Changed for worse not for better?
A. Body and soul change all the time! 2Cor.4:16-18
1. Body strength and vigor waning day by day after you are 70! 2Cor.4:16
2. The unseen soul being strengthened and established day by day! 2Cor.4:16
3. Therefore we do not lose heart. 2Cor.4:16
4. The “momentary” body troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory! 2Cor.4:17
*** Momentary body troubles in exchange for eternal glory of the soul and body!
5. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen (the body), but on what is unseen (the soul),
for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2Cor.4:18
6. Finally, brethren, farewell.
Be perfected, (restore yourselves to where you ought to be),
be comforted, (admonish yourselves),
be of the same mind, (in life and in the Lord’s work).
Live in peace.
And the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2Cor.13:11
B. Leave the principles go into perfection as soon as possible! Heb.6:1-13
Once you become a drop out you are forever hopeless!
1. For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
2. who have tasted the heavenly gift,
3. who have shared in the Holy Spirit, Heb.6:4
4. who have tasted the goodness of the word of God,
5. who have tasted the powers of the coming age, Heb.6:5
6. if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
7. because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again
and subjecting him to public disgrace. Heb.6:6
*** Warning illustrations:
(1) Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those
for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. Heb.6:7
(2) But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.
In the end it will be burned. Heb.6:8
8. To my dear friends, in your case, we are confident you can do better for the salvation of your souls. Heb.6:9
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people
and continue to help them. Heb.6:10
9. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Heb.5:13
10. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 5:14
11. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Heb.6:11
C. Change to be like Apostle Paul!
1. As we said before, so say I now again:
If any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed. Gal.1:9
2. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men?
For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal.1:10
3. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. Gal.1:11
4. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gal.1:12
*** It is much easier for us! Is the name of your church in the Bible?
D. The same we declare:
1. I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 1Cor.2:3
2. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 1Cor.2:4
3. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1Cor.2:5
4. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. 2Cor.4:3
5. In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2Cor.4:4
E. Conclusion: Finally, brethren, farewell.
Be perfected, (restore yourselves to where you ought to be),
be comforted, (admonish yourselves),
be of the same mind, (in life and in the Lord’s work).
Live in peace. And the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2Cor.13:11
Written June 10, 2021.