Through this message, Paul addresses the false teachers and the small remnant of believers who were still undiscerning regarding who was the real apostle to the gentiles.

Was it the Apostle Paul, or was it one of the Jewish teachers from Jerusalem? Was it the one who was first to bring them the gospel of grace, or was it the ones who had infiltrated the Corinthian church with claims of superiority due to their entertaining speaking ability and their impressive physical appearance? 

God’s kingdom transcends all constraints. As the supreme spiritual being and creator, He is not dependent on any of the commodities, such as time, space, and matter. He doesn’t need more time, or more space, and He can work with nothing. His existence is eternal, exceeding the limitations of the material universe. God is not demanding our time. He is not asserting that we make space for Him, nor is He interested in our substance. He’s looking for the faith that transcends natural thinking. The question is: Will we trust Him?

The motivation of our heart is what matters to our Heavenly Father. Are we giving to give, or are we giving to get? Are we giving to honor the leading of the Holy Spirit, or are we giving to make ourselves look good to God or others? Are we giving to help others in ministry or in necessities, or are we giving to make sure God doesn't cause our car or refrigerator to break down? God does not punish His kids for not giving financially into an offering plate, but neither can He bless and increase us the way He would like to, if we are operating from a heart of stinginess or greediness. 

Obedience is not the cornerstone, nor should it be the primary goal for a new covenant believer. What is the believer's goal? In a perfect world, we would all end up with the same answer. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and the church doesn’t teach a perfect doctrine; therefore, our answers are all over the board. Jesus is our ultimate goal. Jesus is the cornerstone, and a relationship with Him should be the ultimate objective of the believer. Obedience and the fulfillment of God’s divine promises are the offspring of grace and faith. 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval (Romans 14:17-18). Knowing these truths brings about the most intense joy.

The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian baby believers about a promise they had previously made, to participate in a substantial collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem, and then he encouraged them to prepare the offering in advance of him and his ministry team coming to collect it. But the Apostle Paul also used this situation as an opportunity to continue to teach his spiritual children about the seriousness, and the blessedness of giving from a heart of agape-love, which is self-sacrificing-love. 

The Faith that Grace Dilates - The word “dilate” means to enlarge or to increase in size. Faith is not enlarged through repetitious prayers, barking orders, or even through obedience. Faith is enlarged when it looks into the eyes of grace. Enlarged faith commences, increases, and crescendos in the revelation of grace. This ever-increasing supply of grace and faith has been made available for all.

In 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 7, the Apostle Paul continues to disclose his own heart to the Corinthians in hopes that those who still have doubts about him will give up the lies they have believed about him and his gospel and return to the place of acceptance and fellowship that they enjoyed previously. Paul begins to reveal what is in his heart, which is: his great regard, or great love for the Corinthian baby believers, his great relief over their change of heart, his great momentary regret for sending them the severe letter, and his great rejoicing at the news of their change of heart towards him.

The grace of happily ever after is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Believers have been washed, perfumed, and clothed in the wedding attire of righteousness. The concept of "happily ever after" is a common desire; everybody wants one. We find the happily ever after in every romance book, every Hallmark movie, and in every Cinderella-type fairy tale. Everyone loves a happily ever after. Jesus is the Father’s happily ever after.