2 Corinthians 13:14 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Corinthians 13:14

Comments

This is all about dependence upon the Lord and it is the longest benediction in any of Paul’s epistles: ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [the kindness and help of the Lord], and the love of God, [and listen to this] and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.’ The word ‘communion’ means the sharing, the partnership of the Holy Ghost be with you all: the unseen partner. Our task is to be ever conscious of the nearness of Christ, again not in a mystical sense but through Scripture, by the Spirit’s enabling.Sanctification is by faith, Ephesians 5, by the word John 17:17, by special dedication Romans 12:1 (some say every week or morning), by mortifying and help of Spirit, by chastening (Hebrews 12:5-6), by sickness and suffering (we welcome it in a measure, for it brings us to our knees), and by mutual admonition (Romans 14). All these are variously spoken of in connection with the Spirit. So, we might say the dynamic power of the Spirit is not in the sensing of him but in the fruit. That is where we differ from Charismatics and Higher Life teaching. We must have a lively view of the Spirit in crediting him with giving us the famous fruit of the Spirit. See him in the love, joy, peace you have when in distress, the longsuffering when you need it, in gentleness in family when under provocation, and in meekness so unnatural to you, in temperance which is foreign to you but you have it when you pray for it. Are not those evidences of his power much more powerful than some kind of emotional imagining and sense of his presence?

Application

We have got things to do. We have got to be concerned about personal holiness. We have got to be concerned about the spread of the gospel. We have got to be concerned about the defence of the faith. There are things we have to struggle with and we have to do, but we will do them in prayerful dependence upon God, asking for his help every day, every temptation, every difficulty.

Are you in partnership with the Holy Spirit? You can explain it in a business sense. I run the shop but I don’t really run it because I have got a partner and he owns it. He supplies the capital and the wherewithal. I man the counter, I stack up the goods on the shelves, I do this and I do that and I do something else but he is the one who supplies the wherewithal and the capital and everything that I need. It is a poor illustration. Dependence upon the Holy Spirit in everything. Holiness, gospel preaching, just making it through life and all our responsibilities, I need the partnership of the Holy Spirit. There is much for me to do but he is the senior partner and he will give me the strength and the help and the blessing. I must know my place. I am a servant. I will do my utmost but if it is evangelism, he must turn hearts, as I proclaim the gospel. I depend upon him to do everything that is hard and to help me in everything that I do and this is about true dependence upon God.

Questions

From time to time we have questions about these Trinitarian closing expressions. Christ is the member of the Godhead, equally knowing and wise who has actually purchased the blessings which we receive. We remember the Father, though, equality, you may view him as the chairman. You threw yourself on Christ’s mercy but the plan came from the Father. Then the Spirit and we need him every day and he is one we look to for help. He sees us through. Christ purchased it all for me. The declaration of God that I am his. Helps me after emergency prayer.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

2 Corinthians 13:14 Commentary and Bible Study