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Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

Howard Baptist 27/09/2026

When you look across the Christian faith around the world, you will see many hundreds perhaps thousands of different Christian denominations and splinter groups - but this is not how it was meant to be!

When Jesus established his church, he had himself as it’s head, and the church as being his body; this unity of head, body and body parts, all working in unison, was to keep his church together and functioning well.

Paul 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Paul re Christ Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; -- Ephesians 1:22,23

The goal we all should have, no matter what church you attend, is to grow and mature in Christ. We need to understand the true church, as being the body of Jesus Christ, and us being healthy members of that one body.

Paul Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Prepared for Eternity.

Paul reviews what he has written so far, to the Philippians. There should be unity, and growing maturity in their church, to the point that if there be differences, they too will be resolved by God. Paul was not talking about something impossible for a church, but rather what is attainable for them.

I remember talking to a Pastor once, who said that it was such a great blessing, knowing that everyone in his church holds to the same basic doctrines and teachings. So for him, there were no false teachings amongst them, and there were no great differences - harmony.

For a church, this is a great aspiration, and he describes this in another letter.

Paul Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

There are seven ones here, I have got a feeling that Paul is presenting the case for unity within the church.

All Christians have the same Holy Spirit within us, so if we listen to and are guided by the Holy Spirit, we will all be led to maturity in Christ. So the Holy Spirit is like a compass within us pointing us to Jesus, we all have the same Holy Spirit within us. Around the world, compass arrows always point north.

As Christians through the Holy Spirit, we all have Jesus as our north arrow.

When we are all seek maturity in Jesus, our differences largely disappear, and the unity of the Spirit becomes strong. Now I want to make it clear, that those that have Jesus in their lives also have the Holy Spirit, he comes with Jesus.

Paul Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. John 5:24.

Becoming a Christian is simple as that; we hear and accept the gospel message of Jesus dying for our sins, we receive his forgiveness, then we are included in Christ, he comes into your life, and so does the Holy Spirit, nothing else needs doing to receive the Holy Spirit.

And as Paul states, the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our heavenly destiny, and the Holy Spirit confirms that we have become God's possession, so he will not let you go!

Some churches confuse this subject of the Holy Spirit so much, but as Paul tells us, if you have Jesus, you also have the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit wants us to focus on Jesus, not himself.

Maturity for Christians, is measured by how they have grown to be like Jesus, this is what is what the Holy Spirit wants for us.

Paul says about believers becoming like Jesus 2 Corinthians 3:18 ------, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So as we grow in Christlikeness, our old person decreases, and Christ increases, as John the Baptist says about Jesus,

NIV John the Baptist about Jesus John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

KJV John the Baptist about Jesus John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

The primary role the Holy Spirit has to for us, is to bring focus upon Jesus and his teachings.

Jesus John 15:26 ------ the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Jesus John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 14:26.

Notice that Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as he, the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity of God.

But here, does the Holy Spirit seek to bring attention and glory to himself?

No, the Holy Spirit brings attention and glory to Jesus. He points us to Jesus.

If the church you attend gives more attention to the Holy Spirit than to Jesus, then ask yourself, who is getting the glory, and who is meant to get the glory?

Church leaders will have to be careful as to what they emphasis in their preaching and teaching.

Paul Philippians 3:17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

Paul was so confident in what he was saying, that he used himself as an example to follow.

It has been said, we are all warriors in the fight of life, but some lead, and others follow.

Paul as a soldier for Christ, was able to say - follow me, as I follow Christ.

Paul 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Christian leaders can be followed as far as they are following Christ, if they take their eyes off Jesus, then take your eyes off them! We are not to get into pastor worship, we are to worship Jesus Christ.

Church leaders are not to teach their opinions, or promote the teachings of their favorite theologian, but to present the pattern (standard)of godly living presented through the Bible to us.

