Walking with God

Paul’s great burden for the believers in Corinth comes through in 2 Corinthians. His first epistle to them confronts the many problems plaguing this church. But also note Paul’s spirit in writing them: “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you” (2 Corinthians 2:4). The problems at issue conflicted with the fact that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Thus, Paul pleads with them: “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). In what way were these saints thwarting the grace of God? Their problem, as with all yet unglorified saints, was that they were “restricted” in our own “affections” (2 Corinthians 6:12), that is, constrained by their own passions. The implication is that their ability to show mercy and compassion was restricted due to worldly influence around them, evidenced in their reaction to life situations.

They were being sorely self-limited. Accordingly, Paul pleads for the believers to separate from unbelieving, lawless, benighted, and worthless (belial) people (vv. 14,15). “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (v. 16). Here is an amazing truth. A temple is a holy place where a holy God dwells with His holy people (1 Peter 1:14–19). In verses 16 through 18, Paul cites OT Scriptures as proof (Leviticus 26:12; Isaiah 52:11). Verse 18 (“I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me”) summarizes a number of OT references (Exodus 4:22; 2 Samuel 7:8, 14; Isaiah 43:6; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 1:10).

Meditate on these verses. A thrice-holy God saves sinners in order to welcome them, be a father to them, dwell among them, and walk with them. Is this not a truly amazing thing? To facilitate this privilege, He has made the church His living temple (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesian 2:21; 1 Peter 2:5, 9, 10). Nevertheless, this truth requires certain preparation from His people. We must become a holy (separated) people in practice: “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Only this discipline frees the heart from its self-cramping limitations, opening it to freely receive God grace.

It is interesting that the very next thing Paul commands the Corinthians is that they “make room in [their] hearts” for him (7:2). Paul was God’s agent to bring them to true freedom, which placed him in a difficult position due to their natural, unsanctified instincts. The road to holiness is difficult, but the freedom it brings is worth the fight. Glory and joy are found in the realization that God, as our God, welcomes us. Oh, let us release all the worthless, worldly baggage that constricts our spiritual life, and let us learn to walk with God in obedience and holiness.