The Ministry of Reconciliation

There are times when we feel as if our motives have been wrongly judged. The Apostle Paul had to endure occasions where his motives were misjudged and his actions questioned by members of his own spiritual family in Corinth. Perhaps he felt shocked and hurt just as we would in similar circumstances.
Paul had selflessly founded the church at Corinth with Jesus as its foundation. In Paul’s absence while he was ministering and planting churches elsewhere, rivals crept into the church bearing testimonial letters of recommendation, casting doubt upon the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship and questioning his teaching. Judaizers, as these were described, were particularly inflamed by what they perceived to be Paul’s cavalier attitude toward the law of Moses. They were scandalized that Paul taught Gentile believers that they were not bound to keep the ceremonies and ordinances as expressed in the Old Testament for the nation of Israel through scores of generations. They went on to denigrate not only the matter but the manner of Paul’s teaching. Resorting to name calling they said his presence was weak and speech contemptible.
This put Paul in an undesirable position to defend his calling and teaching. Paul was not concerned with what these rivals thought of him but was concerned for the young believers at Corinth. He did not want them to doubt his apostleship because then they would begin to doubt his message. This message was given to Paul from God to teach others the proper way to be in right relationship with Him and to implore them that only through Jesus who knew no sin can we be reconciled to God.

This sermon in part of a 2 Corinthians Series.