THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE Titus had reported to Paul the progress made by the Corinthians, affirming they had responded well his first epistle (2 Cor 7:6-1). Having corrected many of their manners, the Corinthians were now ready for some substantive teaching – more to the heart of the matter. Notice the lofty subjects that are expounded in this Epistle. Nothing like these are found in the first letter. Each of the following was presented within the context of spiritual reasoning and the good promises of God. -- Tomorrow:
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
Devotion 4 of 33
01. Divine comfort (2 Cor 1:3-7).
02. The uniqueness of the New Covenant (2 Cor 3:1-18).
03. How God initially changed us (2 Cor 4:6).
04. The logic of suffering (2 Cor 4:7-18).
05. The reality and objective of the resurrection body (2 Cor 5:1-10).
06. What God accomplished in the death of Christ, and its effects upon the tender heart (2 Cor 5:14-21).
07. The day of salvation (2 Cor 6:1-2).
08. How true ministers are approved by God (2 Cor 6:3-10).
09. The reason why the Corinthians had not made appropriate advancement (2 Cor 6:11-13) .
10. The logic behind avoiding an unequal yoke with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-18).
11. Why the Macedonians excelled in their contributions to the poor saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:5).
12. The reasoning behind being faithful in contributing to the saints (2 Cor 9:1-15).
13. The nature of our spiritual weaponry is declared (2 Cor 10:1-6).
14. Satan's approach to deceiving the saints (2 Cor 11:13-15).
15. Paul shares his visions and revelations, and the result of being given to see such things (2 Cor 12:1-10).
Notice the substantive manner in which Paul writes in this letter. He is more at the heart of the matter, having to deal less with flawed human conduct and misconceptions. The things of which he speaks are more universal and less provincial. Surely no one is willing to confirm that divisions, carnality, fornication, suing one another at the law, and questioning Paul's apostleship are issues with which every church must deal. Without exception, such things arise from outside the New Covenant, and independently of Christ Jesus.
There is no moral chasm in the Gospel itself, or within the New Covenant, that allows for the entrance of vain imagination, moral debauchery, or causes divisions among the brethren. Such things have nothing whatever to do with Christ Jesus, the Gospel, or the New Covenant. None of them are integral to the abundant life Jesus came to give. They are all expressions of the flesh and evidence of Satanic intrusion. It is not possible to live with an acute awareness of Christ and be found with such traits.
Apostolic doctrine EMPHASIZES what has been brought to us through Christ, not what excludes us from those benefits. That is, the thrust of the Apostolic message deals with the Person and accomplishments of Jesus, their association with the purpose of God, and their availability to those who believe. When the professed church becomes "carnal," it has moved outside of the perimeter in which these things can be understood. The design of rebuke and corrective teaching is to bring wayward souls within the sphere where the benefits of redemption can be realized.
It is with these things in mind that we now come to Paul's explanation of Israel's unbelief. The relevance of this subject is that this explains the failure to discern the truth on the part of anyone who has been identified with the Lord. Failure will not be traced to mere ignorance, although such a condition does exist within the professed church. However, it is always a shame when it does, for the New Covenant includes the people knowing the Lord – that is, this is what is ministered to those who are in Christ Jesus. If this has not occurred, it can only be because the people are deceived, or in some way have quenched and grieved the Spirit of God.
God was longsuffering with Israel, giving them a Law that identified their deficiencies, and a sacrificial system that could assist them to maintain some sensitivity to their condition. However, even though similar conditions may be found within the church, they are no longer tolerable. The sin of the world has been removed, the devil has been destroyed, and principalities and powers have been spoiled, or plundered (Heb 9:26; 2:14; Col 2:15). A reconciliation has been made, the heavens have been opened to us, and the Holy Spirit of promise has been given to us. Blindness and ignorance are now out of order.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the marvelous light into which You have called me.