2 Corinthians 6:1-10 - No Offense is the Best Defense

2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Marks of the Ministry

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Paul lived in such a way as to avoid giving offense by making it his aim to continually doing what was right and not as an offense to God or man.  This was his best defense as it is ours also, to give no offense as the best defense.  This marked his ministry as an example of the teaching of Christ to all who were in Corinth as well as in our own churches and lives.  As fellow workers in synergy with the Lord Jesus, we must also not receive God’s grace in vain by living with offense that we are not blamed by good and defamed by our actions by others who should be seeing as well as hearing the good news of the righteousness of Christ displayed in us.  He saved us in the accepted time of His grace in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Himself that we might be holy as He is (Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16) in responsive reading of the scriptures to live out.  We are urged not to offend that the ministry may not be hindered and blamed for doing evil (1 Corinthians 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:8, 1 Peter 4:15-16) as those who bear witness to the gospel message often are by those opposing God and His Son.  What should a faithful minister do to avoid slander and blame?  The list here that the apostle and his co-laborers gave is a good starting point for us.  We need to exhibit patience, endurance in pressing situations, contentment when in need, peace in distress, patience when the law turns on us for our faith, physical assault for the gospel’s sake, exhaustion in the work of ministry, and when we fast for direction and strength to continue to serve.  We are also given character traits to develop and exercise in this work.  These include staying pure in the face of temptations, studying constantly to gain needed knowledge to answer tough questions, learning to endure with kindness in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit within us who leads and guides and enables us to speak and serve, as well as to sincerely love others in this ministry and not seek ulterior motives or trick others to do what is right.  We use the word of truth spoken sincerely instead in the power and wisdom given by God according to His word while living righteously in the face of slanderous accusations to dishonor our witness and lies to falsely report our intent and actions in presenting the good news of Jesus Christ.  We will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) for His name’s sake just as He suffered for telling the truth of man’s sinfulness and need of a Savior’s grace.  We may be smeared as deceiving others but must stand in sincerity of heart and true speaking as we die to self and live for our Lord in our ministry of service (Romans 12:1-2) as living sacrifices.  Though we often sorrow at the responses and rejection of the gospel and appearance poor in comparison to others, yet we still make many rich who hear and receive Jesus Christ through repentance and faith upon hearing the words of truth and being convicted by the Spirit who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7) to eternal life.  We offer the treasure of heaven in the Lord Jesus Christ and so endure all things for the sake of the elect (2 Timothy 2:10) chosen by God and called out through this message of hope and forgiveness in unmerited grace.  Yes, giving no offense in anything is the best defense of the work of Christ in the gospel opposed to by many in the world which we minister and declare to the world.