Stand Strong in the Word
Stand Strong in the Word is a weekly bible study that teaches through the Bible verse by verse in chronological order. For more information, visit www.standstrongministries.org.
Stand Strong in the Word
#301 “The Road to Restoration Begins with Honest Examination” (2 Corinthians 13:5-14)
Have you ever wondered what hidden sin might be quietly eroding your life, ready to shatter everything you hold dear? Today, we’ll explore Paul’s urgent call for self-examination and restoration in 2 Corinthians 13:5–14—a powerful reminder that now is the time to repent, restore, and stand firm before it’s too late. #biblestudy
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Have you ever wondered what hidden sin might be quietly eroding in your life that is ready to shatter everything that you hold dear? Today we'll explore Paul's urgent call for self-examination and restoration, which is a powerful reminder that now is the time to repent, restore and stand firm before it's too late. Turn to 2 Corinthians, chapter 13, and let's stand strong in the word together. Hey there, my friends, welcome to Stand Strong in the Word podcast. Jason Heman is with you, as always, a podcast that exists to help you guys know scripture, to fall in love with it and to teach it in other people's lives. And today the title is the Road to Restoration and it begins with an honest examination. And we will be closing out in our book study here in 2 Corinthians. And if you know the chronological order, yes, you guess it.
Speaker 1:The next book study that we'll be doing here on the podcast is the book of Romans. Now, I know many of you guys out there listening. You can say and it's okay, you could say this as Christians, you know like you have a favorite Bible verse or favorite book of the Bible. A lot of people out there love the book of Romans and it's certainly in my theological training is by far one of the most difficult new Testament books, next to Hebrews and revelation, that is, and so it's going to be a great challenge to really unpack justification by faith and deal with a lot of the controversial passages, particularly from chapters nine through 11 in Romans, with a lot of the controversial passages, particularly from chapters nine through 11 in Romans. But that's gonna be our next study, so look forward to that and if you have any questions that you are anticipating as we explore that book a verse of the Bible and you're like Jason, please address this question you can do so by emailing us at info at standstrongministriesorg. So if you were with us in our last episode and encourage you to check that out if you missed it, wherever you get your podcasts we were discussing Paul's heart and also his warning in coming to the Corinthians because of persistent sin, and one of the things that we looked at that's so important is that, as leaders, when you exercise, we are to exercise authority and, in this case, discipline, but when you do so, that you do it with a gentleness of heart, but you do it firmly and you don't compromise just as a parent does to their loving child when they misbehave, if there's an ongoing situation or a reoccurrence of sin, it's our responsibility to help them and to confront that, that these are not acceptable behaviors.
Speaker 1:And if it goes far deeper than just a behavior, because oftentimes we could try to treat it moralistically and then just kind of say that's not what we do. Instead, I want you to do this, but you got to look at the heart, especially if it's persistent, and that's what Paul was doing. And so now, as we change gears and we're looking at the final portion in verses five through 14, and I'm going to read it to you in a minute. But I want to set it up by going back to what I asked in the opening, and that is is there a sin, a hidden sin in your life right now that you don't think is a big deal? Now, those who are listening, if there are sin or sins in your life that you keep feeding, whether it's porn, it's alcohol, it's being a compulsive liar, it's manipulating people, it's stealing, and you know that it's a major problem and it's affecting your relationship with God, it's affecting your relationship with other people and you're to the point where the guilt and shame is causing you to be very vindictive, hard closed off. I'm interceding for you. Coming to this podcast today, I was saying Lord, bring freedom, bring forgiveness, bring restoration. Because one thing we're going to be seeing in verse 11 is this terminology that Paul says aim for restoration.
Speaker 1:We are in the business, my friends, of mending, reconciling, restoring that which is lost. If you've ever broken something, or a child comes to you and something's broken, they say daddy, fix this. I just had that the other day. One of my kids is like dad, the toilet's not working. Well, the chain just came off the handle so it wasn't flushing. It was a simple fix. But I fixed a problem. It was restored. Think about that.
