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Strive for Full Restoration

2 Corinthians 12:11-13:14

Key Verse: 13:11 “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Happy New Year! Thank God for helping us to start new year with Mark 11:22-25, “Have Faith in God!” We hope and pray that God may show us one miracle after another this year when we have faith in God and pray. Today we will finish the study of 2 Corinthians. I ask for God’s blessing upon us so that we may finish strong and be blessed through this final lecture.

First, for your strengthening (12:11-21) Look at verses 11-13. “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “Super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.” In chapter 10-12 Paul boasted about himself before the church. People usually boast about their success, power, achievement, and so on. But Paul boasted about his weakness, suffering, thorns in his flesh, and so on. There were two main reasons why Paul boasted about his weakness and suffering instead of his power and achievement. The first reason is that Paul taught the church that the ministry in the church is the work of God, not the work of Paul. Paul knew that all things came from God, and only by the grace of God he served the church. The second reason is to protect the church from the false teachers. There were many false teachers so called, ‘Super-apostles’ who had accused Paul and challenged his authority as an apostle. They accused Paul of lack of qualification as an apostle, claiming that Paul didn’t receive any recommendation letter as a leader and that he didn’t get paid as most teachers on Paul’s day usually did. Even though Paul was the founder of the church, he was accused by the false teachers and opposed by those who followed them. Paul knew that all these accusations about him is the work of Satan who wanted to destroy the church. Paul saw Satan who was working behind these false teachers. Paul determined to fight against the work of Satan and protect the church. He boasted about his weakness and sufferings so that the church might remember how God used Paul to build the church and how he suffered for the gospel of Christ Jesus. He knew that boasting about himself made him a fool, still for the sake of the church he boasted about himself.

Look at verses 14-18. “Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery? Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?” Paul wrote 2 Corinthians just before he visited them. It will be his third visit. His first visit was done before he sent 1 Corinthians, and he sent the letter through Timothy. His second visit, the so called ‘painful visit’ was right after sending 1 Corinthians. Paul called his second visit, ‘painful visit’ because he was not welcomed by the church and left them with his troubled heart. Now Paul is going to visit the church for the third time. Before he visits them, he clearly reminds them that his visit is not for himself, but for the church. Look at verse 19. “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.” Paul’s visit is for their strengthening. The church was divided into many parts by the bad influence of the false teachers. They accused Paul saying that his visit was to collect money for himself. But Paul sent Titus and others to collect contributions for the poor brothers in Jerusalem church. The contribution was for the brothers and sisters in Christ, not for himself. Even today Satan tempts the weak believers with money. Satan accuses pastors or church leaders, and he plants doubt and complaints in the hearts of the church members. In this way Satan destroys the church and God’s ministry. The false teachers did the same work of Satan against Paul. They planted doubt in the hearts of the church that Paul loved money and exploited it for himself. Paul strongly rebuked Satan’s work and defended himself to protect the church.

Paul had a father’s heart for the church. He said in verse 14, “children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” Paul loved the church as parents love their children. Indeed, Mary and I have saved money for our children’s education. I hope that they may save up for their parents, but I don’t expect much. I believe that all parents have the same mindset and affection for their children as Paul and I did.

Paul was not only a father for the church, but also a shepherd for them. A father should be a shepherd for his family. This is the reason why we pray for Michael to become a shepherd like a father for his family. In verses 20-21 Paul expressed his agony as a shepherd for the church that he might be disappointed when he visits them. He was afraid that when he came, he might not find them as he wanted them to be, and they might not find him as they wanted him to be. (20) Paul may be very disappointed with them if they are still divided, jealous, arrogant, violent, selfish, and so on. (20) Paul may be very humbled when he sees their unrepented life with impurity, sexual sin and debauchery. (21) There is no more joy for us than when we hear our children’s conversion and our student’s spiritual growth. I will be okay in the time of humiliation if only my son Sam is born again and meets Jesus personally. Last week I was happy to hear from my older brother who said that he met a Korean pastor whom I had taught the Bible at the college. It was almost 40 years ago I taught him the Bible. Now he became a pastor and served a church. Paul expressed his joy for the church in Philippi, “You are my joy and my crown.” (Php 4:1) I pray that we may share Paul’s affection as a father and a shepherd for the church so that our church may become a loving and spiritual community for Bible Wash U. Amen!

