Bible Story: Paul’s Letters

1. 2 Corinthians: Paul’s Defense of His True Apostleship

As we left off in our other section of this study, we had finished the book of 1 Corinthians. Let us turn now to 2 Corinthians, now that we’ve studied the life of Christ from another vantage point, and see Paul’s defense of his true apostleship, and also the reaction the people had and Paul’s reaction to them over the strong, straightforward first letter to the Corinthians, in which he told them to withdraw from that ungodly member. In 2 Corinthians 2, we find that man had been withdrawn from, and he had repented, and now Paul says to the brethren, receive him back lest he be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow. Church discipline is one of those lost dimensions of Christianity. And yet if the Bible teaches anything, it teaches us the necessity of discipline.

The whole book of Proverbs, Hebrews chapter 12, and many of the teachings of our Lord stress the necessity of discipline. And unless we have church discipline, we’re not the church of the Lord. There’s more in the New Testament on church discipline than on the Lord’s Supper. And we ought to stress everything the Bible teaches. What if I were to say we will not have the Lord’s Supper next Sunday? Someone would say, friend, we’ve got to have it if we’re the New Testament church. They had it in Acts 20, verse 7, every first day of the week. They gave of their means upon the first day of every week, 1 Corinthians 16, 1 and 2. So we’ll have to do that because the Bible teaches it. But the same Bible teaches church discipline.

And some brethren and many congregations are not willing to honor the Lord in that. The Bible tells us to withdraw from a heretic, one who teaches error, Titus 3, to withdraw from a busybody, someone that is lazy and will not do any work. 1 Thessalonians 5 and 2 Thessalonians 3, from those who walk disorderly, those who break ranks, those who forsake the assembly, Hebrews 10 25. And so the Bible teaches us in many places, especially First Corinthians chapters 5 and 6, and Romans 16, 17, to withdraw from ungodly members. This, of course, is the ultimate act of discipline, but sometimes it needs to be enacted if we would be faithful as the church of the Lord. In 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 3, he mentions the God of all comfort, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in all of our afflictions.

And in one of the most beautiful, dynamic verses of the whole Bible. In 2 Corinthians 2 14, we read, We’re always led in triumph in Christ. And then in 2 Corinthians 3 5, he says, Our sufficiency is not of ourselves, but of God. The book of 2 Corinthians is a very strong book. And chapter 3 tells us that we’re no longer under the law that Moses had when his face shone so gloriously had to veil it. Exodus 34 is the only occasion where Moses veiled his face. And that was when he came down from Mount Sinai with the tables of stone, the Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 4.13, Deuteronomy 5.15. And that was the law that began to fade away and that we’re no longer answerable to. It’s been annulled, abrogated, taken out of the way.

All of that found in 2 Corinthians 3. And we’re servants of a rather more glorious covenant, the new covenant. In 2 Corinthians 4, he said, But if our gospel be veiled, it is veiled to them that are lost, perfecting holiness in the sight of God. In 2 Corinthians 7 10, we read that godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. Repentance is a key word in the Bible, and I’m afraid many people do not understand it in context. In Matthew 3, John the baptizer wouldn’t even baptize people until they first brought forth fruit worthy of repentance. In Matthew chapter 21, our Lord taught a parable of two sons. A certain man had two sons. He said, Go into my field and work. One of them said, I will not.

But afterwards he repented and went. So repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. The goodness of God leads us to repentance, Romans 2.4. And godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. Repent and turn again that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3.19. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2.38. And so repentance is a necessary prerequisite in the process of salvation. And then in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, both chapters, we read of the contribution for the poor saints. And how did the Macedonians, though in deep poverty, first gave themselves to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 8:5. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift, 2 Corinthians 9 15. And in one of the beauty spots of the entire Bible, in fact, my favorite verse in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 8 9, we read, For ye know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though it were rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich. We’re taught in 2 Corinthians 9 6 and 7 to give generously, liberally, cheerfully, and not grudgingly. And when we show the proof of our love and grow in this grace also, and keep the promise we’ve made to God about what we would give, then we’re blessed, and God gives us more opportunity to get more wealth so that we can give more, so that his cause can go forward. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are two of the great chapters on giving, and it is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus said that in Acts 20, verse 35. And then in chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians, we learn that we’re unwise when we measure ourselves by ourselves, compare ourselves with ourselves.

