MPC, 1st July 2001.2 Corinthians 2:17-4:6 - "Real Diamons are Forever"
Stuart Atkinson MPC, 1st July 2001.
On the 11th of July 1999 in the front row of the church, just there, I got down on my knees and asked Cathy to marry me. Fortunately she said OK, so I hadn't wasted the five bucks I spent on the engagement ring the week before. Now this ring was one of those Crazy Clarks rings you know the ones - they look like the real thing - until you get close. It certainly didn't fool Cathy for long, so it got replaced pretty quickly with the genuine article. I started with the fake, then I moved to the real thing.
Well, we see in this passage that it's the opposite thing that is happening in the church at Corinth. When Paul FIRST went there, he brought them the GENUINE gospel, the one that made them Christians in the first place, but others are coming along claiming to be apostles and they're preaching the Crazy Clark's version of the gospel which isn't anything like the real thing. They've been sucked in. but the amazing thing is - they're not worried - they'll listen to anybody
Have a look with me at 2 Cor 11:2. The Corinthians will listen to anybody.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
They should be sticking to the gospel Paul taught them in the first place but they are being led astray and they either don't know it or they don't care!
In a way though you've got to feel for them, don't you. I mean Paul is not there holding their hand. How are they supposed to know who to listen to? Who is the genuine article? And for that matter, Paul is not here TODAY either, so how do WE know we're not hearing about a different Jesus or a different spirit, or a different gospel? How can we tell the genuine article from the fake? I mean, we have all sorts of stuff coming at us. Just turn on Bris 31 - you can pick you evangelist, I saw a talkback Nun the other day. Then there are people preaching from the pulpit here, there are lots of different churches, there's bible study leaders, friends, relatives and the list goes on. So how DO we know who to listen to, WHEN we've got the real thing?
Different people have got different ideas don't they? I went to a camp once and there were two speakers. Lets call them Bill and Ted. My friend said to me "I can tell Bill is filled with the Holy Spirit - it's OK to listen to him" - I said 'how can you tell?" He said - 'Because he didn't use notes when he preached"!! Easy! Is that it - Is that how you tell? Simple isn't it! I'm in trouble then, aren't I?
Now when you hold the fake ring that I got Cathy next to the genuine article, its not very hard to pick the difference between the two. I mean the gold colour rubs off the band on the fake, the other one's real gold. The real one actually fits Cathy's finger and the other one turns her finger green.
And Paul is saying pretty much the same here. Its not that hard to tell the difference, and he goes on to give us five ways to tell if you've got the real thing:-
Firstly, if you follow on in verse 17, Paul says you can pick the GENUINE gospel preacher, because he's NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY. Have a look what he says. Because this is his first distinction between himself and the FALSE TEACHERS who turn up on the doorstep. Verse 17, he says:-
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.
Paul's great boast is that he was able to bring the gospel to the Cor without cost, that he worked and paid for his own keep, and therefore brought the gospel free of charge. Not that it is wrong to be paid for preaching the gospel - Paul says it's quite RIGHT to do that. But that in his case, not taking any money was evidence that he was sincere, evidence that his motives were pure. And he goes on to say this… He says,
On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
Well, what about you? Have you seen anyone who profits from the gospel? It's hard not to isn't it - I saw one show on TV where their great ministry goal (that God had told them about) was that they would buy the latest Lear jet to get around the country and that way people would see how great God was and how he blessed faithful people. And guess who is paying for it - you and I - if we get sucked in.
It may not just be a monetary profit that is a danger here. What about the power trip from being the guy standing way up above everybody else, wearing the special clothes, getting to sit in the special seat, getting the respect from the position of authority. The motive of the person is very important Paul says, they have to be sincere.
And so, when you see ministers who are generally not paid all that well, and in fact many who take large pay cuts to enter ministry from their secular jobs. It's good sign of that sincerity that he talks about.
Here's the next point. And that is, that in a way, the RESULTS of true gospel preaching speak for themselves. Especially if you look at what's happened in Corinth. Have a look at the start of chapter 3. It seems the Corinthians are easily impressed. Bring a good letter of introduction that makes you sound impressive, and you're in. Bring a degree from a good university, you're fine. Look what he says, Paul says DID I DO THAT? No, I didn't. Chapter 3 verse 1:
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
But Paul says, I'll tell you what I do have though, it's a letter from Christ - and it's WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR LIVES. From when I was with you before. And the Corinthians should have KNOWN that from when Paul was with them. Preaching the GOSPEL THAT CHANGED THEIR LIVES. Look what ho goes on to say. He says, Ch3, v2
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
So instead of looking for bits of paper or outward things, Paul says look at the results. Look at the lives of the people they teach. They should be changed. It should be obvious.