Second, strive for full restoration (13:1-14) Now Paul gives them a final warning before he finishes his letter. Look at verses 1-4. “This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.” In these verses we come to know what Paul is going to do for the church when he visits them again. He meant that he would not be merciful to those who did not repent but become harsh in dealing with them. Indeed, Paul had served them with humility and tears. He boasted about his weakness and suffering to protect the church. But now when he comes again, he will be different. He will judge them by the power of resurrection. When Jesus came to this world, he came as a shepherd and Savior. He humbly served sinners as a mother did for her children. He suffered by the religious leaders and finally was crucified on the cross. He became a man of sorrow and familiar with suffering. But he rose again from the dead with the resurrection power and ascended into heaven. When he comes again, he will come as a judge. He will judge this world among the living and the dead. We will not see any more his weakness and gentleness, but his power and righteousness. Paul said that he would deal with the church when he visits them as Christ will do for this world when he comes again. He said in verse 4. “For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.”

Now what did Paul want them to do? Look at verses 5-6. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.” Paul asked them to examine themselves whether they have faith in Jesus or not. If they don’t have faith in Jesus, they will fail the test. In fact, those who have faith in Jesus will not fail the test because Jesus passed the test. Jesus overcame Satan’s temptation about physical desire, human glory, and security. If the people in Corinthian Church had faith in Jesus, they would not stand against Paul. This is because Jesus trusted in the Father and obeyed him even to the cross. If they had faith in Jesus, they would not be divided because Jesus prayed for his disciples to be united. If they had faith in Jesus, they would not be indulged in sexual sin and debauchery because their body is the temple of God where the Holy Spirit dwells. This applies to us, too today. Let us examine ourselves whether we have faith in Jesus or not. When we have faith in Jesus, we will live by the Holy Spirit, not by the fleshly desire of our body. When we have faith in Jesus, we will obey the will of God, not my own will. When we have faith in Jesus, we believe that in all things God works for good for those who love him as Jesus did. When we don’t have Jesus in our hearts, we will do the opposite way from all these acts of faith. Examine yourself and test your faith!

Now Paul prays for the church. Look at verses 7-10. “Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.” Paul prayed for them two things: They may not do anything wrong, which is the same as they may be fully restored. Paul prayed for their full restoration. Once Corinthian Church was full of the Holy Spirit and fire in their hearts for the gospel. They initiated to collect contributions for the suffering believers in Jerusalem Church. Their neighboring Macedonian churches were encouraged by them, and they also participated in the contribution. The city of Corinth was an idolatrous and immoral city, still the church stood on the side of truth when Paul started the church. But after Paul left the church, their faith was tested and challenged from inside and out. Some became compromised with temptation. Others left the church. Those who still remained in the church caused lots of problems such as division, sexual immorality, idolatry, lawsuit, and so on. As their spiritual father and shepherd, Paul earnestly asked them to repent and to be fully restored.

In revelation Jesus rebuked the church in Ephesus and asked their repentance. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Rev 2:4-5) In these verses ‘removing their lampstand’ means that the Holy Spirit will leave from them. This means that God would not be with them anymore unless they repent. Paul gave the same warning to the Corinthian Church. Paul prayed for them gently to be fully restored for their first love, genuine heart, sincere devotion, and spiritual life. We have been praying for those who are sick and weak. We must pray for their full restoration physically, mentally, and spiritually.

How can we be fully restored? How can we live a healthy and happy Christians’ life? When we are sick, we go to a hospital to see a doctor and to check our body. They will examine our sickness. In the same way we must examine ourselves whether we are right in the sight of God or not. Sin makes us sick and weak. So, we must repent of our sin. Those who are addicted with alcohol must quit their drinking. Those who are sick of jealousy must repent and have thankful and joyful mind. What do the patients usually do after they stop their bad habit and behavior? They must have medication. They must take medicine faithfully and regularly. After we repent, we must take spiritual medicine such as reading the Bible and praying regularly. The word of God is the best medicine for our soul. The word of God has the healing power for all sicknesses. In order to have full restoration we need exercise. Paul said in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” We are men and women of the Spirit. We are spiritual beings who need to have constant fellowship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit. We must walk by the Holy Spirit and live by the Holy Spirit for our full registration. Through this spiritual rehabilitation we grow as healthy and faithful Christians and servants of God.

Let us read verses 11-13. “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.” Paul gave them his final greetings with a conclusive remark. When we read each remark, we come to know that Paul summarized the whole letter in these two verses. They must rejoice in the middle of suffering. They must restore their first love and genuine zeal for Christ. They must encourage one another instead of suing each other. They must stop quarrelling and arguing but make every effort to have peace with others. They must repent their empty pride and make a holy vessel for the unity of the church.

In conclusion Paul really loved the church like his own son. He was willing to humble himself for the sake of the church and even to die to protect his sheep. The church in Corinth disappeared with the city when 2,000 years had passed. Still, the affection of Paul and his genuine shepherd heart for the church remain in our hearts and inspire us. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (14) Amen!

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