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Sorrow and Joy
Sorrow and Joy
September 21, 2025 – Sorrow and Joy – 2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6 is a call to live as ministers of God by separating from unbelievers, demonstrating integrity, and embracing trials, all while having an open heart to God’s grace and the ministry of the gospel. Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they are God’s fellow-workers, called to be Christ’s ambassadors and not to receive God’s grace in vain. He contrasts the suffering and opposition he and his associates endure with the spiritual power and true character they demonstrate, urging the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and to God’s salvation.
Ambassadors for Christ (vv. 1-2): Paul encourages the Corinthians to accept God’s grace and not to receive it in vain. He uses the Isaiah quote, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you” (v. 2), urging them to make the most of the opportunity for salvation and to be receptive to God’s work.
2 Corinthians 6
New International Version
6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[c]
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[d]
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”[e]
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By Clinton Methodist Church
4.4
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Sorrow and Joy
September 21, 2025 – Sorrow and Joy – 2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6 is a call to live as ministers of God by separating from unbelievers, demonstrating integrity, and embracing trials, all while having an open heart to God’s grace and the ministry of the gospel. Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they are God’s fellow-workers, called to be Christ’s ambassadors and not to receive God’s grace in vain. He contrasts the suffering and opposition he and his associates endure with the spiritual power and true character they demonstrate, urging the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and to God’s salvation.
Ambassadors for Christ (vv. 1-2): Paul encourages the Corinthians to accept God’s grace and not to receive it in vain. He uses the Isaiah quote, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you” (v. 2), urging them to make the most of the opportunity for salvation and to be receptive to God’s work.
2 Corinthians 6
New International Version
6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[c]
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[d]
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”[e]
Tags: