2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."Let's examine this farewell to the Corinthians in Paul's letter. Firstly, he is speaking to the "brethren", archaic for "brothers". What makes them brothers?
Mark 3:35 "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."These are the words of Jesus! We think of God as the Father and since Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual component of God, then Jesus is the son of God! Jesus is true to God's will. He didn't disappoint his Father and is still heir to God. Since Jesus is, then if we mimic Jesus, by following God's will, then we too are sons of God. That makes those who do God's will siblings of Jesus and some even likened into his mother.
Jesus' brothers were brothers in Christ, so to speak.
Matthew 12:46 "While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."Jesus declared that he was closer to those of the same spiritual blood than those who were of the same natural blood. After his crucifixion his own blood shed was what made those who do God's will his relatives. Brothers in Christ (brethren) is an honor. We, through obedience, become spiritually close to Jesus. We are his kin! Although we are the seed of Adam, we are brothers to Christ. What an honor!
Secondly, from 2 Corinthians 13:11, we are to be perfect. "But", you say "perfection is impossible!" How true, but likewise it's impossible for man to fly, but we can come close! We mimic birds by borrowing their mechanics. We fly in airplanes. Man wanted to fly so badly that we come really close to doing just that! If we want to be perfect, we'll never fly in perfection, but we can ride on the wings of one who is perfect!
"How about those times the plane hits down-currents?" The plane recovers because the pilot makes corrections. The same goes for obedience in down-currents. When we sin, when we correct our error, God lifts us back up!
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."The mourning and weeping are the down-currents. As we "cleanse" our hands (repent), we feel sorrow. That's the correction for the down-current. Then the Lord lifts us up! That's how we, as it was said, "purify your hearts". Perfection is not possible, but it is a good flight plan and with God as our pilot, it's easier to soar with his angels!
Thirdly, from 2 Corinthians 13:11 "be of good comfort". The Comforter is the Holy Ghost. We can be of "good comfort" when we commune with the Holy Ghost. (Verse 12). We can rest assured that all things are possible with God and that if we are faithful to God's will, then we never have to be stressed. Our dependence is on God through the Holy Spirit and God is on whom we rely!
Fourthly, "be of one mind". We know that even the apostles had doctrinal differences because they all didn't understand the same things about Jesus. However, as Paul bade them to do, we do not divide up Christ to suit our own doctrine (1 Corinthians 1:13). We can disagree on baptism, heaven and hell, and biblical events, but we must be of one mind on Jesus Christ. We must believe in his saving blood, death and resurrection!
Fifthly, from 2 Corinthians 13:11, "live in peace". God's children are commanded to love one another. It's not optional! It's how we show love for God. Living in peace is showing love to others. It doesn't say "live in peace with the brethren", it is living in peace with everyone! We are to love the unloveable, we are to have charity to our enemies, we're to encourage those with whom we're at odds! Living in peace is our primary duty as a Christian. It's a reasonable thing to do, but many Christians can't even do that! (As I sit here, I can think of many people who are at odds with me to the extent that love is withheld. Withholding love is the devil's doctrine, but Christians care little for "perfection").
In 2 Corinthians 13:14 Paul tells how these things can be done! Each personality of the Godhead (The Trinity) has a main purpose. By the "grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" comes first. Jesus is a personality or component of God. He is God with Us (Emmanuel). His main purpose is "grace". That's giving a gift which the recipient doesn't deserve. Jesus paid for our sins with his own blood and death; in our place! That's "grace" and why Jesus came!
The second part of the farewell is by "the love of God". Let's consider "God" in this context to be "the Father". What do father's do? They love their children. Because God loved us so much he gave up his own son to death to pay for our sins! This second personality or component of the Trinity is "the Father" and he is loving!
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."Lastly, from 2 Corinthians 13:14 by "the communion of the Holy Ghost". The Holy Ghost is the third personality or component of the Trinity. His primary role is for "communion". With the absence of Jesus, the Holy Ghost remains in his place to continue on with us. He corrects us, leads us and directs us! His leading comforts us!
John 14:16 "And I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever..."I didn't say it, but Jesus comforts! He did that many times in his ministry and his very death is comforting. We have the "hope of salvation". I don't know about you, but as I go to bed tonight that comforts me! Jesus's ability to comfort is because of his primary role; the one of grace! But the Holy Ghost is "another Comforter"! Comforting is his primary role!
Yesterday I expounded on the geometry of the Godhead. Today, I added the primary purpose of each personality. The sum of the three is the whole, the whole is God, who is Jesus, and he is graceful, loving and comforting! Those three make up "hope". Jesus is our only hope!
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