For he that commendeth himself is not approved before God, but whom the Lord commendeth. Verse 18 of 2 Corinthians 10. In 2 Corinthians 11, we learn that Paul was such a servant of Christ that he endured intense persecution and daily was deeply concerned for the welfare of the congregations belonging to Christ. We read also of Satan who transforms himself and his servants into ministers of light and through subtlety leads men away from the simplicity of the gospel. But if we bring every thought into captivity to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10 5, we’ll be prepared. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 21, Paul said to the Corinthians, the carnal, worldly minded Corinthians, I’m afraid that when I come to you I will find some of you who have sinned already and have not repented.

2. Galatians: The Old Law Had Fulfilled Its Purpose

In 2 Corinthians 13 5, he said, Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves lest you be reprobate. And that means counterfeit coin, rejected anathema, unknown without the favor of God. As 1 Corinthians 16, 22 says, if any love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema marinatha. And those big words simply mean cut off without the favor of God at the coming of Jesus. And the last verse of 2 Corinthians verse 14 is the most beautiful benediction of the Bible. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. The book of Galatians, in six chapters, is a very systematic and logical book. It tells us that the old law had fulfilled its purpose.

In Galatians 2 21, Paul said, I do not frustrate the grace of God. If righteousness cometh by the law, Christ died in vain. And then also in Galatians 1 6 through 11, he said, I preach unto you the certified gospel. And even if an angel from heaven or one of the apostles wanted to change it, let him be anathema. You’re so fickle, he said to the Galatians, you’re so soon removed from him who called you into the grace of Christ, unto the gospel, and you’ve perverted the gospel of Christ. He said, I now preach that faith which I once destroyed. The gospel is so powerful it converted me. He said, Now don’t you change it? In Galatians 2, he said, I had to rebuke Peter to his face, for he was to be blamed.

He walked not uprightly according to the gospel. And then in chapter 3, he goes back to Genesis 22, 18. In Galatians 3, he quotes verbatim. God’s promised Abraham, in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice. Then he he applies the point that Christ is the fulfillment. Abraham’s seed which is Christ. And he says, Those who’ve been baptized into Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. In Galatians 4, 21 to 31, we have the famous allegory about two women and two mountains and two covenants, Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac, Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, the old covenant and the new. And he makes the point that we’re under the new covenant and tied to Abraham through Sarah and Isaac, and not through the bond slaves who were cast out.

The superiority of the new covenant is stressed in Galatians. And in Galatians chapter 5, he says there are some responsibilities in this new covenant to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. And he lists the works of the flesh, external and internal, sinful attitudes and actions. And then he says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, temperance, meekness. Against such there is no law. So the new covenant adds a dimension of depth, of spiritual attitude and motivation that is so rich and vital. And in Galatians 6, we have a story of the three bears. He says, Bear your own burdens, bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6.17, the stigma of Christ. Attach yourself to it. Be willing to suffer for his cause. Be a new creature in Christ. And the two key verses in Galatians, Galatians 6 14, but God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. And then Galatians 2.20, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet is not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live with the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. What a wonderful and glorious book the book of Galatians is.

3. Ephesians: God’s Eternal Purpose, Christ and the Church

That it is the most difficult book, verse for verse, because of its depth and richness. It tells of God’s eternal purpose, Christ and the church. In Ephesians 3 21, we read, Unto God be glory in the church, by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, amen. In Ephesians 1, we read of the power which God wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, and put all things under his feet, and hath given him Christ to be head over all things to the church, which is the fullness of him that filleth all in all. When you touch Christ, you touch the church.

If you’re in Christ, you’re in the church. Colossians will tell us of the Christ of the church, but Ephesians tells us of the church of Christ. In Ephesians chapter 2, we learn that we’re reconciled to God in the one body, the church. Men were alienated, separated from God because of sin from the Garden of Eden to the cross of Christ. But when Jesus shed his blood of the new covenant, Matthew 26, 28, he made it possible for men to be married to him, to be a part of his bride, Ephesians 5, John 3, 28 to 30. He is the bridegroom, and the church is his bride, and he has but one bride. The Bible stresses that he is not a spiritual polygamist. In Ephesians chapter 2, we learn we’re reconciled to God by the death of Christ, reconciled in the one body of the church.

