Faith Bible Fellowship

Welcome to a careful study of authentic Biblical Christian living, not according to the traditions of men, but according to His infallible Word. I especially want to welcome back our college students, and I hope we all, students and non-students, will share the truth of the Word with our friends.Authentic Christian living? – sez who?? “Well Lee, that is what you say!” I ask, so what do you say? Better yet, what does God say. Spiritual transformation comes (2 Timothy 3:16) through the reading of the Scriptures carefully and asking the Holy Spirit to apply its truth to our life. They are able to make us wise unto salvation, and we will do well to heed the warning. All of us will one day be on a "Comair Delta flight 5191 out of Lexington", and what will we carry into eternity to face God? This Sunday we will look at 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, especially verses 4-10. Verses 1-3: How do we not receive the grace of God in vain? Paul appeals to his own life and bids us examine ourselves as well.

2 Corinthinas 6:1-3 We are called upon to spend time with God – working together with Him and others to show the love of Christ through our way of living. We do not want others to stumble in following Christ or coming to Him because of the way we live. The basic question is how do we actually live out what Christ has done for us by His grace? What are the characteristics of a truly saved person? Let’s measure ourselves by the Word and not each other. As you read through these difficulties Paul endured for Christ’s sake compare them with what we live through. I ask this so that we can get some perspective on our own problems, and take courage that Paul endured such problems with God’s grace – “I can do all things by Christ who strengthens me” – we can also be more than conquerors in Christ. So take heart, and keep on trusting God, showing our love for Christ by persevering in doing what is good. Let’s break the passage into smaller bits: In verses 4-5, you can see these all begin with “in” – he was in the confusion and turmoil of these things. 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 Endurance (not giving up the good fight) sums up the basic attitude we must cultivate to please Christ. Note the three sets of three descriptions – which are voluntary and involuntary troubles? Have we endured anything like this? So let's all take heart. Read over Romans 8:31-39 for help to keep us keeping on. Next are verses 6-7 beginning with the preparation “by” meaning these are the characteristics he showed in all these troubles. 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 Purity is not only sexual cleanliness, but also sincerity in integrity in all we do. Note Ephesians 6:13-20 explains verse 7, clearly pointing out ways to walk in purity and resist Satan. Taking up the whole armor of God will be seen in these attitudes and living out our Christian life. Verses 8-10 begin with the preposition “through” or by these means we will please Christ and lead a life of significance and honor. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 A good way to understand these verses is to see them as representing two ways of looking at our life; that is, seeing ourselves through the eyes of Christ and His perspective or through the eyes of the world and thinking we have to create our own world view; that is, believing in the final analysis we are on our own. Read the list from the world’s view then from Christ’s view, e.g. what is honoring to God is often seen as ridiculous to people. Such as I will pay all my taxes or give away my money to ministries or keep myself sexually clean until marriage. We must remember that it is to God we will give the final account of our lives. How will He think of what we have done? Take heart and let’s encourage each other. See you Sunday, Lee