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My final part of the series I have been doing on 2 Corinthians, hope you have found it helpful.

Notes are below. Our copyright is only so you do not sell it or make money from it. As usual the material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it. 

Sermon 2 Corinthians 13

Intro

Paul is on the final stretch in this letter and he has appealed to his readers (and his hearers, as this would have been read out) to accept his teachings by reminding them of his apostolic authority.

Paul supported this reminder by sharing some of his experiences as we saw in chapter 12.

He is to visit them and warns them he is willing to take on the unpleasant task of bringing order to the church.

1) “examine yourselves” & “test yourselves” v5

Yourselves! There is a time for the Holy Spirit to bring to our notice areas of our lives that need attention, but there are times when we must do this for ourselves.

Paul was asking that before they ask for proof of the authenticity of his faith they should prove the authenticity of their own faith.

See Matthew 7:1-5

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Do you think Paul is being negative or inviting feelings of condemnation? The answer is in v5b where he reminds them that Jesus the Christ lives in them.

Don’t forget this is the same person that wrote Romans 8:1-2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

And Romans 8:5-14

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation- but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

And Romans 8:28-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died- more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2) He invited them to “examine” and “test”.

(a) “examine yourselves” v5

Scrutiny, as in communion. 1 Corinthians 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

The Puritans were fond of examining or scrutinising themselves. Wesley encouraged his followers to do the same. They would regularly test themselves against a list of questions. See page 235 of “Blessings out of buffetings” by Alan Redpath.

When examining ourselves we must avoid self-condemnation or legalism. See current talks re agreement between Islam and Christianity.

( b) “test yourselves” v5

By action.

See Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

John 14:15

If you love me, you will obey what I command.

3) God be with you

This is the blessing that is pronounced over his readers/hearers in various forms in this one Trinitarian blessing.

God be with you:

• in his peace v11
• in his grace, love and fellowship v14

- fellowship with others by the Holy Spirit

- fellowship with the Holy Spirit

See also

Ephesians 6:23-24

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

And many more like it.