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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
December 26
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Today's Pathway:
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As we begin chapter 13 Paul states again that he is coming to Corinth. He mentions that this is the third time that he will be in that city. The first time is recorded for us in Acts 18 where we find Paul establishing the church. The second visit is not recorded for us in Scripture. Many believe that this visit is being spoken of in II Corinthians 2:1, where Paul writes,
"But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness."
We know from II Corinthians 1:23 that one of the reasons Paul gave for not going back to Corinth previously was that he wanted to "spare" them, which implies that they were still failing to heed his teachings. However, the days of "sparing" are over, and Paul is going to deal with them. There is a principle here. Sometimes it is wise to be slow and patient in dealing with others. Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:14,
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."
They may be new Christians, or perhaps they have habits that have been ingrained in them for many years, and it takes some time for them to win the victory. Sometimes they have been strongly influenced by others, and we need to give them the time to think through what they have been taught so that when they reach their decision they are making their choice based on what they know that the Bible says, and not just because we told them to do it. Because we love people we need to show them when they are going the wrong direction. However, constant nagging may not be the best way to accomplish this. Colossians 4:6 says that our speech should be "alway with grace, seasoned with salt". But, sooner or later, those who are continuing in sin must be confronted, and this is what Paul is going to do.
Paul quotes the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 19:15) by stating,
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established".
He is not going to be arbitrary in dealing with the false teachers, the immoral, and those who create divisions within the church. Everything is going to be done decently and in order. There will be witnesses called who can give testimony as to exactly what is being done and who is doing it. When two or three witnesses agree on something, then that will be considered to be factual. This is a similar principle to what Jesus taught concerning church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. There Christ gives a four step process in dealing with sin: go to the offender yourself, then take one or two witnesses so that two or three people know the facts of the case, then take the case before the church, and only then, if the offender still refuses to repent after the church has spoken to him, is he removed. Paul is going to handle the problems in Corinth the same way.
In verse 2 he reminds them that he had warned them when he was at the church previously, and he's warning them again exactly as he would if he was still with them. His warning is this: those of you who have been involved in rebellion in the past, and those of you who may have begun rebelling since my last visit need to understand that when I get there I will not be lenient or forbearing. The time for grace, mercy, and patience was over. There would be no more warnings; when he returned Paul would deal with the sinners at Corinth. If they failed to repent, he was going to lead the church to carry out discipline against these sinners.
Proverb 29:1 reads,
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
The Corinthians needed to learn this lesson, and we need to be reminded of it as well.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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