Empowered By The Truth

2 Korintus 3 : 12 – 4:2

1. “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators (1 Corinthians 5:9).” Some Bible scholars said there was an epistle of Paul to the Corinthians before First and Second epistle to the Corinthians. It was possible because First Corinthians hadn’t had something to do with “fornicators.” Paul wrote epistles more than what we had today in New Testament, for example an epistle to Laodiceans (Colossian 4 : 16). New Testament Scholars said : ”speaking about Holy Scripture, there was a long process before the Book become as we can see today.” It was pretty sensible why many epistles separate from the Bible
2. Paul founded the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1–17). He stayed in Corinth for 18 months. He spent longer there than in any other city apart from Ephesus. He stayed with Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent makers like himself. After Paul left Corinth, he got news, people of Corinthians have proven disloyal and unwavering. It made him sad. Paul sent an epistle and Timothy to encourage them back to Bible. The letter of Paul and the presence of Timothy reshaped the church (Corinthians 4: 17; 16 : 5). Not long after Timothy left Corinth, Paul got news again that the church became worst. Everyone felt free to reveal everything about the church and the apostles. There were two very different ideas in the church. These people caused uproar about Paul’s identity as one of apostles. Their main aim was to refuse him. It looked simple, but it was not. However, it was silly to compare Paul to another apostle. They would not destroy Paul, but would destroy Christianity. Paul proved himself when he said: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia (2 Corinthians 1: 1).”
3. What was the problem? The corinthians spent time putting out fires instead of building a foundation for Christianity sustainable growth. Christianity was one of Paul main priorities. That’s way Paul said: “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” Hope in Christ was the reason why Paul would never afraid. Anyone who has been in Christ authority knows the duty of the minister of the gospel. Paul called them: “minister of the new testament..- ministration of righteousness”. Christianity is the story how the rightful king was born. Paul said: “We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away”. What’s wrong with Moses? Moses put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of what has been abolished (Exodus 34). Moses was a great leader.. He got power from the Most High God (El Elyon), the Almighty God (El ShaddaI). The story of exodus reveals God’s power. Moses, a man who knew that He was God, but not really believed in Him. “Not sure” was the reason way Moses put a veil in his face. Anyone who has been in Christ should never be afraid. In Christ, afraid would be a word without meaning
4. Empowered By Truth. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” When Jesus said I am the truth, it means that it is only Him indeed. Today, Truth would be a word with strong meaning. The famous question of Pilate in New Testament: “What is the truth.” Truth in its Original Word: ἀλήθεια, aletheia, means truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness. and Jesus said : “Everyone that is of the truth hearth my voice.” In our sermon today, Paul said : “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” Truth is the power for minister of New Testament. During The Old Testament period to the New Testament Apostles, Christians live in the Apostolic church until today, Truth would be a word with strong meaning. All of Christians are empowered by the Truth.