Exhortation on Sanctification: (chap. 6)
Paul once again sticking on to his heavenly call and reiterating the Corinthians that inspite of so much of persecution, day to day troubles and opposition, he was happy to be in the ministry.
A plea to know truth: (6:1-2):
The Corinthian church was founded by Paul. He had brought the Gospel to them and gave them all the blessings. He was not even depending upon them for the ministry. In spite of this it appears that some of the Corinthians were mislead by false preachers and Judaizers. They were doubting Paul and his message. That’s why Paul urges them not to receive God’s grace in vain. Some of them seem to be causing confusion among the members. So Paul
quoted (Isa. 49:8) as his appeal for them to receive God’s grace. God announced that salvation would be universally offered not only to stubborn Israel but also to the Gentiles (Isa 49:6). The quotation underscored the fact that salvation is God’s initiative. “In the time of My favour I will answer you and in the day of salvation I will help you” (Isa.49:8). This has again the reference in (Isa.61: 1-4) Jesus took these very words in His message (Lk. 4:18-21). Paul puts it in a wonderful fashion. The day of salvation is the present Age of Grace. Paul urged the Corinthians not to spurn that grace by turning to Judaistic legalism. Today is indeed the day of Salvation. There is no guarantee that any sinner will have the opportunity to be saved tomorrow “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found” (Isa.55:6).
A plea for ministry: (6:3-10):
Paul funded the Corinthian Church. He did not want to give any offence or put any sort of stumbling block for the church to grow. He even did not depend on the church for his ministry. He saw to it that his behaviour would not stumble anyone but he knew that Gospel would definitely offend some people. Now-a-days many people do not come to Christ because they are offended by so and so. They put the blame on someone else. But that is not correct. They should understand to whom are they giving importance? Are they giving to man or God? With such silly excuses they do not come to the Lord. They are not sincere to God.
Paul and his team faced many trials with great endurance which God has developed in their lives. This should become a commendation for the Corinthian Christians to authenticate their minister. In the process Paul listed 9-trials in 3-sets each (6:4-5), followed by 9-inner qualities (6:6-7), and 9-pairs of paradoxes (6:8-10).
The 9-trials in triads are: (6:4-5):
The General difficulties they faced in the ministry:
- Troubles:
- Hardships:
- Distresses:
“ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword? (Rom. 8:35)
Physical persecutions experienced by Paul and his team:
- Beatings:
- Imprisonments:
- Riots:
All the above 3-persecutions were experienced by Paul while ministering in Philippi (Acts:16-19-23). There was a great riot, Paul and Silas were dragged to the market place, they were beaten and threw them into prison. Paul says: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are considered as sheep for the slaughter.” (Rom.8:36).
Physical fatigue demanded by ministry:
- Extreme hard work: Paul reasoned in the synagogue every
Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks (Acts.18:4). Further he laboured with his own hands to earn his living. He was doing both ministry and his job which has increased his daily burden. He could have been depending on any of his churches he founded, yet he chose the hard way and gave complete freedom to his churches. - Sleepless nights: He had no proper place to sleep. Often the burdens and pressures of the work would have kept him awake. He missed all together his comfortable sleep for Christ’s sake. (2 Cor. 11:27)
- Hunger: Paul experienced hunger, thirst and nakedness. He is not writing something of imaginary story. He had proved his Apostleship. He could have easily made his life comfortable. He could have asked money , chose best inns to live, ate best food in his ministry. But he was not interested in all that. He wanted to reach people in every at the earliest to share the Gospel. He considered suffering for Christ a privilege and a glory, not something to be avoided at all costs. (2 Cor 11:27).