Year Two, October 16

What Agreement Has the Temple of God With Idols?1

2 Corinthians 6

1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (The apostle wanted everyone who heard the gracious word of God to receive eternal life. He also had a strong desire for those who had truly been saved to be increasingly fruitful; so it would be obvious to others that God’s grace had changed their lives and moral values. No pastor can be satisfied unless grace is clearly producing appropriate changes in the lives of those who professed to have received it.)

3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Dr. Hawker, himself a minister of the Church of England, has beautifully said: “What a lovely portrait the apostle has drawn of a minister of Jesus! How totally unlike in every way from the rich living off so many in the higher positions in the church. Who would have thought, when Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, that a time would come when pomp and grandeur would be considered acceptable additions to the lives of priests of God! A great part of what the apostle said about recommending ‘ourselves in every way,’ ‘as servants of God,’ is done away with. How is it possible in our day to know whose servants these men really are? Where are the beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger in their lives?

“But the apostle has sketched some of the traits of ministers that can still be found. ‘Through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise, as impostors, and yet true, as unknown, and yet well known.’ There are found throughout the world and in every age, those who treat the distinctive truths of the gospel with hatred and contempt. They will discredit the preachers of those truths with slander and disapproval. At the same time some will still honor God’s messengers. These are the highly taught few who God the Holy Spirit teaches.

“Reader, learn from this portrait of the apostle’s that was drawn under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Form your opinion of the Lord’s ministers, not by outward show, but by the inward enlightenment of the heart, and the blessing of God on their labors, both in word and doctrine.”2

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (Either in marriage or any other close partnership.) For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

The great duty of believers in all ages is to keep their reputation as a separate people, no longer “conformed to this  world.”3 May this family never fall into worldly fads, amusements or activities, but be known for following the Lord in every way. This is how we will be especially dear to our heavenly Father.

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¹ 2 Corinthians 6:16

² From Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary. Robert Hawker (1753-1827). A priest in the Church of England.

³ Romans 12:2