Paul 2 Timothy 1:13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

What Paul taught, was by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it became sound teaching from the moment it was presented, through ‘faith and love in Christ Jesus.’

And Paul tells us twice, we are to guard this precious sound teaching, of which we are stewards, and the best way to guard it is spread it around, pass it on to the next generation.

Pass on the pattern of sound Bible teaching, from generation to generation. Fathers have a major role of passing on this pattern, for his children to be instructed by. Both parents need to be involved. And if Dad cannot do it, remember that Timothy was taught scripture from infancy, by his Mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. 2 Timothy 1:5. 3:14,15

And Paul tells us to take note of those others who are also a good example.

We all have gifting and abilities from God that we can use for God’s glory, so try to be a good example to others, by using whatever skills you have been blessed with.

Paul Philippians 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

These words of Paul look to describe people who may have professed to be Christians, but their behaviour showed them to be following a pattern of godless living. It is unlikely they were attenders of the church, otherwise Paul would have rebuked them earlier. They may have been antinomians who went to the opposite extreme from the legalistic Judaizers, and they threw off all moral restraints. They lived morally lawless lives, and like most people today, their minds were on earthly things.

They remind me a bumper sticker that said – ‘Don’t follow me, I’m lost too!’

One of the things I find appropriate to say to people like this, is that the Bible teaches us that there is more to life, than this earthly life. There is an eternity ahead of us to prepare for.

That is why Arthur Stace, a man who had just been saved in 1930, for more than forty years, he wrote the word Eternity in chalk on the footpaths around Sydney, he wanted to challenge people, as to what comes after this life. He was trying to save them from hell, and this was his wonderful way of showing love to a lost population. By his own estimation he wrote the word Eternity about 500,000 times.

Paul Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Paul then gets away from talking about those whose ‘destiny is destruction’, onto a positive view of eternity. He does so, to point out the vast difference there is between following earthly things, to those of following heavenly things. Paul aims to encourage his readers to be certain of a positive eternal future.

The Christian's spiritual citizenship is heaven, and for each believer, earthly things must at best be secondary. This world is not our home.

If you had a spiritual passport, heaven would be recorded as your home country.

And Jesus is there now, in his resurrected body, the body that rose from the grave, the body in which we are told in John’s Gospel, Jesus will come for us, and take us to him. John 14:3.

While on earth in his resurrected body, Jesus was able to talk, be touched, able to eat food, was able to appear into a locked room to meet with the disciples, then disappear through the same wall, his resurrected body is able to be present in heaven and in the physical earth.

His resurrected body of Jesus is not subject to sickness, aging, death or even tiredness.

He truly showed himself, to have victory over sin and death.

And Paul tells us that Jesus Christ will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Our physical bodies, given to us by God are an amazing creation, but they are temporary, and described by Paul as lowly, purposed for this life, then one day, when Jesus comes for us, whether we are living or passed on, our bodies will be transformed into having a resurrected body, just as Jesus now has. So we will be with Jesus, having a body like his glorious body. We will be sharers of divine life, in Christ.

The same miraculous power that the Lord uses to do that, he will use to transform all of creation, restored to a sin free condition.

But there will be one difference between our resurrected body and that of Jesus, he will bear the scars of his crucifixion in his hands, feet and side, an eternal reminder, of his dying for our sins. to get us into his heavenly kingdom.

In this life, Jesus has by faith provided for us, forgiveness of sins, abundant purposeful living in this life, and to all who believe in him, he has promised eternal life in a resurrected body in the next life.

We do not do anything to deserve the Lord’s provision, we just need to freely receive his gift of salvation. Why not do that today, why not do that right now?

Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist 20/09/2026

In your school days, you may have joined in running or swimming races or sports contests, in most cases, there is a start point, and a finish point.

At the beginning of the race, we may feel a bit nervous, but once we start, we focus on the finish line, and whether you win, get a good place or just get over the finish line, you finished the race, and you tried your best. I remember as a child, a family member cheering for me on the sideline, as I ran a race, that was very encouraging.