So watch for profiteers, and look for changed lives, what else?
If you pick it up with me in verse six. He's talking about another characteristic of the true Gospel ministry. Have a look and see if you can spot it
3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The true message, the genuine article… comes from the SPIRIT and gives life, rather than THE LAW which brings only condemnation and death. That's a good test to use on what you're hearing.
See it seems some of the Jews in the crowd were trying to mix this new ministry with the some laws from the old one. But is that a problem for us?
Chuck Swindoll, an American author who some of you may have read or heard on the radio recently wrote in his book The Grace Awakening that he thinks one of the biggest problems of the church in America today is legalism that kills the grace of God people are being given and trying to keep laws and rules that enslave, instead of the freedom talked about by Paul.
And I think he's right. You SEE IT HAPPEN among Christians here. So be careful about people who load you down with a whole heap of rules that merely point out sin, but don't do anything about the consequences of it.: "for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom".
Well, what about the glory Paul talks about from v9 (and this is the next point). The Corinthians have been listening to people who are outwardly impressive, they look good and sound good, they've got great references and they strut around expecting to be treated like royalty. Paul doesn't fit that description does he. He's a labourer - makes tents. Not very impressive to look at, maybe a bit grubby - and by the end of the day, he'd SMELL pretty ordinary as well. Would you listen to him? In fact, he says he is not even very eloquent.
The Corinthians want someone who looks like Moses did when he received the law, glowing, majestic. Surely someone sent by God should have some glory. You can hear them saying come on Paul, you say you're sent by God, where's your glory? Where's your sparkle?
And there's plenty of stuff that we can chase that's all sparkle, and no substance - what about all the ads on the radio and the TV shows with miracles, healings, come and get a touch from God! Thunder and lightning look good don't they. We don't want something that looks like the cat dragged in.
But Paul says that THERE IS A GLORY in the GOSPEL. And the glory is an inward one. If you read the story of Moses, when he came out of the tent his face was SHINING. But it didn't last. THE GLORY PAUL HAS is far better. Because it lasts. Have a look at verse 10.
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts.
The people who followed Moses didn't reflect God's glory, in fact their minds were made dull. Their hearts were veiled, "even to this day, and the veil is only removed in Christ".
So, the things that seem to glorify us outwardly are temporary and fading, while the inward change is something that is ever increasing. Which is what he goes on to say:
18 And we, who with unveiled face all reflect the Lord's glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
So when you're checking for the genuine gospel, when you're checking that diamond… remember that the SPARKLE NOW isn't nearly as important as the SPARKLE later on.
So here's the last test. Number 5 Watch out for secret and shameful ways, deception and distortion of the word of God. And instead look for people who preach the truth plainly, so that it can be understood by everyone(4:2.) No deception, no distortion of the truth, plain, clear message. And he even spells out what the plain, clear, message should be. from Verse 5. (and this is the big one)
4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
So if JESUS is not central to the preaching you are hearing, you're probably looking at a fake.
And Paul and his team will do anything so that JESUS is the one that is seen. You can see it there, they're hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. They carry around the death of Jesus in their body. They're LIVING ADVERTISEMENTS of the CROSS. Why - well I'm sure it's not just a lifestyle choice - its so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed. Paul says,
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
Which is VERY different from the sort of pretend SUPER APOSTLES who are promoting themselves and their own glory.
So there you have it. Paul's crash course for ministers from God. How to pick the genuine article from the fake.
You see, unlike a really good diamond outwardly the true gospel and its ministers may not necessarily be all that attractive, Paul talks about jars of clay as you'll hear Gary talk about next week. He says to look for sincere people who faithfully preach plainly about the Lord Jesus, and who model the sacrificial servanthood of Christ. And when there are all sorts of other good looking options out there, it may be difficult not to be sucked in. When you are looking for a church, is that what you look for, or are you tempted by things like a great music program, a good looking building. Maybe a church that offers some of the glory now. Paul says that the glory of the true gospel is a surpassing glory, better than anything that the world can offer, better than the law, better than good looks or being popular. Don't settle for a fake. Make sure you've got the real thing.