When men say the church is not essential, they’re saying Christ is not essential. In Acts 8:1, Paul persecuted the church. But in Acts 9 4, when Christ spoke to him, he said, Why do you persecute me? So to oppose the church is to oppose the Christ. In Ephesians chapter 3, he tells us in verses 9 through 11 that the church was embraced in God’s eternal purpose, but now has been established that we might show to the principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God. First Timothy 3 15 tells us the church is to make known to the world the Word of God. Ephesians 3 9 through 11 tells us the church is to make known to principalities and powers in heavenly places that we are doing the will of God.

What a challenging point. In Ephesians 4, we learn of the oneness, the unique nature, the possessive nature that God holds over the church. Our God is a jealous God. He wants us to have no other gods before him, Exodus 21 to 3. And when he established the church of the Lord, he wants us to be members of that spiritual body, the body of Christ, over which he rules his head, that in all things Christ might have the preeminence. Colossians 1 verse 18. But in Ephesians 4, he says, There is one body, one baptism, one Lord, one faith, one hope. All of these passages stressing the unique oneness of God’s divine platform for unity. We’re to all speak the same things, being of the same mind, the same judgment, no divisions among us.

First Corinthians 1 10. For Jesus prayed that all of his followers might be one, even as he and the Father were united, that the world might believe that God had sent him. John 17, verses 20 and 21. There is yet but one body, 1 Corinthians 12, 20, with one mind and one mouth, glorify God. Romans 15 verses 6 through 9. And then in Ephesians chapter 5, we learn that the church is the bride of Christ, and we’re to be in subjection to him. The church is subject to Christ, we’re to submit ourselves to him. We’re to be pure and holy without spot or blemish or any such thing, and that we’re to re realize and remember the close affinity, the tie that exists between Christ and His church, even as with the bridegroom and the bride.

4. Philippians: A Letter of Praise and Commendation

Second Corinthians 11 2, Paul said, I have espoused you as a chaste virgin unto Christ. And that’s the purity that we’re to always enjoy upon the body of Christ. And then in Ephesians 6, he tells us that the church of the Lord is the army of God. And we take the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and we fight against principalities and powers in heavenly places. That we are strong in the Lord and the power of his might to withstand the devil, and an added dimension to this is the dimension of prayer. And so the book of Ephesians tells us of God’s eternal purpose, Christ and the church. The book of Philippians is a beautiful little four-chapter book that is a letter of praise and commendation.

In Acts 16, the church of the Lord was established in Philippi with a very notable beginning. The nucleus of that church was powerful. They sent once and again to Paul’s necessities. They had fellowship with him in the gospel from the first day to the last. Philippians can be set forth in this simple outline. Philippians chapter 1, Christ is the purpose of my life. For to me to live is Christ. Philippians 1 21. Chapter 2, verse 5, Christ is the pattern of my life. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ. Chapter 3, Christ is the prize of my life. I press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And then chapter 4, Christ is the power of my life.

I can do all things through Christ, who empowers me, who gives me strength. Philippians 4 13. And in this great book, Paul said, I long to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. I’m set for the defense of the gospel. We’re not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. We’re to practice what we preach, Philippians 1 27. We’re to love one another and look not to our own things, but to help with other people’s needs. Chapter 2 1 through 4. And then he tells of Timothy, who is like no other man who puts the kingdom of God first. And then in Philippians 3 he says, There are enemies of the cross of Christ. But we’re to know crash and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings.

We’re to give up everything that was gained for us in the world in sinful pursuits and be found in Christ. For our citizenship is in heaven. We want to magnify God in our bodies that he may be seen more clearly because of us. And then in Philippians 4 he said, Rejoice in the Lord always again. I say rejoice. You can have the peace that passeth understanding. Whatsoever state you’re in, you can be content. Our God will supply all your needs. And finally he closes by saying, There are even saints in Caesar’s household. Philippians 4 22. So while bound and guarded by the Praetorian guard, he was still able, through the power of the gospel and a wonderful life, the Apostle Paul was, to convert people and cause there to be saints in Caesar’s household.

What a great and marvelous book is the book of Philippians.