WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.800 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:30.719 Take your Bible with me for our time in God's Word this morning to the New Testament book of Second Corinthians. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:41.520 We completed our study of the book of Acts last Sunday with an unfinished story. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:52.240 The imprisoned Apostle Paul had established churches across the northern Mediterranean world. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:59.039 They were churches that struggled, just like all churches do. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:10.400 They struggled to maintain the purity of the gospel, the purity of their doctrine, the purity of their holiness and order for the cause of Christ. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:15.599 Those first churches had to wrestle with many new questions. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:24.879 We looked at those as we walked through the book of Acts, wondering along the way, the church did, what do we do? 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:29.359 What do we do with these new situations that we've never encountered before? 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:35.439 Those first churches had only their Old Testament to guide them. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:49.200 But over the course of several decades, God added to those scriptures through the pens of several apostles to protect and guide those young churches. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:59.680 One of those churches was established in what we might call the sin city of the Roman world, ancient Corinth. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:14.639 And I thought that since we've concluded our study in Acts, it might be helpful to gain a glimpse of how those early churches were encouraged to engage and persevere in ministry. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:25.120 By God's grace, they weren't left to their own devices to figure out how do we do this, and neither are we. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:38.080 So for the next few weeks, I want us to look at the Apostle Paul's guidance given to the church in Corinth to see what lies at the heart of Christian ministry. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:46.960 And by Christian ministry, I don't just mean those things that take place within the context of the walls of a local church. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:48.719 That's part of it. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:56.560 But Christian ministry is not just in the local church, but it is the local church. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:58.879 That is the people of the local church. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:06.080 It's who we are, who God has called us to be, and how we live and act in everyday life. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:13.680 We're going to begin then in 2 Corinthians chapter 2, near the end of the chapter. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:24.800 And as we look at that, we need to remember that we often refer to 2 Corinthians and other portions of the Bible as books of the Bible. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:29.759 That's not really an inappropriate way to think about them. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:43.680 But we need to remember that this is a letter written, handwritten by the Apostle Paul to the church that began under his ministry in the city of Corinth. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:48.159 So as a letter, it's personal. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:55.280 Second Corinthians might be the most personal letter of all of the New Testament letters. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:07.840 It's personal because the apostle spends a good deal of time defending his own personal ministry as an apostle. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.000 He was not without criticism. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:17.759 Nobody who walks as a Christian who follows Christ is without criticism. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.240 We hope that there's less criticism within the body of Christ. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:25.839 Sometimes that's not the case. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:29.759 For the Apostle Paul, it definitely wasn't the case. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:41.759 And within these personal aspects of the letter, we find some core elements of faithful Christian ministry that rest in apostolic guidance. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:55.360 So at the end now of 2 Corinthians chapter 2, we find that the Apostle Paul's life and ministry lead us to the truth that Christian ministry is others focused. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:01.120 That is, it's not about us as individuals. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:05.040 It's about us as individuals focused on others. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:08.879 Look with me at 2 Corinthians chapter 2, beginning in verse 12. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.199 I'll read it if you'd like to follow along. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:18.399 If you are following along in the Bible that's in the seat back in front of you, I believe it's like page 965. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.199 Again, 2 Corinthians chapter 2, beginning in verse 12. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:40.079 The Apostle Paul writes, When I came to Troaz to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest, because I did not find my brother Titus there. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:44.720 So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonian. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:56.319 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:03.519 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:11.519 To one a fragrance from death to death, and the other a fragrance from life to life. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.399 Who is sufficient for these things? 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:26.399 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God in the sight of God, we speak in Christ. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:29.360 And we'll stop there for this morning. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:49.040 Remember that the Apostle Paul is speaking about his own ministry, to a church that he established, to many of the people that he himself led to trust in Christ, defending his own ministry. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:59.120 Beginning in chapter one, he wants to comfort them in suffering. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:14.319 He wants to boast in chapter 1, verse 12, of the testimony of their conscience that they behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:22.720 He reminds them of his travel plans in verse 16 of chapter 1, where he wanted to come back and see them one more time. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.319 That didn't happen. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:34.399 So he anticipates that they might be wondering well, if you're such a godly apostle, why don't you keep your word? 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.600 He said you'd come to see us, but you haven't come to see us. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:38.720 What's up with that? 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:42.560 If you're such a godly man, why are you suffering so much? 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:45.040 They're asking all kinds of questions. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.920 He's anticipating that, he's responding to that. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:57.920 So he describes in verse 12 the explanation of his absence from Corinth. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:06.639 And the explanation entails our first reality of Christian ministry. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:14.399 And that is that Christian ministry always entails a concern for others. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:25.199 See, Paul was grieved first with the church of Corinth, letting sin continue in their presence unchecked. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:27.920 That's what 1 Corinthians is all about. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.680 He wrote them a letter. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:35.840 He'd established the church, he'd gone away, then he'd heard some news that there were things happening in that church that ought not to be. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.600 He says, things that don't even happen among unsaved people. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.639 And you're letting it go on unchecked. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:47.600 And so he wrote to them a very direct and corrective letter. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.279 And he sent it with Titus. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:09:06.480 It seems that Paul had then anticipated meeting up with Titus in a coastal city called Troaz, which is on the western coast of what we now know as Turkey. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:13.360 It's north of the city of Ephesus, to which the letter to Ephesus was written. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:18.879 Then they would go across the sea to Macedonia, northern Greece today. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:27.200 Maybe it was prearranged with Titus when he left with that first letter that they would meet up in Troas. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:28.480 We don't know. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.080 Maybe Paul knew that Titus was going to go to Corinth. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:40.480 If you draw a line almost straight across to the left from Ephesus, you'll get to Corinth, southern Greece. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:48.559 Maybe Paul knew that Titus was going to go north through Greece to Macedonia and come back down across the sea and come to Troas. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.399 Maybe he thought that they would meet up there. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.159 We don't know those details. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:58.399 What we know is that the Apostle Paul was concerned about Titus because he hasn't met up with him yet. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.440 And because he hadn't met up with him, he was concerned about the church in Corinth. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:13.200 And his concern for the church in Corinth was over their reaction to his tearful, corrective letter. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.919 Look back at chapter 2, verse 3. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:26.559 He said, I wrote to you, past tense, as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.440 For I felt sure of all of you that my joy would be the joy of all of you. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:46.720 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. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:11:07.039 It's a tearful letter, written from the perspective of a parent whose children are not walking in the way of Christ, but who need to hear the way of Christ and change the way that they're functioning. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:20.159 So then we get down to verse 13 and we find that his spirit was not at rest because Titus wasn't at Troaz. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:40.320 Now if you look over at chapter 7, verses oh 5, 6, 7, we see that he eventually met up with Titus, not in Ephesus, not in Troaz, but across the sea in Macedonia. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.480 Chapter 6, he says, we came into Macedonia. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:46.559 I'm sorry, chapter 7, verse 5. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.840 We came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:53.919 We were afflicted at every turn, fighting without and fear within. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:59.600 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:14.799 And not only by his coming, but also by filling us in on what was going on in Corinth, how they received the letter, how they responded to his corrective discipline in that letter. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:20.879 And he says in verse 8, the letter grieved you, but only for a while. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:26.240 Because it made them repent and turn around and go in a different direction. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:33.279 So as we go back to chapter 2 now, we see that his concern is present. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:38.080 And his lack of absence in Corinth wasn't because he didn't care about them. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:42.320 It actually showed the opposite. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:51.120 He was looking for Titus to discover how did my children respond to the letter that I sent with Titus. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:54.159 He was concerned about their spiritual welfare. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.480 He intended to go back. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:01.360 You can see 1 Corinthians 16, 2 Corinthians chapter 1. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:17.519 He intended to go, but it seems that Paul and Titus planned to meet up somewhere so that they would be able to come together, decide what to do next based off of Corinth's response to his first letter. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.039 So do you understand the situation now? 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.639 Paul starts in Ephesus, no Titus. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.039 So he goes north to Troas. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:29.120 No Titus. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:38.000 But in Troaz, he says, there's an open door of ministry for me. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:50.720 Paul is always concerned about others, whether it's Corinth, whether it's Titus, whether it's an open door of ministry in this community. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.799 And we see a variation in his concern. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.080 He has a heart for ministry. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:05.200 That open door in Troaz means there's reception of the gospel. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.440 There's the opportunity to preach and to teach and to lead people to Christ. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.000 It appears that people were receptive of it. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:26.480 But in that period of time, the apostle's greater concern than the open door of ministry was how the church in Corinth responded to his letter, to his direct, tearful letter. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:35.679 And that reveals a humble approach to ministry that we don't often see today. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:47.200 Paul was more concerned about the spiritual welfare of the Corinthian Christians than he was about expanding his own ministry in Troaz. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.759 That's fascinating. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:58.000 Here he is in a community, an open door, meaning there's no barriers. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:09.039 He can keep on spreading the gospel, working and expanding his ministry, but he's more concerned about that church across the sea than his own particular ministry. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:18.159 So he says goodbye to the people in Troas, and he seeks out Titus to find out about the Corinthians. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:25.440 That leads us then to a couple of particular details of Christian ministry. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:50.159 Because 1 and 2 Corinthians are so linked together, it highlights that Christian ministry sometimes entails speaking directly and pointedly to mark out, to identify and to mark sin and to call Christians and the church to follow Christ in holiness. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:16:07.360 Speaking the truth directly and pointedly, to call brothers and sisters to follow Christ properly is speaking the truth in love, even if it causes them to grieve. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:24.960 But it also identifies for us that Christian ministry entails being concerned about how people respond to the call to holiness. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.759 That's even harder. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:37.360 We know if you call somebody out on something wrong that they're doing, they might not receive that so well. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.000 Paul was concerned about that. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:53.440 He was concerned about how the believers in the church in Corinth would respond to his pointedly calling out their failures. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:00.720 You see, we don't just call one another out and say, hey, grow up. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.440 Obey with a happy heart. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.279 And let the chips fall where they may. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.839 We don't do that. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:17.359 Paul was grieved that he had to write to Corinth in 1 Corinthians. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:24.079 And he was anxious to hear how they responded to his call for holy living in the church. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:33.680 So he provides then an apostolic example of heartfelt concern for how others receive our ministry to them. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:42.720 A particular timeline point helps us to grasp what's happening here in 2 Corinthians. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:55.839 Paul wrote this letter, 2 Corinthians, after he found Titus and met up with him and learned how things had gone with his first letter. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:06.799 The concern and the uncertainty within the apostle describes how he was feeling before he heard Titus's report. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:18.079 Chapter 7 then shifts the perspective because Paul left Troas, he crossed the Mediterranean Sea, somewhere over there in Macedonia. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:30.880 He met up with Titus, and after hearing Titus's report, he writes this letter and sends Titus back with it again to Corinth. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:41.200 So he sent 1 Corinthians to correct sin and disorder in the church while mentioning that he would come and see them again. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:57.920 So this is the direction Titus would have gone the first time, leaving Ephesus to go across the sea to Corinth with 1 Corinthians. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:08.799 Paul met up with him north of this area in Macedonia later and sent Titus back south to Corinth with 2 Corinthians. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:14.319 And so Paul explains in verses 12 and 13 what happened. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:18.720 His absence from Corinth wasn't because he didn't care. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.319 It wasn't because he didn't care. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:33.599 His absence was because he hadn't heard from Titus how they responded to the first letter. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:40.720 Now later, in chapter 11, chapter 7, we discover what Paul learned from Titus. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:51.839 Paul learned from Titus that while Paul was gone, some false apostles found their way into the local church. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:20:03.200 Those wolves in sheep's clothing were leading people to question Paul's message and Paul's authenticity and his authority as an apostle. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:07.359 They twisted Paul's words into lies. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:16.160 Those wolves had no concern for the believers in Corinth or for Paul, but only for themselves. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:37.039 But faithful Christian ministry, whether it's in the walls of the church gathered together, or whether it's in individuals or couples or small groups ministering outside of the walls of the church, faithful Christian ministry has its focus on others. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:46.960 And that's why verse 14 shifts the focus now to Paul's ministry. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:52.400 First, he says, our focus, my focus, is on you, Corinth. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.519 But what about me? 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:57.119 What do I do? 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:05.519 He says, Christian ministry, faithful Christian ministry, exalts Christ, not self. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:31.200 These three verses, verses 14, 15, and most of 16, express a view of our present status as Christians, followers of Christ, in a way that shocks our modern sensibilities. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.319 It makes us a little uncomfortable. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:40.400 You see, we we find two metaphors for our status in verse 14. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:48.000 And then in verses 15 and 16, we find the result of those metaphors that describe our status. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.880 Let's look at the first metaphor in verse 14. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:55.680 Christ always leads us in triumphal procession. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:58.880 Christ always leads us in triumphal procession. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.839 Doesn't that sound wonderful? 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.920 Christ is triumphing, and we get to go with him. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:11.359 Except that's not what he meant. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.160 It's what it sounds like. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.599 We have a substantial translation issue here. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.680 And I hope this doesn't bore you. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:31.440 Instead, I hope it shows you how it's important to know what words mean in their cultural context so that we can apply them properly. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:34.799 We have a translation issue here in verse 14. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:37.279 Here's what this looks like. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:48.319 If you are using a New American Standard Bible, your translation will say that Christ always lead, who always leads us in triumph in Christ. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.599 Wonderful. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:52.400 We're being led by Christ in triumph. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:23:01.920 You're using the older NIV, says, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:05.039 Okay, not so different from the NASB. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:09.200 Just describes what kind of triumph we're talking about. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:12.960 It's a triumphal procession, kind of like a parade. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:23.839 The newer NIV says, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:26.160 That's really different. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:34.799 That doesn't really, that takes the exalted idea of a triumphal procession and says, we're not part of the exciting part of that. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.839 We are captives. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.079 What do we make of that? 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:46.079 The newer Christian Standard Bible says, who always leads us in Christ's triumphal procession. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:54.640 Then if you're using the old King James, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:58.880 That shifts the focus away from Christ to us. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.000 What do we make of that? 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:08.880 This has been a sticky issue literally for centuries. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:24.960 It has become clearer in recent decades because of our clarification of the Roman world and of what these terms meant in Roman culture and Roman society. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:33.359 Cultural perceptions and sensitivities are always a significant factor in translations. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:39.920 And to put it bluntly, most of the time we don't like what Paul wrote. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:46.880 So translations tend to soften his words to make them more acceptable. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:52.480 So let's just take Paul's words at face value for a moment. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:25:02.960 The Apostle Paul uses a term that refers to a very particular Roman activity called a triumphal procession. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:12.640 This isn't a triumphal entry like we would reference when we talk about Jesus coming into Jerusalem. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.640 That's not what it's talking about. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:19.759 It's talking about a Roman procession, not a Jewish kind of thing. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.079 This is the Roman world. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:26.160 Scott Heffemann describes it well. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:37.440 He says, the triumphal procession was a lavish parade conducted in Rome to celebrate great victories in significant military campaigns. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.200 Imagine St. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:41.839 Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:47.440 These were major cultural and civic events. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:26:00.480 They were ostentatious over-the-top celebrations filled with valiant soldiers, the spoils of war, and the most theatrical pomp and circumstance that Rome could muster. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:09.920 Imagine the entire city of Rome and all of its surrounding areas coming together to celebrate a war victory. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:16.640 And you get close to imagining that triumphal procession. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:27.039 The victorious soldiers would parade the spoils of war, including captive enemies. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:43.599 Captive enemies were led or driven along, presented no longer as intimidating enemies and massive warriors, but now as conquered slaves. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:49.519 For those conquered peoples, it was a symbol of utter defeat. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:27:02.319 To make matters worse, if you look at verse 14, but thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:12.400 That us pronoun is the direct object of the verb. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:26.640 That means that Paul and whoever is with him, Titus, Luke, many others, are the ones being led in triumphal procession. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:39.759 By implication, it includes all of the apostles, it includes all of those early Christian workers, and by extension, it includes every single Christian follower of Jesus Christ. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:54.799 Jesus Christ leads us in his triumphal procession, which means we are the conquered ones, not the ones celebrating the victory. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:04.559 We are the rebellious enemies, conquered and subdued, led in victory by Christ the victor. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:17.519 That thought is so difficult to comprehend that some are led to soften the language in translation. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:29.599 Even the mighty John Calvin himself couldn't bring himself to recognize that, and he softened the language in his own translation. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:41.839 But it gets more difficult when we recognize what to be led in triumph meant in that Roman world. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:53.039 Historical portrayals of Roman triumphal entries reveal that the conquered peoples who were led in triumph were being led to their death. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:05.759 You see, at the end of the parade, the Roman general or the Caesar who was leading it would save some of the conquered peoples to be sold as slaves. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:19.920 But others of those conquered peoples, this was the primary part, were led to the end of the parade to then be offered as sacrifices to the Roman gods. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:28.640 Again, scholar Scott Heffemann draws us into the historical sphere. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:33.759 He says, it's a gruesome thought to us. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:54.799 But what better way to magnify a victory while at the same time offering a sacrifice of gratitude to the gods than to kill publicly the leaders of the most valiant of the vanquished warriors as a final act of triumph over them. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:15.920 The purpose, then, of the Roman triumphal parade was to elevate the honor and the glory and the strength of the conquering one, ultimately through public execution. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.720 Put all of that together. 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:38.640 Paul and the other apostles, then, all of those early ministers of Christ were, first of all, conquered peoples who were led in triumph by Christ the King, led to their deaths. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.000 That's the cultural image. 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:57.200 That's why I think Paul would say in his first letter to Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 4, verse 9, I think that God has exhibited, displayed us as apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:02.559 Because we become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:13.279 But by extension, brothers and sisters in Christ, it applies to everyone who takes up their cross and follows Jesus. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.720 Because what is a cross? 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:21.359 But an ex uh an element for execution. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:27.359 We are crucified to Christ. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:32.799 Now here's what really messes with your head. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:35.200 Look at the beginning of verse 14. 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:44.960 But thank you, Jesus, for leading me to my death. 00:31:47.359 --> 00:32:06.400 What he gives thanks for being conquered and led by Jesus to his death so that Christ might be glorified and magnified as the ultimate victor. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:10.319 That's worth it to him. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:19.359 This metaphor is the ultimate humility and acknowledgement that Christ is supreme. 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:32.720 And our desire ought to be that our lives and our service to him are the most glorious display of our powerful and magnificent King that is possible. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:43.200 Now, this may be a way for Paul to point at those false apostles in Corinth. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:46.160 Because they were all about themselves. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:51.119 But Paul is a conquered enemy. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:56.880 And a conquered and subdued enemy is in no place to make it about himself. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:05.200 Remember, he was conquered on a desert road in Syrian Damascus and brought to his own death so that he might live for Christ. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:15.839 Genuine, faithful Christian ministry diminishes people and elevates the conquering king. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.799 Oh, but there's a second metaphor. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:26.079 And through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:35.599 So our second metaphor is not triumphal entry, but smells, odors, fragrances. 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:43.359 This image could refer to the incense that was often carried in those triumphal processions. 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:49.279 But it seems more likely that it continues the sacrificial theme. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:57.759 You see, in the Jewish world, sacrifices were sweet-smelling offerings to God. 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:12.000 So it seems as though Paul is reaching out here both to Gentiles, non-Jews, in their culture, and Jews, believing Jews in their culture. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:15.440 It's the essence of cross-cultural ministry. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:21.119 Using elements from both cultures to say the same thing. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:39.280 The conquered ones, those who have been crucified with Christ, who yet live not for themselves, but for the one who conquered them and brought them to the death of themselves, now live for him. 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:49.280 And through their life for him, they smell like Jesus everywhere they go. 00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.239 Or when you forget to put deodorant on. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:27.519 But you know how some things smell good to some people and bad to other people. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:45.519 We follow Christ in his triumphal procession to our deaths so that he might be a fragrance smelled by everyone. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:52.159 But not everyone smells that fragrance and identifies it in the right and same way. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:59.199 He says that fragrance smells wonderful to those who are being saved. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:12.320 That means you love to stand next to another believer in Christ and sing praises that honor and lift up Christ the King, no matter if they took a shower that morning or not. 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:14.960 Because they smell like Christ. 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:18.480 And that's a joy to you. 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:28.480 But there are some, and maybe this is one of you, says, I don't like the way this sounds. 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:31.440 I'm not sure I like the way these people smell. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:41.679 Because they're still dead in their sins, walking on their way to their own death without Christ. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:45.199 And sometimes that doesn't smell good to them. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:50.559 It's repugnant to those who are perishing. 00:36:52.400 --> 00:37:00.159 The Lord Jesus called Paul to suffer, to give himself for Jesus. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:05.119 And it was through that suffering that God made himself known. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:20.079 Similarly, it's through our dying to Christ and giving of ourselves to him in various ways, maybe even through our suffering for him, persecution, that the fragrance of Christ is spread around us. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:26.400 And at this point, your head ought to be about to explode. 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:29.760 Who's sufficient for these things? 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:37.760 The answer is, well, no one. 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:57.840 And at the same time, hopefully, you how can anyone be conquered by a victorious king and be led to their death so that others might see, hear, and smell the glory and the strength and the honor of this conquering king? 00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:03.760 Even more, who can be led like that and be thankful for it? 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:13.119 The implicit answer is the ones whom Christ strengthens to do so. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:20.000 Which hopefully your mind goes to Philippians 4 13. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:27.519 That even there, I can do it because Christ is the one who's doing it. 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:33.599 This notion moves us to the underlying motivation for Christian ministry. 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:41.039 Christian ministry is driven by sincerity, not personal benefit. 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:46.960 Paul mentions in verse 17 these people called peddlers. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:54.000 He's describing a an open market salesman. 00:38:55.199 --> 00:39:04.400 So imagine the farmer's market in downtown Grand Forks, and you're going down there, and there's one of those guys trying to sell you the best ever vacuum that you've ever seen. 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:09.599 And you know, he's just trying to make a buck off of it. 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:13.760 That's the kind of guy that Paul's talking about here. 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:23.599 This is a salesman trying to get as much profit as he can, whether it's by selling an inferior product or by charging higher prices. 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:26.880 His sole purpose is to get more for himself. 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:28.719 He wants to benefit himself. 00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:35.039 That's why Paul would say later in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 2, we have renounced. 00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:40.719 We've done away with, we've said we're not going to do these disgraceful, underhanded things. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:46.559 He says we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word. 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:53.519 Instead, by the open statement of the truth, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 00:39:55.519 --> 00:40:00.239 We are not like so many peddlers of God's word. 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:09.039 Now that doesn't describe those who get their living from serving Christ vocationally in sincerity and honor. 00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:25.519 It's describing the false apostles in Corinth and the false ministers even today, who are in it for the money, who are in it for the fame, who are in it for the glory and the recognition, making a name for themselves. 00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:43.360 Peddlers of Scripture reveal their true character through their lack of concern for others and for the body as a whole, by their failure to always exalt Christ, and by their pursuit of personal benefit. 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.079 Run from them. 00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:51.920 Go to a different webpage, change the channel. 00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:54.079 Don't go to those churches. 00:40:55.679 --> 00:41:01.039 You see, peddlers of God's word profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:05.440 They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:07.440 Yes, that's strong language. 00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:10.559 It's from the Apostle Paul in Titus chapter 1, verse 16. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:14.239 But it's not Paul. 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:17.440 It's not any genuine apostle. 00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:22.079 It's not any genuine servant of Christ or any everyday Christian. 00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:27.920 Friends, genuineness is marked by sincerity. 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:32.159 Genuineness is marked by a divine commissioning. 00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:34.880 That is, I have been conquered by Christ. 