that must take place and give yourself the best look possible.
It wasnt really my fault you see? I really had no choice.
Now, whether you ‘get caught’ or not, can you see from where you sit right now that this only brought you death? Can you see while your eyes are open how this thinking leads straight to death: condemnation, shame, fear, loathing. And Hebrews 10:26-31!!!
Godly grief on the other hand leads straight to repentance. “‘I’ sinned. I must go to Jesus.” I sinned and I must seek reconciliation: reconciliation with God and with those whom I have offended.
Repentance is the acknowledgment that ‘I’ sinned. Followed by a genuine desire to make it right. Accompanied by a desire to forsake that sin: never do it again. This path, and no other leads to salvation.
Salvation means of course dying and going to Heaven. And, crucially, it means deliverance from all the self-loathing and excuse making that is death from worldly grief.
Christian: when you find yourself in the throws of worldly grief, stop it! Repent. Confess that sin to God then to some mature brother or sister who has the spiritual authority to bless and guide you. (See what I wrote recently on James 5:16!)
Your flesh will tell you: You can’t confess! You’ll be shamed You’ll die!
No you wont. In fact, God promises (James 5:16) that you will be healed. Trust the process even though great pain may come of it! You cant confess trust the process because the Promise from the Person will not fail!
Praise Jesus!!!
Hope in Grace 