God’s Comfort 2 Corinthians 1:1-10. Paul’s Amazing Introduction Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus...

God’s ComfortGod’s Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1-102 Corinthians 1:1-10

Paul’s Amazing IntroductionPaul’s Amazing Introduction

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy of God, and Timothy ourour brother, To the brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:1-22 Corinthians 1:1-2


Consider Corinth…Consider Corinth…– One of the most One of the most decadentdecadent, , debaucheddebauched, ,

depraveddepraved, , sicksick cities in the Ancient Roman world cities in the Ancient Roman world

Filthy Rich…Filthy Rich…

Perverted Religions…Perverted Religions…

Moral Confusion & Anarchy…Moral Confusion & Anarchy…

Grace to you and peace …Grace to you and peace …2 Corinthians 1:1-22 Corinthians 1:1-2

BackgroundBackground

Temple WorshipTemple Worship


Consider Corinth…Consider Corinth…– One of the most One of the most decadentdecadent, , debaucheddebauched, , depraveddepraved, , sicksick

cities in the Ancient Roman worldcities in the Ancient Roman world– The most arrogant, unloving, anti-church church of all The most arrogant, unloving, anti-church church of all

Paul’s churches…Paul’s churches…Full of fights & egocentric posturingFull of fights & egocentric posturing

IncestIncest

ProstitutionProstitution

Drunkenness and irreverenceDrunkenness and irreverence

False teachingFalse teaching

Rejecting Paul’s leadership & authority…Rejecting Paul’s leadership & authority…



Consider Corinth…Consider Corinth…

He wrote 1 Corinthians to He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebukerebuke them them


1:12,13 One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I 1:12,13 One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos… Is Christ divided? Was Paul follow Apollos… Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?of Paul?

3:2,3 … you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy 3:2,3 … you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?not walking like mere men?4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? do you boast as if you had not received it?

4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, 4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us…you have become kings without us…4:19,21 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, 4:19,21 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills,

and I shall find out, not the words of those who are and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power… Shall I come to you with a arrogant but their power… Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

6:6 ... I say this to your shame6:6 ... I say this to your shame

Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 1 Corinthians 6:15 1 Corinthians 6:15

Or do you despise the church of God and shame Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? those who have nothing? 11:2011:2014:23 14:23 if unbelievers enter, will they not say if unbelievers enter, will they not say

that you are mad?that you are mad?

Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak speak thisthis to your shame. to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:341 Corinthians 15:34

4:3 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you…I care very little if I am judged by you…



He wrote 1 Corinthians to He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebukerebuke them them

But also to teach them about But also to teach them about real lovereal love


……if I do not have love, I am nothingif I do not have love, I am nothing 1 Corinthians 13:21 Corinthians 13:2



He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke themHe wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them


It stirred a rebellion in the church!It stirred a rebellion in the church!


You put up with it when someone enslaves You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! to do that! 2 Corinthians 11:20-212 Corinthians 11:20-21



He wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke themHe wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke them


It stirred a rebellion in the church!It stirred a rebellion in the church!


2 Corinthians contains the most 2 Corinthians contains the most personal disclosure by Paul of himself…personal disclosure by Paul of himself…

He bares his heart like nowhere else!He bares his heart like nowhere else!He could lose this church!He could lose this church!

I’m so I’m so tiredtiredof dealing with of dealing with

you…you…

I really don’tI really don’tneedneed this… this…

Paul’s Strange Offer of Paul’s Strange Offer of ComfortComfort3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God

is our merciful Father and the source of all is our merciful Father and the source of all comfortcomfort..

4 He 4 He comfortscomforts us in all our troubles so that we can us in all our troubles so that we can comfortcomfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same them the same comfortcomfort God has given us. God has given us.

5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his shower us with his comfortcomfort through Christ. through Christ.

6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your your comfortcomfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are and salvation! For when we ourselves are comfortedcomforted, we will certainly , we will certainly comfortcomfort you. Then you can you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.patiently endure the same things we suffer.

7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the will also share in the comfort comfort God gives us.God gives us.

