Examine

Paul had founded the church in Corinth on his first journey and like many churches there were problems and Corinth was no exception.  There were unrepentant sinners there that had to be confronted and even dealt with, if need be.  It is strange to think about a church that had so many gifts but still be involved in so many different types of sin, like the list that Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”

Seems like the wickedness in Corinth had worked its way into the church and Paul would have to deal with it, if there were people there that didn’t repent of their sins.  Paul didn’t like to use his authority to correct the church because he loved the people, so he sent this letter ahead of time so that the guilty people could repent and he could be encouraged by their faithfulness.  The following church disciplines could take place if Paul returned a third time and found some that hadn’t repented:

1     -    He could confront them publicly and denounce their behavior.  

2     -   He could have called them before the church leaders.

3     -   He could have excommunicated them from the church.

Read what it says in 2 Corinthians 13:5-11, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pay to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”     

But like I said before, Paul loved the church and his purpose was not to harm them but to build them up in the faith and to see them being faithful to their Lord Jesus Christ and His body if they were truly in the faith.  When you love people you have to confront them at times.  The only way that some people will deal with their sins is to be confronted with them in love and compassion, the way that Jesus did it.  

Paul’s final farewell in verse 11 of chapter 13 is what every church should be like, if not the church isn’t functioning like it should be.  There are many conflicts in our churches today and unless they are dealt with there will never be unity, so they have to be dealt with in love, patience, compassion and understanding, but they must be dealt with.  This may take sharing, communicating and caring.  There are other approaches that will just exasperate the situation like legalism, shoving things down people’s throats, like certain laws and Bible verses and also by just ignoring them or isolating them, gossiping about them so no one else will want anything to do with them either.  It is very important that we deal with any sin that is in our lives and repent, and then we can be the body of Christ like we should be.

Something to think about!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours with His peace, love, joy, health and happiness!!  Ps don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!