00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:36.480 I now serve him. 00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:39.679 I have died to myself and I live for him. 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:43.679 I have concern now for others, not for what happens to me. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:52.400 I lift up and exalt my conquering king, and everything I do is all because of him and for him. 00:41:53.679 --> 00:42:02.480 And genuineness is marked by an awareness of his divine presence that recognizes whatever I'm doing, wherever I am, he's there. 00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:04.000 He knows. 00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:10.880 He says, we are commissioned by God, and in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:14.639 God's watching. 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.159 God knows. 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:19.119 And so we do this out of sincerity. 00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:32.559 This is why the young missionary Robert Murray Machane said that we cannot be faithful ministers until we preach Christ for Christ's sake. 00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:41.840 And this is what Paul commanded Titus. 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:54.400 In Titus chapter 2, he says, Show yourself, Titus, in every way, in every respect, in every aspect, to be a model of good works. 00:42:55.119 --> 00:43:03.920 And in your teaching, show integrity, show dignity, show sound speech that cannot be condemned. 00:43:06.320 --> 00:43:12.320 Who then is sufficient for this kind of service to Jesus? 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:16.159 Who can serve Christ in this way? 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:20.480 What kind of church can be described in these ways? 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:24.239 The answer is really very simple. 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:27.199 Who can it be? 00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:49.280 It's the person, it's the ministry, it's the local church that is genuine in their care for others, who is sincere in exalting Christ and his word alone, and is driven in everything they do by their genuineness and sincerity of heart. 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:58.079 They become sufficient for these things because God makes them sufficient. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:02.320 Through suffering and death. 00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:24.880 The Apostle Paul demonstrated his love for the Corinthian believers, his care for the church, his concern for all of them, by leaving behind an open door of ministry in Troaz to find Titus so that he might learn how they responded to his letter. 00:44:25.599 --> 00:44:33.360 He demonstrated love, care, and concern for them by suffering for them and not peddling God's word to gain a profit. 00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:36.400 Instead, he says, God sent me. 00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:44.880 That's why we read in chapter 1, verse 12, this is our honest boast. 00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:58.159 This is the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God and supremely so toward you. 00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:08.639 So in the Apostle Paul's own ministry, we find what amounts to the heart of ministry for the local church. 00:45:10.719 --> 00:45:22.480 If you flip over towards the end in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, we find the Apostle Paul's description of the suffering that he endured. 00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:24.159 And it's quite the list. 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:37.280 Chapter 11, verse 24, he says, Five times I received at the hands of the Jews 40 lashes less one. 00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:43.679 He was whipped five times with thirty-nine lashes. 00:45:43.920 --> 00:45:46.400 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:45:47.119 --> 00:45:51.199 Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. 00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:53.840 A night and a day I was adrift at sea. 00:45:54.159 --> 00:46:11.440 On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and in hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:12.800 That's quite the list. 00:46:15.360 --> 00:46:29.599 But then he adds, verse 28, and apart from all other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for the church. 00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:45.920 The pressure that drove the apostles' concern for believers in Corinth and for that church and for their faithfulness to Christ was concern for others because of what Christ had done in him. 00:46:46.559 --> 00:47:05.039 The apostolic example for the heart of Christian ministry is driven by concern for others and the Lord's church, compulsion to exalt Christ in every situation, and a genuine faith and a sincere representation of Jesus Christ, the conquering King. 00:47:06.320 --> 00:47:11.840 This was the guidance given to those early churches at the end of the book of Acts. 00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:16.480 And it remains the apostolic guidance for the church today. 00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:21.840 May the Lord guide us to be faithful in it too. 00:47:22.079 --> 00:47:23.280 Would you pray with me? 00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:33.679 Lord Jesus, we come and we bow before you seeking your grace and your mercy and your strength. 00:47:33.920 --> 00:47:35.760 For these are hard things to think about. 00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:41.679 These are hard things to consider practicing. 00:47:42.880 --> 00:47:45.119 For one, Lord, we are proud people. 00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:58.159 We exalt in our freedom and our ability to be ourselves, but you call us to be your slaves, conquered people who give of themselves for others. 00:47:58.400 --> 00:48:00.159 Lord, may that be us. 00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:10.719 May that be faith evangelical free church, even as we seek to exalt you and to display you as the one worth following. 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:28.559 The glorious one who set aside his glory to take on the form of a slave, crucified on a cross, to die and to rise again, who calls us to take up our cross. 00:48:34.559 --> 00:48:36.800 Always lifting you up. 00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:54.800 And our prayer then, Lord Jesus, is that you would fill us with your spirit and accomplish your purpose just like you did in the book of Acts by empowering us to be your people and to fulfill your commission for your glory. 00:48:55.119 --> 00:48:55.760 Amen. 00:48:57.840 --> 00:49:01.599 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:08.639 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:49:08.880 --> 00:49:12.960 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.