God’s Comfort: from SufferingGod’s Comfort: from Suffering

1.1. SufferingSuffering Brings Comfort Brings Comfortv.4 “He v.4 “He comfortscomforts us in all our us in all our troublestroubles…”…”

v. 5 “v. 5 “For For the more we sufferthe more we suffer…the more God will …the more God will shower us with his comfortshower us with his comfort””


1.1. SufferingSuffering Brings Comfort Brings Comfort

2.2. NotNot a Me-Centered Comfort a Me-Centered Comfortv.4 He comforts us in all our troubles v.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we so that we

can comfort otherscan comfort others……

v.5 v.5 the more we suffer for Christthe more we suffer for Christ, the more God , the more God will shower us with his comfort…will shower us with his comfort…



2.2. NotNot a Me-Centered Comfort a Me-Centered Comfort

3.3. Not For Not For AllAll Suffering SufferingDoing WrongDoing Wrong

Natural / Unavoidable SufferingNatural / Unavoidable Suffering

Make sure that none of you Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; meddler; 1 Peter 4:151 Peter 4:15

““And we know that God causes all And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to things to work together for good to those who love God” Rom.8:28those who love God” Rom.8:28

……the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, butbut are of no value against fleshly indulgence. are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Col. 2:23 Col. 2:23




3.3. Not For Not For AllAll Suffering Suffering

4.4. A Choice to A Choice to “Suffer for Christ” “Suffer for Christ” (v.5)(v.5)v.5 v.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more For the more we suffer for Christ, the more

God will shower us with his comfortGod will shower us with his comfort




3.3. Not For Not For AllAll Suffering Suffering

4.4. A Choice to A Choice to “Suffer for Christ” “Suffer for Christ” (v.5)(v.5)

5.5. A Choice to Suffer A Choice to Suffer for Othersfor Others (v.6)(v.6)v.6 v.6 when we are weighed down with troubles, it is when we are weighed down with troubles, it is

for your comfort and salvation!for your comfort and salvation!

God’s Comfort: Suffering for God’s Comfort: Suffering for ServingServing

Getting EquippedGetting Equipped

Financial GivingFinancial Giving

Personal Personal Investment!Investment!

Getting Burned!Getting Burned!

Falling Down!Falling Down!

Rejection and Rejection and Persecution!Persecution!

Loss of “Creature Loss of “Creature Comforts…”Comforts…”

Agony of the Heart!Agony of the Heart!

Spiritual Attack!Spiritual Attack!

Time-Consuming!Time-Consuming!

Dazed & Confused!Dazed & Confused!

Frustration!Frustration!

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose arm yourselves also with the same purpose 1 Pet. 4:11 Pet. 4:1

God’s Comfort: a Choice to Love God’s Comfort: a Choice to Love OthersOthers

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5

Alternatives to God’s Comfort?Alternatives to God’s Comfort?

Deep, Unresolved SufferingDeep, Unresolved Suffering– Inner LonelinessInner Loneliness– Lack of PurposeLack of Purpose– Life Without GodLife Without God– A Slow, Miserable DeathA Slow, Miserable Death


Deep, Unresolved SufferingDeep, Unresolved Suffering– Inner LonelinessInner Loneliness– Lack of PurposeLack of Purpose– Life Without GodLife Without God

Withdraw!Withdraw!


Deep, Unresolved SufferingDeep, Unresolved Suffering– Inner LonelinessInner Loneliness– Lack of PurposeLack of Purpose– Life Without GodLife Without God

Withdraw!Withdraw!

Corinthianize!Corinthianize!

How Much of God’s Comfort?How Much of God’s Comfort?

v8v8 For we do not want you to be unaware, For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came brethren, of our affliction which came to usto us in Asia, that we were burdened in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;we despaired even of life;

v.6-7 v.6-7 we will certainly comfort you. Then you we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently can patiently endure the same things we endure the same things we suffersuffer… … as you share in our sufferingsas you share in our sufferings, you , you will also share in the comfort God gives uswill also share in the comfort God gives us

How Much of God’s Comfort?How Much of God’s Comfort?

v8v8 For we do not want you to be unaware, For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came brethren, of our affliction which came to usto us in Asia, that we were burdened in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;we despaired even of life;

v9v9 indeed, we had the sentence of death indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.raises the dead.

Trusting God who raised the dead:

1.A thankful heart:

“Blessed be the … God of all comfort” v.3

2.Faithfulness:

“and our hope for you is firmly grounded” v7

3.Eyes Off Self:

“…not trust in ourselves…” v9

For momentary, light affliction is For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison glory far beyond all comparison 2 Cor 4:17 2 Cor 4:17

God’s Comfort 2 Corinthians 1:1-10. Paul’s Amazing Introduction Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus...

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