The Roman and Greek games were popular is Paul’s day, and he used this race illustration several times in his letters, to describe our earthly journey in Christ.

We start our Christian life, we run our race, then in victory we will can look forward to meeting Jesus, waiting for us at the finish line. And we are now blessed to know, that Jesus is encouraging us along our race, each step of the way.

As we run our race, we know that Jesus is at our finish line, this is what Paul is teaching us in our Bible reading, today.

Paul Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-- 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Finishing well.

Paul Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Paul again rejoices in how well the Philippians as a church, are running their race.

He had rejoiced for them in this letter’s first chapter 1:18, and again rejoiced for them in the second chapter 2:17,18, and as we just read, he does so again in this third chapter! Paul is very joyful about their progress. By him rejoicing for his readers, they can know they are safe and on the right path.

Paul did however have a concern for them.

Paul Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-- 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. ------

Paul had probably referred these evil men earlier in this letter.

Paul Philippians 1:27 ------ I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. ------

False doctrine is always a real concern, as it opposes the truth.

Paul 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Good doctrine saves, bad doctrine condemns.

Paul identifies these opponents with the Judaizers--they troubled the apostles and endeavored to compel Gentile converts to submit to circumcision and other Jewish practices in order to be saved. They taught bad doctrine.

Paul refers to them, in three ways --

Firstly, as dogs, meaning they are dangerous and have the potential to attack.

Secondly, as men who do evil, their work and purpose is evil, ungodly and deadly.

Thirdly, as mutilators of the flesh, they were Jews who had mixed together Jewish and Christian understandings. As supposed Christians, in addition to receiving the gospel, they demanded circumcision of Gentiles.

Circumcision was originally meant to be a bodily sign for Jewish men, to indicate that they were separated from the world and dedicated to the one true God. But Paul is saying that dedication to God, now spiritually applies to all Christians, without needing bodily circumcision.

But these Judaizers were trying to force Christians to accept both the gospel, and the law and practices of Moses. circumcision had then just become a legalistic removal of skin.

For many, this combination of gospel and legalism makes sense, in fact some pseudo Christian groups do that today, but it is a deadly combination, as it turns the gospel of Jesus into becoming a works based religion, which would make their compromised gospel useless. This was the same problem that the Galatian church was having with Judaizers with their false teaching.

Paul Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Paul here explained that there is one gospel, and that is by the grace of Christ.

Paul made it clear, anyone teaching another supposed gospel, even if we or an angel from heaven, is worthy to be eternally condemned!

Paul explains to the Philippians that Christian worship is through the Spirit of God, the practices and laws of Moses, the Jewish temple worship or temple sacrifices are no longer required. A Christian’s primary focus is on Jesus Christ, not on Moses, as Paul states, we glory in Christ Jesus.

Religion calls us to follow rules and traditions, this done by our human based efforts.

In his previous life as a dedicated Jew, Paul knew all about trying to live by religious efforts.

Paul Philippians 3:4 ------ If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

To the Philippians in the church, and to these Jews trying to add religion to the gospel, Paul is saying that he was the best of all Jews, his Jewish religious efforts and record was without fault, even to the point of persecuting the church.

Paul was so committed to a works based religion, that he zealously persecuted Christians who taught that salvation was freely by grace, not by works! Yet even today, there are groups that erroneously teach that your works contribute towards your salvation.

Yet Paul came to realise that sinful humanity and Judaism has no grounds for confidence before God, because no one is able to achieve righteousness before God by one's own efforts.

Paul knows, because he tried, and failed.

If anyone were to have advantage in being a Jew, Paul should have it. He was raised a Jew, and he lists all his credentials.

His party of choice, the Pharisees contained the most zealous supporters and interpreters of Old Testament law, and Paul had studied under Gamaliel, its most celebrated teacher.

Acts 5:34, 22:3.