Speaker 1:In our relationship with the Lord Through Christ, we've been justified by faith. We have peace with God. We now have access to God and we give thanks in him. Through Christ, we've been restored. So this is our mission. We are restorers. This is why when and I'm guilty as charged too I love not just DIY stuff, but when you have a show about them taking a dumpy place and restoring it, especially those shows where they take something old, like an antique-y thing, and they keep it within its beautification the way that it was made, but because of you know years of damage and you know harshness or weather, if it's a house, a barn or an antique. I watched recently a piano and they restored it back to its original state. If you will, guys, that's what we're in the business of, and one day God's going to restore all things. That which has been lost to sin, he's going to regain it.
Speaker 1:So this is where Paul starts down verses 5, to really hone in on our hearts and our focus and our aim and our goal is to advance restoration. Verse 5 says examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves or do you not realize this about yourselves? That Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail to meet the test? I hope that you will find out that we have not failed the test, but we pray to God that you may not do wrong, not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed, for we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. So we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason, I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come, I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to pause there and focus in on these passages in verses 5 through 10, because the final verses 11 through 14 is more or less the benediction, the final greeting that Paul oftentimes lays out, and we'll focus in on that phrase. I said earlier, aim for restoration. But let's go back to verse three, because if you go back to verse three in this chapter, paul points to God's power in the Corinthians as evidence of his apostleship. Remember, he says since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me, he is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you. So one of the things that we have to do when we are approaching restoration there has to be the self-examination. We're going to look at that phrase in a minute. The word examine, because oftentimes people take it out of context, and I was one of them. I just took the English term and thought, oh, this is what it meant. But as you dig deeper and you look at it contextually, it's like, oh, that's what it actually really means. So I was like partially true. So we'll look at that.
Speaker 1:But what I want to just point out, that is, when we are aiming for restoration, there has to be this desire within us to recognize the work of God in our lives, even the people who are most difficult and yet they're followers of Christ and I have several. Okay, that I was even thinking about as I was coming to this text. And my heart's desire and I pray it's yours is I don't want to be at odds with people, but at the same time, I know that I can't get along with everybody. Not everyone's going to be my friend. I want to be friendly, I want to be faithful, but you and I know there's priorities that we have in our lives, not to the level of partiality where we're discriminating, and it's solely based on the people that just like what we like. You know they're kind to us, they do what we tell them to do, they're easygoing. That's taking advantage of people. That's not real life. Okay, that's trying to manufacture something where you just have a bunch of servants who are at your beck and call. Those aren't true friends. But what we can't miss is even the people who are most difficult.
Speaker 1:God is still working, and that's what Paul was focusing in on. So now, here in verse five, what Paul does is he challenges the Corinthians, remember. He says aren't you proof that God is working? Don't we see the power of God in your life? And they go wait a second, they're in sin, they're having issues, they of God in your life, and think wait a second, they're in sin, they're having issues. They were confronting Paul. They're upset that Paul wasn't dealing with all these issues. Yes, yes, yes and yes, that's true, life is messy, there's a lot of blame that could go around, but even still, god's moving, god's working.
Speaker 1:So this challenge to examine the Greek word here is pierozo. It means to test. So literally says test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. So is he saying are you not Christians? Well, we got to look at the context. When he says test yourselves, test your faith in Christ, as evidence that you're from my apostleship, because it goes back to what we just were talking about in verses three and verse four says and this is important, my friends, when we're looking at the context, he says for he was crucified in Christ, but lives by the power of God, for we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you, we live with him by the power of God. So notice, we're dealing with you. We live in Christ, him by the power of God. So notice, we're dealing with you. We live in Christ is the power of God. That's evident. The power of God's working in you. So now, because of that, let's examine, let's test it.
Speaker 1:So what he's saying is the Corinthians should focus more on whether they are genuinely abiding in Christ, rather than just attacking Paul and questioning his faith and his motives and getting on him for the things they think he should be doing. Your ministry should be like this. And so, sometimes, in the context, then in our lives, as we're leading towards restoration, okay, and being honest about it, if you know what God has called you to do, don't brag in it, don't boast in it. But at the same time, as Paul's saying here is like, look, has God done a work here in our lives, yes or no? Okay, it's yes. Now do you believe that when you were acting this certain way or you kept doing something that we told you not to do, was that helping the community of believers, your life and my responsibility to care for you? I'm saying this as a leader because remember, paul's coming as an apostle Like no, but does that excuse a way that God's not using you? Of course God, of course God is. The power of God is evident in that person's life, but it's going to be limited because they're not relying on it. And so what Paul's saying is hey, rather than be attacking me, you are evidence of my ministry work in your life. Let's work together. Okay, okay, let's do this together.
