As we have shown through the exegesis of key NT passages in our previous posts, a true Christian is one who not only receives Jesus Christ as the Savior of their sins, but also receives Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives; that is, their life evidences a submissive heart to His commands, and are as James says, "Doers of the word and not merely hearers" (1:22-25).
Today we look at Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.
Consistent with the initial apostolic message preached in the book of Acts (see part 3 & 4 of this series), Paul also preached the message of Jesus (cf. Mark 8:34ff.), namely, the gospel of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus (cf. Acts 20:21). He did not merely tell stories to tickle ears or emotionally manipulate hearts. No, he determined to preach only Christ crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). However, the crucified Jesus, upon resurrection, was declared by the Father Himself to be Lord of lords (cf. Phil. 2:9-11), and was not merely to be believed & received, but also was to be humbly followed as Master (cf. Rom. 10:13ff). The Jesus that Paul preached was "Lord" (2 Cor. 4:5; Col. 2:6), not a reconstructed Christ "according to human traditions" (Col. 2:8).
In 2 Cor. 5:17, Paul reminded the believers who were prone to believe the false gospel of the false teachers that those who are truly "in Christ" by faith are "a new creation." Indeed, for those who are truly regenerate, or born from above, "The old has passed away; behold the new has come." Why the stern reminder? Because Paul knew that there were many false professors lurking in the congregations who were prone to "receive the grace of God in vain" (6:2).
Paul, like the rest of the apostles, admonished his hearers not merely to make some flippant or rash decision after the preaching of a sermon (like the modern day abomination called the "altar call"), but to live lives of holiness reflecting the nature of the One whom is thrice holy and actually resides inside every true believer. This is Paul's argument in 2 Cor. 6, where he clearly reminds believers that there ought to be a clear distinction between them and the world. God's people, who are His new Temple wherein He dwells and makes His glory & holiness known (6:16), thus says, "Therefore go go out from their midst, and be separate from them...and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty" (6:17-18). Paul's logical deduction: "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God" (7:1). This is precisely what our previous posts have asserted over and over again.
Finally, before we leave 2 Corinthians, we look at the final chapter, where Paul pleads with his readers to not be so trivial with the apparent professions of faith. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test?" (13:5) Following Jesus Christ is no mere trivial 'decision'. Making "disciples" is not some kind of game that churches are to play. How often our biblically ignorant evangelical churches pronounce salvation upon any and everyone who makes any kind of response (e.g. raising a hand, talking to the pastor after a service, praying a prayer, etc.), regardless of whether or not a changed life is evident!
Do we really believe that God's sovereign and effectual grace actually transforms people? That the gospel of Christ is actually the power of God "for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16)? Let us be reminded that when we pronounce people who willfully live in unrepentant sin as "saved", we implicitly proclaim a weak gospel that can only "save" sinners from the penalty sin, but not from their love of sin, or the power of sin, or the presence of sin. Oh how this must grieve our Savior!
Dear reader, when is the last time you have examined yourself? Oh may you truly be found in Christ today!
Finally, I close with a plea to pastors. If someone comes into your office who is concerned they may not be saved, take the admonition of Dr. John MacArthur to heart: they may not be saved! Don't be rash in comforting them if their lives bear no fruit of the divine gift of a new heart. Take them to the book of 1 John (which we will eventually deal with). Don't offer assurance if none is warranted. Take them to the cross! Point them to Jesus! The gospel alone has the power to either save the unconverted sinner, or comfort the broken Christian who has lost his way. Offering rash "assurance" to an unbeliever is one of the most cruel, unloving things we as pastors can do. Take the time to assess the situation. It will be worth it.
Lord Jesus, be glorified, even in this long, drawn out study. We have dealt carefully with Your Word. It is worthy to be handled this way. Give me grace to follow You today as my sovereign Master, King, and Lord.
Pastor Ryan
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