2 Corinthians 1:12-24 - Sincerity in Service

2 Corinthians 1:12-24

Paul’s Sincerity

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit— 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

Paul demonstrated sincerity in service to the Lord as he ministered the gospel of grace to the churches as a pattern for us to follow.  He was sincere in transparently presenting the truths of God in Christ with simplicity and in a clear conscience that knew he did all he could to tell the whole truth so help him God.  He did not employ worldly philosophical or intellectual methods to manipulate or coerce the hearers, but by an open exhibition of his manner of life (2 Timothy 3:10) and conduct with declarations of grace to them all.  He lived the gospel and spoke the gospel with a clear conscience by his transparency and sincerity.  He therefore wrote this letter about spiritual things already known to them through the scriptures as a reminder and encouragement of their faith already being expressed and acknowledged by the apostle as apparent.  Confidently, Paul was coming back to see them again in person on his way through Macedonia with thankfulness for their support in the past as he had planned to do to see them and impart spiritual grace (Romans 1:11) and further teaching.  He let them know that he did not plan these things lightly but with foresight and care to minister there.  He planned with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not his own drawn up plans to speak the truths of God’s word with certainty according to God’s faithfulness of yes and no and not his own contrived instructions or intentions.  He preached Christ Jesus as the yes answer to everything because all God’s promises in scripture are fulfilled in Him alone with absolute certainty to God’s glory!  He reminded them and we who also now read these words that God alone establishes us (Romans 16:25, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:20-21, 27) to minister to one another according to the gifts and callings given each one of us.  He who establishes us also anoints us and seals us with His Spirit as a guaranteed down payment on eternity!  Because He lives in us we have this certain hope of yes in Christ to eternal life in the grace of God and not by our works to earn or keep it.  Paul leaves off the thought of this chapter by calling God as his witness that he had their best spiritual state in his heart and so visited in the proper times to help them.  He made it clear that he did not rule over their faith but worked alongside them in the gospel.  Each one stands in his or her own faith before God; we simply minister to each other the grace we have been granted in the roles and callings using the gifts given each one individually (1 Corinthians 12:11, 27, 31) as He wills.  May we all who are in Christ be likened confident in humble service with sincerity.