Speaker 1:Or, as one commentary said, the ivp new testament said the kind of testing paul envisions here is that which proves the worth or the genuineness of something, and that word there is daikai mozo, and you can see this throughout the letter of second Corinthians. And so in this case it is the Corinthians, faith, that is to be proven, and the word obviously for faith here is pistis, the common word in this context, and this just denotes profession. So the Corinthians have professed a belief in Christ, but does their life match their profession? And that's the key sometimes is, when we're addressing with people is does your actions match what you believe? I'm not questioning your salvation, I'm questioning the way you're living out your salvation. See the difference. So if the life of the congregation is not in conformity with the truths of the gospel, it negates any claim to standing firm in the faith. The commentary goes on to say the challenge sounds foreboding. Yet true profession should issue in a life characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That's obviously Galatians 5.22. And so, from all appearances, the Corinthians, on Paul's return, will be found wanting on virtually every account.
Speaker 1:So one of the other things I want to point out that's important, as we're talking about the road to restoration, and it begins with this honest examination. Paul says listen, I'm going to be coming to you and I want you guys to spare me to have to come firmly, if need be. That's always ideal. So examine yourselves, look back at the things that you said about me, how you said it, why you said it, was it good, was it bad? And hopefully, with honest examination of how you're living out your faith, you guys will be repenting. So when I do come to you, it's not gonna be that big of a deal.
Speaker 1:So now, in verses six and seven, there's a play on words here, because what Paul does here he says I hope you find out that we have not failed the test. So he hasn't failed the test, meaning he's living out the faith. And then he says we pray to God that you may not do wrong, not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. Interesting what is he saying?
Speaker 1:Again, as I mentioned, there's a plan on words here between the word proof, doikamin, which is evidence, and reprobates, which is a Greek term that means counterfeits. So what Paul's doing here is he's saying the testing of their faith the Corinthians that is will provide evidence to whether it is genuine or it's genuine. Then they're honestly going to test their actions, their speech, the way that they're viewing Paul, the way that they're going to receive Paul when they get there. If it's a counterfeit, then they're going to reject all of it, plain and simple. So it's not really that difficult to determine sometimes if in fact somebody is genuinely walking in faith, because they believe in it, even though they sin at times, but they're quick to resolve it, because that's what a true christian means is somebody who's living out restoration, somebody who's a restorer, somebody who honestly examines their life and allows the holy spirit to convict them.
Speaker 1:So here in verse 8, when he says for we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. So paul affirms that his apostolic authority is subordinate to what them? No, he's subordinate to christ. His life aligns with God's truth. His role is to restore truth wherever and whenever it is needed. And if discipline is necessary then he'll do that. But discipline should never involve personal malice. Oh, I'm going to use my authority. It's like a police officer abusing their authority just because they have a badge. A police officer abusing their authority just because they have a badge, just because they've been sworn in and they are a person of authority, doesn't mean that they can just abuse that. Every action must aim for the glory of God and the wellbeing of fellow Christians.
Speaker 1:So Paul wasn't solely focused on vindicating himself. He cared more about restoring the Corinthians faith and mending their relationship. So in verse 10, which says for this reason I write these things while I'm away from you, that when I come I might not have to be severe in the use of my authority he reiterates what he said back in chapter 2. Remember he said of all of you that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. So he doesn't want to come with this heavy hand and he says that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
Speaker 1:Now it doesn't mean that church discipline, when applied rightly, is all about tearing down. That's not what he's saying. He's saying if you guys have honestly examined yourself and you're truly repentant and there's still some work to be done, I don't wanna come and on top of that, oh, you're not repentant and really blast them. It's just like a parent If we keep, you know, at it with our kids and they're already saying over and over again they didn't mean to do something and they're sorry, and you don't take it at face value, that could do more harm than good. And so, no matter the discipline, paul aims to uplift the Corinthians instead of using his apostolic authority to bring them down. And as Christians, that's what we are about. We're about building up, not tearing down. We're about advancing forgiveness and restoration, not discriminating, not excusing away sin. And so notice how Paul ends his letter.
Speaker 1:Finally, brothers rejoice. I love that. Hey, after everything we have talked about, we talked about a lot of challenging issues, a lot of controversial things, not always easy. But you know what, my brothers, let's just rejoice why? Because Christ is on, because we've been justified by faith, because no matter what sin is committed, no matter what harm we've done each other, if we genuinely look to Christ and his redemptive work, it's going to be good. So we rejoice in that.
Speaker 1:And then he says aim for restoration. And then he says aim for restoration. Now the rsv says mend your ways. Or the nrsv says put things in order. Why? Because the greek word here that's used also is applied, as we see in matthew 4, verse 21, of mending nets. So that's what restoration really is is mending. Whether it's mending a net or mending something back together, or putting something back together, that's the business we're in. So we are to mend something broken. That's our aim.
Speaker 1:If something's broken in our marriage, if there's something broken with our kids, if there's something broken in the church, if we're seeing all the signs of something going wrong or will go wrong if this persists, we are to resolve it. And as we aim for restoration, we're to comfort one another. That means we are to exhort, encourage people, we are to agree with one another, not on everything. What this means, though, more specifically is to have the mind of Christ, what Paul talks about in Philippians, chapter two. This means to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. So when I agree with my brothers and sisters in Christ that Christ is Lord of all, walking in the power of the Holy spirit, praying in the spirit, rejoicing, always again I say rejoice. Those are things that we agree upon, that we are the same mind.
Speaker 1:And then he says live in peace, so we are to resolve disputes. Notice, he started with aim for restoration. And then he says that we are to live in peace. So that is the focus, my friends to resolve disputes, whatever they may be in your life, to live in harmony and to live in fellowship with one another. So again, there are a lot of people, whether it be my local church or in ministry, that I have fellowship with them in Christ's name, but I don't hang out with them on a regular basis. They don't celebrate my birthday. I don't celebrate their birthday Like. What we're talking about is just harmony. I know I may not agree with this person and their eschatological positioning or their interpretation of the passive scripture, but I agree with them as a brother or sister in Christ, whatever they may be to me and if there is an issue, that we are to resolve it so that it doesn't fester.
Speaker 1:And then he says greet one another with a holy kiss, which is very custom in those days. All the saints greet you, and the grace of our Lord, jesus Christ, and love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Now this is powerful because when Paul concludes his letter it's very similar, it's a spiritual charge. If you go back to 1 Corinthians, chapter 16, verses 13 and 14, he says be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like man, be strong, let all that you do be done in love is often a verse. When that I sign a book or something, I'll put 1 Corinthians, 16, 13 to 14 sometimes. And so what he does here is really cool because as he's ending the letter, paul does something.
Speaker 1:He didn't do this in the last letter, but he does something here where he explicitly describes the Trinity. In his letter he says Jesus is Lord who bestows grace, and God, the Father, offers his unconditional love and the Holy Spirit brings the communion. So if you and I are going to aim for restoration, if you and I are going to have an honest examination of how we're living in our faith. We need the work of the Trinity, we need our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ, who has saved us from our sins, and recognizing him, lord, we need to give respect and glory and honor to God, the Father, who is the author of salvation, who sent his son in that unconditional love, and we accept that and we are to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit as we have communion and fellowship with one another.
Speaker 1:The Expository's Bible commentary says this embryonic Trinitarian formulation is noteworthy for the unusual order of Son, father and Holy Spirit. It is through the grace shown by Christ chapter 8, verse 9, and living and dying for humankind that God demonstrates his love Romans five, eight. And the spirit creates fellowship Ephesians four, three and. So this order also reflects Christian experience, and that's what's important, my friends, that I want to leave with you is, when you are aiming for restoration, think of the Trinity, think of the work of the Trinity, just salvifically, that you and I can have that gift for all eternity. And that's what we are to advance, that's our goal.
Speaker 1:So, my friends, I pray that this study in 2 Corinthians has been a tremendous blessing to you. Let us know by emailing us at info at stanstrongministriesorg. I'd love to hear your comments, any prayer requests that you may have, or maybe a theological or Bible question that you would like me to answer, and I will definitely do my best, as I always try to do every month, to respond to the many requests that we get. But know that we love you guys. We're excited that the next podcast is gonna be in the book of Romans, so encourage all of you guys to study up before we dive into chapter one. Until next time, keep standing strong in the word of God.