By Gary Patton
2 Corinthians 1:19-22
- For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-by me, Silvanus, and Timothy-was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
- For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
- Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
- Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
In the context of this reading the Apostle Paul opens this 2nd Corinthian letter with a eulogy of “praise“ towards the “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” as the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforted them in all their tribulation, that they may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which they were comforted by God, (2 Cor. 1:3-4). This is a apostolic ascription acknowledging Father God whom they served as the Divine Parent who is concerned, as the Most Compassionate Father and Everlasting Consoler to him and his fellow workers in the gospel, who is also the God and Father of their Lord Jesus Christ.
This acknowledges the Lord Jesus as the “Incarnate Son, Servant of Father God and our Lord with us,” to those who were called.
The Father who identifies as monotheistic provides everlasting consolation to the ability that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are able to become encouragers to their brethren in their afflictions and troubles in ministry.
Why is this important?
It’s because at the time that Paul was writing the leaders at the Corinthian church, he was facing troubles in Asia, the City of Ephesus, concerning his preaching against the influence of Demetrius and the Silversmith workers who fashioned replicas of the image of the false goddess Diana who was said to have fallen from the god Zeus in heaven and dwell in the temple in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-35).
Diana, the goddess of the Romans known as a the goddess of fertility and is the many breasted image in the temple of Artemis. She is said to be supporter and protector of fertility and childbirth, (or pro life in honor of a religious idol).
From this, keep in mind that just because someone opposes wrongdoings doesn’t necessarily mean that they are following God’s righteousness in Christ. Diana is not the Creator. If someone stands for pro life in the name of someone or thing other than Father God and Christ Jesus, they stand in spiritual error even though they are against a religious or moral error.
Standing against religious or moral errors in our society in the name of an idol is not advantageous to identifying our faith in Christ as the Son of God.
It’s important that we don’t get drawn into siding with someone, some clique, some party or entity that is earthly because they seem closer to God’s will. (Most times we do not personally know these individuals ). They may have an earthly purpose to do what is right yet, be far from God and Christ relationally, (Mt. 15:8-9).
Paul refuted this error in Ephesus by teaching that gods that are made by human hands are not gods.
The gospel denounces Diana, Artemis, and Zeus, as gods. Their businesses, economics and government honored a lifeless deity.
He wanted his brethren at Corinth to be aware that their lives were threatened because the truth threatened the religious error guiding business livelihood and influence over the city. They stirred up trouble against Paul. The gospel is being rejected with a “no“ to its message.
The doctrine of Diana, Artemis and Zeus is being confronted by the truth from the Son of God.
He admitted that dealing with life threatening persecution was not an ability for anyone to handle without God who can resurrect them from death in 2 Cor. 1:9-10.
He knew that as he pointed out their religious error through the gospel, that his life and the life of his companions Gaius and Aristichus was threatened (Acts 19:29). As the threats grew, the trouble, tribulations and affliction grew and felt like God’s promises of “Yes” turned into “a divine no.”
Paul states that it has been God, the Father of mercies and of all comfort that has rescued and would continue to rescue him and his companions from death (2 Cor. 1:10). He also relied on the prayers of the saints in Corinth for their deliverance from the perils they faced in their mission (vs. 11).
As the Apostle and Ministers addressed a religious error that had influence over the society around the Church in Ephesus, I believe that it’s important that when the Shepherd’s and leaders of the Church is aware of matters of religious error in society that are attempting to draw the church to taking sides against each other to the neglect of adhering to gospel direction, we must be ready to address the entity or persons in error with the gospel rather than our opinions.
Paul wanted Corinth to be assured that his original plans to visit them twice was his genuine intention. But he wanted his disposition to be a benefit to the Saints in Corinth. He was in the progress of receiving divine consolation from the Father of mercies who is also the God of everlasting comfort. He was being equipped to be a “compassionate and consoling Apostle” to the saints.
For this reason, in (v 12) Paul’s conscience bore witness of the Holy Spirit as the Agent in them that keeps their conduct honest to the mission and message of the gospel while condemning the craftiness of quarrelsome religious men who are envious of his holy reputation in Christ. He had to defend his intentions. His plans did not change because he was fickle or being selfish as his opponents were claiming, in his planning to visit them again. His changed plans were not to be considered as “yes yes and no no,” (2 Cor. 1:17).
