In our message, BEING SHREWD ABOUT DECEPTION (2 Cor. 2:1-17), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.).
Paul continues to explain why he postponed his intended visit (2 Cor. 1:16; 2:1-4, etc.). It was because he had “made up [his] own mind” not to come to them again in sorrow (2 Cor. 2:1 NET). We see here that the apostle had a “painful visit” to Corinth which then precipitated a severe letter written to the church before Second Corinthians was penned (2 Cor. 2:4). Paul did not want to write this letter, but it was necessary after the strong confrontation he had had with a brother in the Lord opposing the Word of God through him during that visit (2 Cor. 2:2-4; Prov. 27:5-6; Rom. 12:9, etc.).
Paul sent this strong letter to them with “Titus, and… [another] brother” (2 Cor. 12:18) and anxiously awaited word from Titus as to how things were going in Corinth (2 Cor. 2:13). So burdened was Paul by the condition of the church in Corinth that we see he actually left work undone that God had given him in Troas for sharing the gospel there (2 Cor. 2:12-13). But word did apparently come to Paul when he met up with Titus in Macedonia and it was a good report (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:13-14). The church in Corinth had disciplined the offending brother and that man even turned back to the Lord! (2 Cor. 2:6). Paul then put a test before the church in Second Corinthians here (2 Cor. 2:9) to now do what the Bible says by fully receiving and forgiving the brother who had caused the apostle and them so much harm (2 Cor. 2:5). This was for their good and also for the good of the repentant brother to keep him from being “swallowed up… [in] sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7-8; Matt. 6:14-15, etc.). Paul led the way in this forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:10) and said failure to do so would result in being “exploited by Satan” who works through bitterness and unforgiveness to divide and destroy God’s work in the church (2 Cor. 2:11 NET; John 10:10; Eph. 4:27-32; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.).
The good news from Titus encouraged Paul in a dark time in his life when it, humanly speaking, looked like everything was failing around him (2 Cor. 2:13a). We must grasp God is at work even when we do not see it (Rom. 8:28; Eph.1:11, etc.). Paul was encouraged in the Lord and burst out in praise! (2 Cor. 2:14). Victory belongs to Jesus Christ and all those who are His (2 Cor. 2:15-16). Using the image of a Roman Triumph, the Holy Spirit reminds us of the truth that, by grace through faith, each of God’s children are “the fragrance of Christ” in this world (2 Cor. 2:15a). To those who do not know Christ we are the aroma of death (2 Cor. 2:16a), but to those who have trusted in Jesus we are the sweet smell of truth, freedom, and life (2 Cor. 2:16b). The Word again shows us Paul’s motives were pure as he rested in the truth that Christ is his sufficiency (2 Cor. 2:16-17; 3:5). We, likewise, are to daily make “our sufficiency… God” walking with Him in the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:5; 1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:18; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). *For more information on this message, please see SBFC’s February 16, 2025 sermon above.