But in his own efforts of obeying the law of Moses, he found them to be inadequate.

Such obedience might win the admiration of other people, but it could never achieve the absolute righteousness that God requires. Galatians 3:10-11; James 2:10.

Paul knew that though he was seen publicly as righteous on the outside, he knew he was unrighteous on the inside.

While he was on the road to Damascus to persecute more churches, the Lord opened Saul’s eyes of understanding, it was then that he realised his error.

From then on, as a Jew, whatever advantage Paul knew he had, as a leading Jew and Pharisee, he then considered as just rubbish.

All his Jewish credentials, his teaching under Gamaliel, his enthusiasm in promoting his religion, were all now, in his words, rubbish. Christ is far superior to them in every respect.

That word rubbish has also been translated in some Bibles as garbage, refuse, dung, or a heap of dung. Paul considered his Jewish and Pharisee credentials useless, so good riddance to bad rubbish. It was as if Paul had climbed a ladder right to the top, but then realised that he had his ladder against the wrong wall! His efforts were useless.

Paul thereafter had higher values and knowledge, and he wanted the church to know them as well. Paul to the churches at Colossae and Laodicea ---

Paul Colossians 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Salvation by God the Father through Jesus Christ, God the Son, was God’s plan.

God’s plan for Jesus to die for our sins was a mystery to humanity, not developed by Moses, or the Apostles, or the church - no one could have conceived of salvation by grace through faith, but it was all revealed through Jesus Christ.

If left was to humanity to develop a plan of salvation, to make sinners acceptable to God, there would be some kind of good works involved. True?

That is why salvation was a mystery to humanity, until Jesus revealed to us.

Paul Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

What does Paul mean? I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.

Because Jesus rose from death, it means that when we put our faith in Jesus, that we too have died to our old lives of sin and unrighteousness, and we are now risen, and we live the new life Jesus has given us. Jesus walks with us, even when we may face trials and suffering.

But regardless of that, Paul wants us to press on, knowing that we can live lives honouring and pleasing to him now, as we look forward to living with him in heaven – our finish line!

This is what Paul tells us in his words to us this morning.

Paul Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:9-14. Ephesians 2:4-6.

Paul describes his life in Christ like a race, and you cannot run your race if you are always looking backwards, Paul tells them, one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Jesus in Luke 9:62, once putting your hand to the plow, do not look back. Bent rows!

So many Christians spend their lives looking back, and they wonder why they are not advancing in life as they should. Their lives get bent!

For Paul, Forgetting did not mean obliterating the memory of his past, his was a conscious refusal to let his past absorb his attention and impede his progress. He never allowed his past, even his destroying the church, to obstruct his running of the race.

The writer of Hebrews, describes a large sports arena, like Paul, he tells us to run your race, unhindered by lesser matters, and distractions.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, --

So, like a trained athletes, let’s fix your eyes on the finish line, the goal and prize to be with Christ in heaven.

Like a coach, Paul tells us the secret of running your race well. Every day, to willingly put aside all the things in the past that slow you down, and strain forward to the finish line.

Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

Facebook notes for the Howard Baptist Church 08/01/2023

10.00 AM. Song – How Deep the Father’s Love

No matter what group you belong to - where there are people, there will be issues and problems along with friendships, fellowship and progress - the Church is no different.

There is no perfect church; I once read a quote that stated ‘There is no perfect church, if there is, it will become imperfect once I join it.’ Perhaps C.L.Lewis

We all have different backgrounds and experiences in life, and that guarantees that we will at times see things differently to someone else.

In some ways Christianity is easy compared to Churchianity! (a real word)

It would be great if church attenders all got along with no issues, but we are not robots - so along the journey, issues will arise within a church.

The apostle Paul was very aware of this, and his letter writing was largely based on giving encouragement and resolving problems within the churches. He was a busy man, and while he liked to visit the churches and personally meet with people, it was more practical for him to receive letters and write letters to the churches about whatever matters concerned them.

