OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS -- Tomorrow:
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
Devotion 43 of 44
". . .when your obedience is fulfilled."
Other versions read, "whenever your obedience is complete" (NASB), "once your obedience is complete" (NIV), "when your obedience shall be made full" (ASV), "after you have made it clear that you are completely under His control" (BBE), "once you have given your complete obedience" (NJB), "after the rest of you have become loyal and obedient" (NLT), "after I have first used them (spiritual weaponry) on you yourselves, and you surrender to Christ" (LIVING), "after you have completely obeyed" (IE), "as soon as ever you as a Church have fully shown your obedience" (WEYMOUTH), "when once your submission has been put beyond question" (MONTGOMERY), "when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete" (AMPLIFIED), and "once we are sure of your obedience" (PHILLIPS).
I find it exceedingly difficult to conceive of the average church having even the slightest tolerance for these words. Rare, indeed, is the person who can even think in terms of "fulfilled," or "complete," obedience. Yet, that is precisely what is referenced in this text. It is not a suggestion, but an expectation.
An obedience that is "fulfilled" is one that is complete in every particular, carried through to the end, so that nothing that must be done is left undone. The obedience to which Paul refers pertains to the subjects addressed in his first letter, as well as the issues mentioned in this letter. A representative review of the areas in which their obedience was to be perfected is noteworthy.
1. The problem of division (1:10-17).
2. Doubting Paul's Apostleship (2:1-16; 4:1-21; 9:1-27).
3. The presence of carnality (1 Cor 3:1-4).
4. The presence of a fornicator in the church (5:1-13).
5. Suing one another in the civil courts (6:1-8).
6. Misconceptions concerning marriage (7:1-17).
7. Inconsideration of weaker brethren (8:1-13).
8. Inconsistent manners of life (10:1-33).
9. Intolerable behavior in the assembly (11:1-19).
10. Abuse of the Lord's table (11:10-34).
11. Corrupt views of spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40).
12. Denying the resurrection (15:1-58).
13. Failure to gather a collection they had committed to provide for the poor saints in Jerusalem (16:1-5).
Paul expected the Corinthians to correct these areas of deficiency. Newness of life demands such a correction. The New Covenant provides an environment and benefits that make such corrections doable. It is dangerous beyond description for any person to live in a spiritual state that is known to be wrong. As James well said, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
All of these issues had been produced by incorrect thinking, and incorrect thinking is always the result of being at a distance from the Lord. It is not possible to willingly be in the presence of the Lord, and yet remain wrong in our thinking. As it is written, "For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light" (Psa 36:9). That is, when God is seen correctly, everything else assumes the proper perspective. That is precisely why Jesus said, "If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him" (John 11:9-10).
Therefore, Paul has shed Divine light on the circumstances that needed to be addressed in Corinth. With candor he has informed them what he seeks – their complete and unwavering obedience. Now he awaits their reaction, fully prepared to deal with any disobedience that remains, having an earnest preference to be gentle. His aim is to recover them from the snare of the devil, perfect them in the faith, and ready them to stand before the Lord without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. But for that to happen, sin cannot be allowed to remain among them.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that newness of life involves a certain hatred for sin. I have found that to be a protection of inestimable value.