Marks of the Minister's Love

Well, after a considerably long break, we return this morning to our series of expositions in the Book of 2 Corinthians. And as I've said a number of times, 2 Corinthians is a book that teaches the people of God how to carry out a faithful ministry even in the midst of affliction. 2 Corinthians is a book about ministry. Many commentators call it "the fourth pastoral epistle,"—adding it to First and Second Timothy and Titus—because it focuses so much on the true character—the true nature—of the Christian ministry.

And I've stressed that the lessons we can learn from this inspired letter are applicable to all of us, because as Christians, we are all called to ministry. This is the reason the Lord Jesus Christ has left us on earth. There is an entire world of people out there who are lost—who have sinned against a holy God, and who face the punishment of His righteous judgment against their sin. And our Lord has sent us—His people—to take the Gospel message of the forgiveness of sins through faith in His name to that lost world, and to call them to repentance. This is what Paul calls the "ministry of reconciliation" in 2 Corinthians 5:18...