All of Paul’s letter writing was a good thing then and especially for us today, as we have the content of many of his letters, called epistles, and they have become New Testament books of the Bible.

We have gone through many of New Testament books in past years, and last year we progressed through Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians – where he addressed many major problems disrupting the church.

Carrying on from Paul’s concluding words to the Corinthians in his first letter to them, we will begin looking into his second letter 2 Corinthians, and over the next months, we will progress through the whole book as it in many ways follows on 1 Corinthians.

In this book we will see where Paul had a fruitful response to his letters, with some matters seemingly resolved, but other matters still needing attention.

What we will learn from Paul, is that the principles that applied to the church then, apply to the church today. And by going through a book of the Bible verse by verse, it is amazing what varied moral, historical and theological subjects that are covered - in context and application. It is called Systematic Expository Preaching, just as Paul’s letters were read to the congregation, so too we benefit as we go through what God’s has delivered to us.

Paul Colossians 4:16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Acts 15:30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 1 Thessalonians 5:27. 2 Thessalonians 3:14

We get the picture of Paul’s letters and other important letters being read out to the churches and share around and discussed - part by part, and section by section.

Today we look at Paul’s introduction to the church, as it is here that the writers would usual name themselves and establish their credibility to speak with authority.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pause now -- Prayer – Praise to God - Nation, World, Coronavirus and Medical staff, our Missionaries and School Chaplains, Rain, and our local Communities.

Going forward in the Faith.

We can feel for Paul in those early days of the church, as he had many church matters that he

had to deal with, in addition to dealing with those in the church who were undermining his

authority, and also with physical persecution mainly from the Jews. Paul did however, have some trusted helpers to represent him where he could not attend himself.

Paul’s love for the churches, is very evident in his writing, he personally feels the issues that they are dealing with,

Paul 2 Corinthians 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

He was so concerned about the churches, that if he is not there physically with them, he is with them in spirit.

Paul 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

And in all his interaction with the churches, Paul’s principle was to build them up, not tear them down.

Paul 2 Corinthians 13:10 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.

And as Paul was concluding his 1 Corinthians letter, we read that his remedy to the friction and clashes in the church was doing everything in love.

Paul 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthians church while at Macedonia, in about AD 56.

We need to be reminded that what we call the books 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians were not Paul’s first and second letter to them, as in writing 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions having written to them beforehand, but that initial letter is lost to us.

Paul 1 Corinthians 5:9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

From this we know that there was a letter written by Paul to them before 1 Corinthians, and we know from this letter, that sexual immorality in Corinth was becoming a problem in the church, to the point of now directing them not eating with immoral church attenders! The corrupt values of the world were threatening to come into the church; as they do even today!

Also, in reading 2 Corinthians 2:4, 7:8-9, Paul refers to a stern letter that many scholars suggest was written by himself after 1 Corinthians, but before 2 Corinthians.

If so, this letter is also lost - so we can see that the letters we do have may be the second and fourth letters of the four letters Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

So, the New Testament books of 1 and 2 Corinthians are actually the two Corinthian letters that still exist and they were probably penned about 18 months apart.

The reason that Paul wrote this letter was mainly for pastoral reasons, to generally encourage the Corinthians in their walk with the Lord the matters of controversy and dispute he had written about in previous letters.

So, Paul writes to inform them of his forthcoming visit, and to express his great relief at the Corinthian’s positive response to his ‘severe letter’ that had been delivered and explained by Titus, and also to finalize their promised collection for the saints at Jerusalem before he visits. Other matters of importance are also contained in his letter such as Paul again establishing his credentials as an apostle, that was still being questioned by many.

It could well have been like the tall poppy syndrome, where some people didn’t like someone getting so much attention over themselves.

