Daily Bread 2010 2 Corinthians 13
Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Corinthians 13:5-6
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test.”
Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians with a challenge. He challenges them to test themselves to see if they are in the faith. We might be tempted to think that this test is related to whether or not we have done enough good things to win God’s approval. Many people have this view of God, that if we do enough good works, or at least the amount of good things we do outweighs the bad things we do, we will pass the test. We hope God grades on a curve like our college professors.
But Paul dispels this notion in the next verse by saying, “Don’t you know that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test.” Paul is testing their faith not their amount of good works. He is saying the only way to pass the test is if Christ is in you by faith. That is your hope of passing the test.
He is saying if Christ is in you, you will past the test by submitting to my (Paul) authority as an apostle sent by God. In a sense Paul is calling them out. He is making a bold statement that their willingness to submit to his authority will show that Christ is in them. Part of that authority meant correcting the church when it had strayed from the truth of the Gospel.
This was critical at this juncture in church history to establish unity in the faith and not to have each church going its own way by creating division and individualistic authority structures. (Ie. We follow Apollos, and you follow Paul).
Paul is acting in the authority he has been given by Jesus himself to lead the Church under His power. How do you react to this? Are you willing to submit to the leaders that God has placed over you? If you are a leader in Christ’s church, are you willing to submit to those who God has placed in authority over you?
Although the ultimate authority is God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, God has given the keys to the kingdom to those He has called and sent to lead the church. This calling extends to each generation as leaders are called, set apart and sent to lead and build the church by proclamation the Gospel. Pray with me for the leaders of the Church.
Jesus thank you for apostles like Peter, John and Paul who you used to build the church here on earth as it is in heaven. Empower today’s leaders to be faithful to carry out their calling to teach and preach the Gospel, and administer the Sacraments and care for God’s people in the strength, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test.”
Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians with a challenge. He challenges them to test themselves to see if they are in the faith. We might be tempted to think that this test is related to whether or not we have done enough good things to win God’s approval. Many people have this view of God, that if we do enough good works, or at least the amount of good things we do outweighs the bad things we do, we will pass the test. We hope God grades on a curve like our college professors.
But Paul dispels this notion in the next verse by saying, “Don’t you know that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test.” Paul is testing their faith not their amount of good works. He is saying the only way to pass the test is if Christ is in you by faith. That is your hope of passing the test.
He is saying if Christ is in you, you will past the test by submitting to my (Paul) authority as an apostle sent by God. In a sense Paul is calling them out. He is making a bold statement that their willingness to submit to his authority will show that Christ is in them. Part of that authority meant correcting the church when it had strayed from the truth of the Gospel.
This was critical at this juncture in church history to establish unity in the faith and not to have each church going its own way by creating division and individualistic authority structures. (Ie. We follow Apollos, and you follow Paul).
Paul is acting in the authority he has been given by Jesus himself to lead the Church under His power. How do you react to this? Are you willing to submit to the leaders that God has placed over you? If you are a leader in Christ’s church, are you willing to submit to those who God has placed in authority over you?
Although the ultimate authority is God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, God has given the keys to the kingdom to those He has called and sent to lead the church. This calling extends to each generation as leaders are called, set apart and sent to lead and build the church by proclamation the Gospel. Pray with me for the leaders of the Church.
Jesus thank you for apostles like Peter, John and Paul who you used to build the church here on earth as it is in heaven. Empower today’s leaders to be faithful to carry out their calling to teach and preach the Gospel, and administer the Sacraments and care for God’s people in the strength, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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