HOWARD BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP
Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages
Sermons by Evan Digby
Howard Baptist Church 11/05/2025
Happy Mother’s Day, to all mothers today, including grandmothers and great grandmothers.
Your role in your family; your service to your children; and your great worth in society is celebrated and honoured today around the world.
God knew what he was doing when he created the parental roles of mother and father, and it is very appropriate to honour these roles, as they were an essential part of his purpose for mankind from the beginning of creation.
So today, as we look at our own mother, we look at the importance of their influence and care in our lives. They had a big part of making us the people we are today.
A Mother’s Value.
It is a very obvious statement, that mothers and fathers are essential for us to exist!
So, days like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are worth celebrating.
The loving family unit, of parents and children, has been described as the building block of society. A strong wall is made of strong blocks. If you want a strong society, then maintaining this family unit and keeping it healthy, is essential.
This understanding goes back thousands of years. In Jesus’ day the Jewish culture was very family based - Jesus was brought up in a family, with the parenting of Joseph and Mary, with Jesus having brothers and sisters. Mark 6:3. John 6:42.
Jesus being raised in this way, points to God’s pattern of family.
Children being raised, having a loving father and mother - is the ideal Biblical model.
There are of course, some circumstances where one or both parents may be separated while a child is being raised, due to death, divorce, or perhaps war service or other reason.
That is when the wider family, church and or society can step in to help. But the model of mum, dad and children is God’s ideal, from the beginning.
Yet, in our lifetimes, to our society’s great detriment, we have seen the erosion of God’s family pattern, where now there are many different family patterns now accepted.
This weakens our society.
To understand the esteemed value and purpose of motherhood and fatherhood, we need to go back to when these roles were first established. We need to go back to the beginning of creation, because that is when these roles were created.
Moses Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Universal creation is mentioned in the first verse of Genesis, pointing to the beginning of time, space, the galaxies, the stars, our solar system, and we are aware how vast is the size of all this is. But in this first verse, is also mentioned the creation of earth.
Many astronomers will tell you how seemingly insignificant the earth is compared to the rest of the cosmos, yet here, amongst everything else, planet earth is individually mentioned.
Why is it so special? As we read the first few chapters of Genesis, we see that God made the earth as a setting, a focal point stage onto which he would make mankind, male and female in his own image.
Moses Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
The first few chapters of Genesis show how, the Triune God, made this special place called earth. We see here at work the plurality of God, as he refers to himself as singular, God said, yet he also refers to himself as plural, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness
On earth, God set the stage in which he would come down and walk and talk with the people he created to be like himself.
Moses Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, ----
All creation, especially the earth, was created so that God could share his glory and personal relationship with those created in his image. The angels were also created by God, and for God - but they are not mentioned as being made in God’s image. In this regard, humans are truly unique, we have been made more special than angels!
This was the close personal relationship that God originally created for humanity, and he set earth up to be habituated,
Isaiah Isaiah 45:18 For this is what the LORD says--
he who created the heavens, he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited--
he says:
"I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Humanly speaking, the earth was initially only inhabited by Adam, - soon, then came Eve.
Moses Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
The first people were made to become parents, create a family, and their children’s children would multiply to inhabit the earth. And God’s glory would spread as well.
You may wonder why God would make such a huge universe, if all he initially wanted to do was focus on one planet. We are told,
David Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
God set up this great display, so no matter how far people look into the starry sky, God’s glory will be seen! The starry heavens are a constant message from of our creator God, that he has created us and all things, and we should humbly give him glory.
This is meant to be our response, when we look up to the stary shy!
When it comes to value of motherhood and fatherhood, God made them at the core of his creation - and these God given roles are to be highly valued and protected!
Look at Eve’s role.
Moses Genesis 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
Eve was the mother of all humanity. We are all descended from her!
Before governments and nations were formed, there was motherhood and fatherhood.
God is no prude, he created sex as the basis of growing families, he created it to be enjoyed between husband and wife, within the institution of marriage.
Adam and Eve were one flesh, married by God!
Marriage is where sexual relationships, were by God, purposed to be.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
So, sexual relationships outside of marriage, are adultery and sexual immorality! God will judge people for their sin and disobedience. We need to be reminded of this, as sexual permissiveness is commonplace today, in movies, TV programs, media and advertising. 007.
A male and female sexual relationship was created to be like a fire within a stove, where it is contained and purposed, yet when that fire gets outside the stove, it can burn down the house, or create out of control bushfires. Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9.
That is the situation today, where sexual permissiveness has created massive harm, bushfires of - adultery, divorce and broken homes, and broken relationships, where children are separated from a parent or from parents. Even grandparents are at times separated from grandchildren! So there many broken people, due to disobeying God’s marriage plan!
And sexual permissiveness has led to tens of thousands of abortions per year in Australia alone, millions per year world-wide.
The baby in the womb should be a place of nurture and protection, but the womb is now a dangerous place for a baby to be!
Marriage and motherhood, are not valued as God purposed them to be.
Throughout Jewish history, the Ten Commandments were the basis of moral and social order.
God had established the roles of parents very highly in the Ten Commandments.
This is what God designed from the beginning, and it is reflected in the Ten Commandments that God chiseled into stone.
The Ten Commandments are in two parts.
The first four of the Ten Commandments describes God’s relationship with the Israelis.
The following six Commandments, are what God wants of the Israelis, in their relationship to each other.
The fifth Commandment is the first of this following group.
Moses Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
God put honour and obedience to father and mother ahead of all the following Commandments, against murder, adultery, theft, lying, jealousy and unrighteous desire.
If you obey your godly parents, then those following commandments will have only little application. And there was a blessing attached, that they would have a blessed long life! These family blessings, would also bless the nation.
Such is the power of parenting! Such is the influence of godly fathers and mothers.
Never mind what others say about the pattern of family, look to what God has patterned as family, and Jesus grew up in such a family pattern! God chose his own family!
It is evident in our society, and in numerous surveys, that many problems, including domestic violence, crime, purposelessness, and dysfunctional thinking and living, is related to poor upbringing.
But the Bible has the answer
Solomon Proverbs 22:5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
These two proverbs give us the answer for our dysfunctional society, and it needs to start early. Firstly, safeguard yourself using godly wisdom and teaching; then both parents need to pass this knowledge onto their children. When children are taught by parents to ‘guard their souls’, from thorns and snares, they will avoid many problems later in life,
And isn’t this what we want for our children? To be safeguarded all their lives, from the thorns, snares and brokenness of life!
Unfortunately, as our society moves away from Bible instruction, the more thorns and snares are besetting many people from youth to old age. We are living in trying times, for fathers and mothers to raise their children in a godly way.
Both father and mother are to work with each other, in teaching their children.
What does the Bible teach?
Solomon Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Solomon Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
And Paul backs up the principal of the Fifth Commandment.
Paul Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
And from the book of Isaiah, we see where the LORD God declares the special way that mothers are especially gifted by him, in their child caring role.
The LORD Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
We see here, that the LORD God, acknowledges this special truth about mothers.
And Paul calls out the special gifting of mothers, as well.
Paul 1 Thessalonians 2:6 As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
In these verses, mothers are shown to be teaching, comforting, gentle and caring to their children, - and they are to be given honour, for their lifelong positive influence.
A complementing balance of teaching, instruction, love, and care from godly parents to their children, is God’s plan for all families and societies. And mothers are wonderfully gifted by God for this role.
Abraham Lincoln: "No one is poor who had a godly mother."
Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.
Taken from The HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION © 1973, 1978, by the International Bible Society.
Howard Baptist 04/05/2025
To introduce today’s Bible reading, we look to the last section of Luke we read, when Jesus had cast out a demon, who had made a man mute – that is, unable to speak.
Luke Luke 11:14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
This healing miracle created amazement in the crowd, and this amazement would have also included those religious Pharisees, who were fanatically against Jesus. We saw how Jesus rightly rebuked those Pharisees, who accused him of using the devil’s power to cast out his own demons. Jesus explained, that would mean that the devil was undermining his own kingdom - something the devil would not do!
It is important to understand that the miracles of Jesus, were adequate supernatural proof that he was the Son of God, - that was a major purpose of his miracles.
John John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Hebrews 2:3,4.
According to the Apostle John - accepting the miracles of Jesus, was adequate knowledge to believe in Jesus.
Today we look at the other request to Jesus - one meant to test his authority.
This sign request was typical of the Jews - even Paul pointed this out.
Paul 1 Corinthians 1:22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
We will see that Jesus was the sign that the Jews really needed, as God’s Son, he came to bring the light of the gospel to all people, including us.
Luke Luke 11:27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
Live obeying God’s Word.
a woman in the crowd, was so amazed at Jesus teaching, that she reacted in a special way.
Luke 11:27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
This woman thought Jesus was so special, that a blessing needed to be passed onto his mother, for bringing up such a wonderful son! The Jewish culture was very family focused, and in this compliment, Jesus was also being praised.
In his reply, Jesus did not belittle Mary his mother, but he used her statement to look to the larger spiritual family of God, where we are all equal before God.
And Jesus gives us a deep insight was to what makes us equal before God, and that is our obedience to his word. Jesus was telling the crowd that his teaching, was the word of God, and people need to firstly hear it, and secondly obey it.
The unbelieving Pharisees heard the word of God coming from Jesus, but the difference was, they did not obey it!
Just a note here also, if Mary the mother of Jesus, was to be venerated and honoured above others, as Roman Catholicism does, Jesus would not equally parallel her with all others.
Mary was highly privileged to be the mother and means, through whom Jesus came into the world, but that is where the privileges stop! Luke 1:28. Galatians 4:4.