As in most of his letters, Paul begins by referring to himself as ‘an apostle’ of Christ Jesus. Although he was not one of the twelve chosen by Christ, here we see where he claimed equality with them. Paul here strongly declares his apostleship of Jesus Christ, and also by the will of God. He did this to without doubt give credibility and authority to himself and his letter. So right from the start, his letter has God’s authority and power upon it.

But what is an apostle? Some of us know, but it may need explaining for others.

The name apostle means ‘sent one’, meaning they were appointed and sent by Jesus to declare the truth and salvation of God. Three qualifications are required -

Firstly, to become an apostle, a person has to be commissioned by Jesus.

Mark 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

We also later see that Paul was also commissioned by Jesus on the Damascus Road.

Saul Acts 26:15 "Then I asked, `Who are you, Lord?'

" `I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16 `Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.

Secondly, to become an apostle, a person has to have witnessed the resurrected Jesus.

After Judas the traitor had died, he had to be replaced --

Peter Acts 1:21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

Paul also makes the claim that Jesus had appeared to him on the Damascus Road.

Paul 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?

Paul 1 Corinthians 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul was the final person to see the risen Lord, last of all he appeared to me, therefore no designated apostles came after him.

Thirdly, to become an apostle, a person has to be able to perform miraculous signs.

The early church Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Paul 2 Corinthians 12:11 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. 12 The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.

1 - be chosen by Jesus. 2 - have seen the risen Lord. 3 - perform signs, wonders and miracles.

It has been held over many centuries that apostleship ceased with the last of the original twelve apostles and Paul.

Paul Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

But there are some churches that believe that apostles exist today – for example the Apostolic Church, and there are some churches involved with NAR - New Apostolic Reformation who actually who want to revive apostleship - so it is important to realize that to become a designated apostle of Jesus Christ is not easily repeated.

In Paul’s introduction, we see he includes Timothy as a co-sender of the letter - Paul may have intended this to reinstate this timid young man in the eyes of the Corinthians, possibly after his limited success as Paul's representative at Corinth. Titus had replaced Timothy as Paul's chief representative to Corinth by the time this letter was written.

1 Timothy 4:12. 2 Timothy 1:7; 2:1

Then Paul addresses the Corinthian church, as the church of God in Corinth. He did not address them merely the church at Corinth.

Paul 2 Corinthians 1:1 ------ To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

Paul wanted the best for the church there, and regardless of their many issues, problems and imperfections - they were God’s church in Corinth. So even a struggling church is God’s church - God sees the potential in a church, where we may just see problems!

And Paul takes it even further, he addresses them as individuals along with all the believers in that area as saints.

To be a saint means that you are sanctified and made holy.

Again, God raises us higher than how we probably see ourselves or our churches. Believers in Christ are actually holy people. We are changed and are becoming Christlike everyday - so we are saints, this is how God sees you.

We are holy and we are described as being a temple of the Holy Spirit - as Paul tells us in

Paul 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? -----

The Holy Spirit will not reside in an unholy dwelling, so if you have the Holy Spirit, which all believers do, then you are holy person - believe it! 2 Corinthians 6:16. 7:1

The writer of Hebrews goes even further in seeing who we really are in Christ.

Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

And how did this happen? Three verses later we are told.

The Lord Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

We have been made holy through the forgiveness of our sins through the death and work of Jesus for our sins, from unholy we have been declared perfect in God’s sight and being made holy, more every day.

And this is where the next section of Paul’s introduction makes sense.

Paul 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The basis of our forgiveness won for us by Jesus, is through God’s grace - his favour and mercy. Paul reminds his readers in the introduction of all his letters about God’s grace.

All saints in Christ know that our salvation is of God and through God - not of ourselves.

Knowing this we have what Paul declares is peace with God.

This word peace in Hebrew is shalom.

When we come to Jesus, we have our sins forgiven, we are made holy and we have peace and shalom with God. Truly we are saints.

Hymn. Amazing Grace

Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

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Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

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