Paul wanted them to make a wise judgment concerning his historical relationship with them and about his character influence as an apostle with the question “do I resolve my plans concerning you in compliance to vice impulses?” They were judging his character based on carnal influencers among them (1 Cor. 4:4-5). It is important that we grow in our relationships in Christ relating to our marriages, parenting, family, brotherhood, friendships and neighbors, so that no one from outside of these relationships could cause us to erroneously question those that we already know experientially. The Apostle and his companions had not become “yes and no”men in Christ instruction, that is, gave instructions and then acted against it, (vs. 18).
Just because the apostles plans changed doesn’t mean that he is not reliable, nor God’s promises in Christ, the Son of God were changed concerning their salvation. Paul wanted his visit to be an occasion of joy that he could share with them. His message of joy to them was not dependent upon his decisions or performance, but on the reality and conviction that in (vs. 19), Jesus, Who is God’s Offspring of divine power, became the Human sinless One and Anointed Messianic Deliverer promised in the (OT Psalms 2:7), and is “Originator of His Gospel” that was proclaimed among them as the only true universal King, (Mark 1:1; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 20:30-31; 1 Jn 5:5, 20). He’s the Obedient Son! His perfect obedience covers them and us.
Upon this truth, the abundance of God’s promises to them, even in their tribulations, troubles or sufferings for His Name sake are “Yes” (2 Cor. 1:19-20). Because of this proclaimed truth all of God’s promises to the saints of Achaia (Corinth) and us who are in the Son of God “have become Yes’d,” meaning, “have proved to be true.” “Amen’d” meaning, “so it is, may it be fulfilled. Strong affirmation of what is stated.” They made the substance of fulfilled promises uttered by the Son of God their reality lived. They Amen’d the gospel promises for their own life and salvation to the praise of God by Christ in them and in the presence of all people.
They know the promises of God that have been fulfilled and therefore, believe all of His promises to the point of experiencing trouble from the world with confidence.
As a matter of truth, I am reminded about 1 John 5:5 which says, “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Since Jesus Christ as the Son of God is preached against all idolatry, and by believing that He is the Son of God in our life and confession, a troubled marriage, family issues, fellowship struggles, troubles in society when doing outreach ministry, among the church can produce edification for the body who identifies as being in Christ, the true Son of God and not with worldly entities 1 Jn. 5:20? Christ overcame the whole of this godless world by His obedience to the Father. He is competent to help God’s elected people overcome the world!
Paul further explains to the saints in Corinth that as a result of fulfilled promises God continually confirms the leaders salvation and preserves their state in Christ grace together with the saints that they would become unreprovable and set apart to the service and ministry of Christ and His gospel, (v 21). This is the importance of being anointed along with the understanding that in (1 Jn. 2:20, 27), the Son of God has awakened in them the mind and gave their thinking the orientation to know God, to receive His revelation, to share fellowship with Him. This is speaking of the ability given to Christians with experience of saving revelation through the Holy Spirit Who is their efficient Teacher that dwells in them, influencing them to hold to their knowledge of His truth.
God also sealed us (v 22), this is God’s stamp of approval authenticating His election to eternal salvation for those who have been continually set apart in Christ and advanced His (God’s) being as the Spirit who is the “first installment” or “pledge” that validates the promised fulfillment and permanent redemption unto eternal salvation. It is God the Spirit in Paul’s heart that is the pledge that he is sincere and that he would come to Corinth in due time.
The Holy Spirit Who takes dwelling-place in their heart is the Divine Bearer of every application of the divine will, the Producer of all divine existence, the Divine Element in which all divine life is carried on, and the Divine Agent Who separates Christians from their purely carnal dispositions and behaviors as well as from the influences of all unbelievers.
Why is this so important? Because for Paul, since this is the state of them in Corinth who are chosen, only a tactful correction is sufficient. He reminded them that they are “Yes’d, proved to be true to God in Christ.
Amen’d, they took strong ownership of God’s promises in Christ for their lives.
