Coming in for a Landing

I. Introduction
A. One more sermon
1. We’re coming in for a landing! Next week we actually touch down.
B. Paul is writing this letter to help them prepare for his upcoming visit.
1. The Corinthians are struggling with who the real Jesus is, and what the true gospel is, and who the true apostles are. In particular, they are struggling over whether Paul is a true apostle or not.
2. One of the traits of Paul’s ministry which made it hard for them to accept his apostleship was his weakness. Up to this point, he has been meek, humble and mild-mannered with them in person.
C. 2Corinthians 13:8–10 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
II. Explanation
A. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
1. This verse explains why he said what he said in the previous verse (v.7).
2. In 2Cor.13:7 Paul mentions that he “may appear to have met the test” or that he “may seem to have failed.” He’s talking about their evaluation of him as an apostle. Passing the test would mean that the Corinthians conclude he is a true apostle.
3. But notice his wording. He doesn’t say he may pass the test or fail the test, but rather that he may APPEAR to pass the test or SEEM to fail the test.
4. And to explain why he says it this way, he add this in v.8: “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.”
5. In other words, Paul is saying that whether he appears to the Corinthians to pass the test or fail the test of being a true apostle, that doesn’t actually make Paul a true or a false apostle. What really matters is what Christ says. If Christ says that Paul is an apostle, no one can change that. That is the truth, and no one can change it by disagreeing with it. Ultimately whether or not Paul is a true apostle doesn’t rest on what the Corinthians think.
6. Ultimately, no one can do anything against the truth. The truth stands, even if everybody in the world disagrees with it.
7. Jesus was the Son of God, and the people couldn’t change that. They said he was of the devil. They said He was a sinner. They said He was a drunkard. But they couldn’t ultimately do anything against the truth of who He was.
8. And that’s the point Paul makes here about himself as an apostle.
B. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
1. This is another follow-up to v.7. He could be saying one of two things:
2. Paul may be saying what he has said before, that he is willing to be weak if it helps them to grow strong in the Lord, that he rejoices in being weak because that is how God’s power works, similar to what he said earlier in 2Cor.4:12: “Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”
3. Or perhaps this means that Paul will be glad if he doesn’t have to be strong during his visit. In other words, “I like it when I can be weak because you are strong in the Lord. I like it when I don’t have to roll out the heavy artillery against the opposition. I like it when I don’t have to pull rank & demonstrate my apostolic power. I would much prefer to come in the meekness and gentleness of Christ rather than as a disciplinarian with a rod in his hand. I’m not trying to pick a fight; I’m sending this letter hoping there will be no battle at all.”
4. Either way, Paul is repeating something he’s already said. And either way, his final point is clear: “Your restoration is what we pray for.” Our being strong or weak is not what’s important. You getting back on track is what really matters to us. We just want you to be right with Christ.
C. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
1. Again, Paul tells the Corinthians that though he is willing to come with power and severity, he really wants to avoid that. He wants a happy reunion, which brings about healing/reconciliation.
2. Likely, this is also a defense of the severity of the letter he wrote before this. He wrote sharply – so that he would not have to act sharply. If they are offended at anything in his severe letter, they need to remember that he is trying to prevent another painful clash and reopen old wounds.
III. There is so much helpful application in these verses!
A. Let’s begin with v.8. Nothing can ultimately be done against the truth, only for the truth.
1. People can say that Christianity is just another religion, but that doesn’t make it true.
2. People can say that Jesus is mankind’s greatest enemy. That doesn’t make it true.
3. You can erase Jesus from the history books, but you can’t erase Him from history.
4. You can say we evolved by accident from slime, but that doesn’t make it true.
5. People can believe God doesn’t exist, and even think they have proven that God doesn’t exist. That doesn’t make it true.
6. You can leave God out of your life, but that doesn’t mean He is suddenly gone.
7. A person can think he doesn’t need God, but that doesn’t make it true.
8. People can conclude that the Bible’s sexual ethics are ridiculous and no longer in effect. But it’s not true.
9. A man can say he’s a woman, or even think he’s a woman, but that doesn’t change the truth.
10. People can made up their own rules and ignore God’s rules, but that doesn’t really change anything.
11. The truth is the truth. The truth cannot be tampered with.
12. There is no mixing board for Jesus where we can adjust Him according to our preferences and tastes. He is who He is — and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13:8).
13. Nothing can ultimately be done against the truth, only for the truth.
B. Now, let’s go to v.9, where Paul says he’s glad to be weak as long as the Corinthians are strong.
1. We haven’t finished the letter, so we haven’t finished with Paul’s expressions of love for the Corinthians. They extend to the very last verse.
2. In this letter, Paul has been modeling the love of Christ, love which he describes in 2Cor.8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” This is the example Paul was modeling in his love for the Corinthians.
3. You know how a model puts on an outfit and struts down the runway to show it off.
a. Well, Paul talks a lot about what kind of clothes we’re supposed to be modeling, & not modeling.
b. He tells us to put off our old self, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth, and put on the new self, with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, a self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness, and being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:8–12)
c. We’re no longer to be consumed with external adorning, but with the hidden person of the heart, and with good works. (1Timothy 2:9–11; 1Peter 3:3–4)
d. Ultimately, we are to put on Christ (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27).
e. In 2Corinthians, Paul has been modeling Christ. And inviting us to do the same.
4. As he says in Phil.2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
5. Why in the world would someone adopt this lifestyle of preferring others and spending and being spent for others (2Cor.12:15)? Because love is not just a Christian duty. It is a place of blessedness. It is a place of joy and internal health.
a. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Matt.5:7)
b. 2Cor.9:6-8 “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
c. Typically we just think of ourselves. We are out to be blessed. We are out to get.
d. But the Bible tells us that those who give are the ones who get the most. (Luke 6:38)
e. Luke 18:29-30 “There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Do we believe that?
6. How it pleases our Father when we embrace this! How it brings delight to His heart! Why? Because when someone begins to really love, it means that that person finally gets how much he is loved.
7. Of course, we’ll never be able to do this unless we come to grips with how much we are loved.
a. Psalm 139:17–18 “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.”
8. Paul doesn’t really care what people think about him because he knows how much he’s loved by Christ. And so he just wants others to know that as well.
9. Just like He did with Paul, Christ calls His people and moves them to not just care about their own little lives, but to reach out to others in His name.
10. Being a pastor: Is it all about my career? all about my name?
a. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I began my ministry very much hoping to ascend to pastoral stardom. But God has graciously chiseled away at my earthly ambitions, and taught me that the important thing in ministry is not how others think of you, but whether the people are growing strong in the Lord.
b. Like Paul, a pastor ought to be able to say, “I don’t really care so much what folks think of me, I just want to help my flock walk with Jesus.”
C. And now, v.10, where Paul says he was given authority for building up and not for tearing down.
1. Many in our society really don’t like the concept of authority today — that is, until they’re in a position of authority, then suddenly they believe in it.
2. Some people have no category in their minds for the use of authority which is not for the sake of the one in authority but for the sake of the one who is under authority. Therefore, they are against all authority. And, I guess it’s understandable; there is much abuse of authority. Jesus told us that’s the way it is in the world (Matt.20:25-28).
3. But Christians ought to have a different idea of authority than the world, for the Bible teaches that authority is God-given (Romans 13:1-7; John 19:11).
4. The Bible also teaches that God gives authority so that it can be used for the good of those under the authority. And so it was with Paul. He knew his authority as an apostle was given to Him by Christ, and that it was not given for his own sake, but for the sake of the ones under his authority, that he might build them up and not tear them down.
5. If we have authority, it has been given to us from above. And whatever authority we’ve been given is for the purpose of building up and not tearing down.
a. Ephesians 6:8–9 (paraphrase) “Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is in authority or under it. Those of you in authority should also remember this, and stop your threatening, knowing that He who is both their authority and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”
6. And one more thing we learn here: Not only does a godly authority exercise his authority to build up and not tear down, but he regularly reminds those under his authority of that fact.
7. And even when a person is called upon to exercise authority in a strong/severe way, he must do it as one who doesn’t enjoy doing it, as Paul shows us here.
a. There are times when we must do unpleasant things, things which should not be enjoyed. Church discipline is one. Rebuking a brother is another. Fighting a war, hurting another person, etc.
b. But even when we must do these things, they must be done out of love and for edification, not for destruction. This must never change.
c. Those who enjoy "knocking heads" are not being Christ-like.
D. The way Paul presents his visit is remarkably parallel to Christ Himself. Jesus is coming again as well, and – like Paul – when He comes He will not spare the unrepentant. Though absent from us now (as Paul was from the Corinthians), He has written to us so that He might not need to be severe with us when He returns.
1. Now is the time of Christ’s kindness, patience and generosity. But the day of His wrath is coming.
2. Only a fool would not take Christ’s threats seriously.
3. Jesus is going to come. It’s just a matter of when. And the question each person must face is whether they want to be embraced by the gracious, forgiving Jesus, or whether they want to be confronted by the angry, vengeful Jesus (Rev.6:15-17).
4. Don’t take His kindness and patience for granted. The offer will end, the door will be closed, and it will be too late. “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3