As Chapter 5 begins,
Paul continues to emphasise that having an eternal perspective is a healthy
necessity for living in the here and now (see 4:16-18). 5:1-10 encourages us to embrace a
Gospel-centred perspective on death and what lies beyond, so that we may live
before God faithfully, courageously, wisely and honourably, especially when
life and frontline ministry is overwhelmingly tough (6:4-10). What Paul knew about the
future governed how he lived in the present, whatever his circumstances. In
these verses he explores the continuities and contrasts
believers may expect: We will have
new bodies (5:1-4): Paul views our present human life as like living in a tent
– temporary and vulnerable. One day believers’ lives will be forever changed:
their present inferior, impermanent ‘tent-like’ bodily existence will be
replaced by a future superior, permanent physical existence, a ‘building made
by God’, an eternal house in heaven. We will no longer face the pains of
our mortality (v4): as our ‘tently’ existence is replaced by permanent
building, so – our mortality will be ‘swallowed up by life’ (v4). The
limitations of present life (disease, ageing, frailty, etc.) will be forever
removed. Our ‘now’ is marked by a
groaning restlessness (v2-5): this is not an expression of dissatisfaction with
our present lives, but a longing to be ‘overcoated’ with the blessings stored up
for us in the life to come.
Knowing our future
is certain has important implications for our present…
We live by faith
– not by sight (v7): While Paul is certain about what the future holds for all
believers, he is realistic enough about his present life. He expects to
continue to live a life marked by pressures, burdens and groaning (v4). We
aim to please God (v9): this future hope is an incentive towards one supreme
ambition – to please God. All other human ambitions and motivations must be
submitted to this higher and primary goal in life. We are accountable to
God for all that we do (v10): this judgement does not determine our eternal
destiny, but examines how we lived in light of our God-given callings, gifts
and opportunities.
Looking backwards to
the Cross (v14-15) and looking ahead to appearing before Christ as Judge (v10),
and keeping both these realities in constant, conscious view, should radically
change our thinking, our attitudes to Christ and others, our life and its direction,
and the manner and motivations of our service - as it did for the Apostle Paul.
We will live with godly fear (v11): that is, that ‘sense of awe’ that
Christians should have as they consider appearing before Jesus. Transparency
(v11-13): Paul is not trying to win approval by pretending to be something he
isn’t (see also 4:2). Compelling love (v14-15): the fundamental motivation
of Paul’s life was his grasp of Christ’s affection and love for him. A new outlook (v16): as a result of his
experience of the Gospel, Paul looks at his own life and that of others
differently. A new creation (v17):
Paul is describing Christian conversion, and refers to its radical,
all-pervasive spiritual re-creation of our inner beings. A new relationship
(v18-21): God has taken the initiative to restore his relationship with us,
alienated as we are through wilful, sinful rebellion, but in Jesus' death the
barrier of sin has been removed, God takes our sin and in turn gives us
Christ’s righteousness. The implication of this – having been reconciled to
God, he - and we - are now ministers of reconciliation, Christ’s ‘ambassadors’,
speaking and spreading His message on His behalf.
But, because of the
influence of these malevolent missionaries who have infiltrated the church, the
Corinthians have become evangelistically paralysed - they have become so
spiritually self-absorbed they have no interest in sharing the Gospel with
those who don't know Christ (6:1-13). The previous paragraph (5:11-21), with
its focus upon the Cross, has been Paul's attempt and plea to stir them again
into action. 'Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation'
(v2) is not so much an evangelistic appeal for unbelievers to come to Christ as
it is a wake up for believers to get on with the urgent evangelistic task in
hand. To believe the Gospel but to fail to pass it on to others is - strikingly
- "to receive God's grace in vain" (6:1). Not that evangelism is
easy, it never is (v4-10). But when we grasp the height, and depth and length
and breadth of God's compelling love for us (5:13-15), then nothing can
distract or hinder us getting that message out to a lost and dying world (6:4-10).
Which is why, I
think, Paul encourages the Corinthians to disassociate with the false teachers
with their false Gospel in such robust language (6:14 - 7:1). They are sapping
the spiritual strength and vitality from the Corinthian Christians, rendering
them weak and ineffectual in their relationship with and service for Christ,
cooling the warmth of the church fellowship, and causing them to turn their
back on Paul, an attitude that grieved him deeply (v2). His previous letter had
awakened them to their sinful behaviour and led, in measure, to sorrow and
repentance (v8-13) for which he has good reasons to rejoice (v13-16). But it
seems to have come at a high price: Paul, the messenger of repentance is being
snubbed. Their love for him has gone. Such is the pain of pastoral ministry…
No comments:
Post a Comment