Anointed, they were set apart by the Holy Spirit to become an unreprovable people for the service of Christ and His Gospel.
Sealed, they received God’s installation of His Spirit into the center and seat of their minds to bear in them every application of His will, to create in them spiritual and eternal existence, as God’s influence is an inner spiritual essence that operates in them, to separate the old soul or mind from their new mind in the Son of God and from the influence of all unbelievers.
Because of this new state of the saints, Paul decided to let them work out their issues without severely chastising them. They were previously glorifying a son committing sexual immorality with his father’s wife as if the grace of Christ allowed this erroneous behavior in (1 Cor. 5:1). They were to discipline him and then love on him after repentance, (2 Cor. 2:5-8).
In the greater context of this reading, God has made Paul along with the Corinthian saints sufficient to be servants of the Gospel covenant to publicize the message of Christ in (2 Cor. 2:14-16), through their transformation due to apostolic teachings and the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:2-3). In (2 Cor. 3:5-6), the origin of their sufficiency as able ministers is God’s grace empowering them.
In summary, they are being addressed concerning issues of listening to mischaracterizations of Apostolic intentions, tolerance of immoral behavior, truths concerning their victorious covenant identity in the Son of God.
They are a “promise affirmed, fulfilled, consecrated and divinely pledged people.” This is the state of the Church who represents Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the Author of Eternal Salvation and Life. He chose and equipped them for victory (2 Cor. 2:14-17). We must address this temporary world’s system with the knowledge of God, His gospel.
Shepherds observations:
There are times that I am concerned about the state of us who identify ourselves as Christians. While I am confident that we are what we claim that we are, I am aware that sometimes, what we claim constitutes Christianity can be shortsighted. Sometimes we can mischaracterize a brother or sister in Christ based on an opinion they have, a decision or choice made, actions taken, that is misunderstood rather than hold onto experienced knowledge of them. Just because someone addresses a morally wrong practice doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is operating in the righteous life in Christ that God calls everyone to live. The difference is when a person of the gospel is called to address these matters from a Cross centered standpoint rather than a mere worldview. What’s at the heart of the matter of “Abortion, Racism, Sexism, Class, Party, etc., is that the realities of “Image and likeness creation and faith in Christ,” can be neglected.
Christ church has been Yes’d, Amen’d, Anointed and Sealed, to receive teaching from the Son of God which qualifies us to speak into these matters with competence. What is God’s concern in these matters?
In Genesis 1:26-28, the protection of image/likeness representation, man as an entity, gender identity in marriage, family and society building. Image honoring their Creator and respecting neighbors as image-bearers.
Elohim gave them a covenant responsibility to “be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth, and rule over (manage) creatures and work, eat, live, listen to their Creators instructions,” (Gen. 2:15-20). Not the Image of God in man ruling over each other! Yahweh also made a special covenant with Israel, and later with us through Christ. “You shall love the Lord and love your neighbor as yourself,” (Mark 12:29-31).
He rescues us to uphold these missions as the church. Our faith and covenant convictions should move us beyond politics and policies by demonstrating God’s loving care in these matters of the heart that they would come to know and trust our Lord and His people.
We must enter these conversations with a Christ-centered approach. Protecting and demonstrating God’s will through the words and actions of goodwill and benevolence so that God’s love for them is experienced!
If by working our faith beyond carnal efforts the Church receives tribulations and afflictions, it’s okay because all of the promises of God to us are a Divine Yes! There is uncertainty, insecurity, instability, divisiveness, partiality, idolatry, etc., still growing in our country, the world, economy, businesses, especially, news media agendas, fake news, social media, political agendas.
This is not new, but it can grow if the church doesn’t begin to offer a gospel answer to these issues. The Lord has sealed His church with the Holy Spirit unto eternal salvation and its work to become unreproveable and unified people before Himself and the world, Amen.
God’s anointing produces this (1 Jn. 2:20, 27). So, is the church addressing the errors in authorities, businesses, economy, culture, social media, our societies morals and ethics? We will either teach them or be influenced by them! Our confidence to confront errors in earthly entities should be based on His promises being Yes to go proclaim the righteousness of the Son of God to them.