Jesus points this out on another occasion as well.
Matthew Matthew 12:46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:31-35. Luke 8:19-21.
Here Jesus makes it clear that his mother Mary, and his brothers - even his sisters, were no more special before God than any others. Matthew 13:56. Mark 6:3. John 1:12.
In referring to his family, Jesus tells us what really matters in life, is obeying God and doing his will - this is where true joy and contentment in life is found!
Jesus had been provoked to give a sign to prove his authority, despite seeing many miracles, the Pharisees wanted to see some sort specular cosmic event, perhaps at will to send a meteor flashing across the sky, or to present a huge choir of singing heavenly angels!!!
Luke 11:29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus regards that generation of Jews to be worst yet.
He compares them to the warlike people of Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, whom although pagan, they repented when Jonah preached to them, and Jonah did not even care about them! To Jonah, they were they were just wicked Gentiles deserving judgment. But God cared for the Ninevites, and he had a fish swallow Jonah to redirect him on a preaching mission to Nineveh.
Jonah was a minor prophet, and was well regarded by the Jews. Yet here was Jesus, the Messiah, who loved and cared for Israel, God’s chosen people yet they rejected him and refused to repent!
Jesus tells us that the Ninevites at judgment would willingly condemn the Jews of that generation who rejected him, as he was one greater than Jonah.
Jesus positions himself, as much greater than Jonah.
Jesus also refers to the Queen of the South, also known as the Queen of Sheba, being Yemen or perhaps Ethiopia, who traveled a great distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and she was greatly blessed by her visit. If a pagan Queen responded to King Solomon in such a way, why did not the Jews respond to Jesus as their Messiah?
Jesus tells us that the Queen of the South would willingly condemn the Jews of that generation who rejected him, as he was the one greater than Solomon.
Jesus positions himself, as much greater than Solomon.
(You can read about her visit in the book of 1 Kings 10:1-13 and 1 Chronicles 9:1-12.)
So, Jesus was the ultimate prophet and the ultimate wise man. Jesus would give the ultimate understanding of who he was, by comparing himself to how Jonah had been swallowed by a large fish, and counted as dead, then after three days, he was spat out on a beach, alive. Jonah 2:10.
Jesus would do this by dying for our sins, and rising from death after three days.
Jesus’ resurrection was not just meant to be a proof of who he was to his disciples, but his resurrection was proof to all people, including the hardhearted Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and chief priests
Jesus Matthew 12:39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jonah 1:17. Matthew 16:4. Luke 11:29-30.
As we saw from Paul’s quote from 1 Corinthians, the Jews demanded a sign.
The sign of Jonah to the Jews was to be Jesus’ own death and resurrection.
The Jewish leadership were well aware, that Jesus said that he would die and after three days, he would rise again. They understood this far better than the disciples of Jesus.
Matthew Matthew 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, `After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
Matthew Matthew 28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
Matthew Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Some of the guards at Jesus tomb reported to the chief priests that at the tomb site, an earthquake happened, an angel rolled back the stone, and the guards would have heard the angel say to the women, that He is not here; he has risen --
As we are told, the Jewish leadership had to fabricate a story to explain away his missing body from the guarded tomb! Roman guards receive execution for deserting their post.
So, we see that the sign of Jonah, was well and truly displayed to the chief priests and the elders. They could not deny it, in fact they made up a story to disguise it.
Considering what the guards would have reported to them, about the earthquake, and the angel, and the missing body, the Jewish religious leaders must have been very hardhearted to not accept the resurrection!
Jesus Luke 11:33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
Jesus’ miracles, were like lamps, giving light and understanding of who he was – he was the king of the kingdom of light. A fully lit lighting store, a hint of heaven!
Every miracle pointed to his Messiahship. He did not hide his miracles, - were for all to see.
Jesus puts responsibility on those who hear his message, to open their eyes to the truth he brings, they should not hide from his light.
But if like the Pharisees and other religious leaders, they choose to shut their eyes to Jesus’ message and Messiahship, they will remain blind, and will remain in darkness of error and ignorance. They prefer to be in darkness. John 3:19,20 - loved darkness instead of the light -
Knowing that Jesus is greater than Jonah, and greater than Solomon, means that his followers should open their eyes to receive the light of his truth, and so let their light shine.
John John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
As we learn from, and follow Jesus, we then let this light shine through us.
Jesus Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. ----
As followers of Jesus, he is within us, shining through us. His light, shining through us changes things, in our daily conversations and behaviour, his light dispels darkness.
Whatever is within us, will show us for who we are, be it light or darkness, it will show through. So, Jesus instructs us to examine your inner life, to ensure there is no darkness, and we are shining for him. Ephesians 5:11-14.
As Jesus shines within you, let his light shine through you!
Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.
Taken from The HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION © 1973, 1978, by the International Bible Society.
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.
Taken from The HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION © 1973, 1978, by the International Bible Society.