19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. – 2 Corinthians 12:19-13:4 ESV
Paul was making plans for a third trip to see the Corinthians, and, given all that had transpired since his last visit, he was somewhat apprehensive. He was concerned that he would find them in a less-than-ideal spiritual state. They had obviously been influenced by those he labeled as the “super apostles,” and the degree of their spiritual maturity was somewhat suspect. In some ways, Paul was afraid that things were not much different from what they had been since he had written his first letter to them.
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT
Paul’s greatest concern was for their spiritual growth and maturity. All the time he spent defending his apostleship was not to make himself look better in their eyes, but to get them to realize that he was God-ordained for his ministry and well worth listening to. Unlike his adversaries, he had their best interests at heart. The last thing Paul wanted to find when he arrived was his spiritual children still struggling with the same unresolved issues. He expected to see true life change and signs of repentance and spiritual reformation. He hated the thought of having to spend his time among them, reprimanding and disciplining all those who remained unrepentant and addicted to their former life in the flesh.
While Paul was not anxious or eager to find the Corinthians dealing with their same old problems, he warned them that he was ready to confront their sin in the power of God. If they required proof that he had been sent by God, they were going to get it, in the form of church discipline. But Paul would do things in a godly fashion. Any accusations anyone had against a brother or sister would have to be based on two or three witnesses, just as Jesus had commanded (Matthew 18:15-20). There would be a fair and equitable process, but in the end, Paul would deal with the situation forcefully and unapologetically.
Earlier in this letter, Paul had appealed to them on the basis of the gentleness and meekness of Christ.
Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.– 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 NLT
But it appears that Paul wasn’t overly confident that they would listen to his pleas. He would have to “show boldness,” and they would have to witness the power of Christ exhibited through Paul's authoritative, disciplinary actions. He was going to get their attention and prove to them once and for all that he was speaking on behalf of Christ.
Paul reminds them that Christ was crucified in weakness. In other words, He was beaten, humiliated, tortured, and nailed to a cross in his human flesh. He slowly bled out. He gradually and painfully asphyxiated as his lungs filled with fluid, and he had to push down with his nail-pierced feet in order to take his next breath. This had gone on for hours, until He had finally breathed his last breath and died. But Paul reminds them that Jesus had not remained dead; He was resurrected by the power of God and “lives by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
Paul warns that they would experience the same power when he came to them. Even in his human weakness, Paul was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the one who raised Jesus from the dead. Upon his arrival, Paul would use that power to ensure that the Corinthians remained true to their faith in Christ, so that they might one day experience the resurrection of their bodies and enjoy all the joys of eternal life that Jesus promised.
Paul delivered a similar message about the resurrection power of the Spirit to the believers in Rome.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. – Romans 8:11 NLT
For Paul, the important matter was how you finished the race, not how you started it. Coming to faith in Christ was wonderful, but the Christian life was intended to be a journey with a final destination. The goal was to finish well, and the only way to do it was to rely on the power of God for daily strength and discipline.
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. – Hebrews 12:6 NLT
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT
The power of God guides and directs, empowers and protects, and disciplines and corrects. The One who called us is powerful enough to keep us and ensure that what He began, He will complete.
Father, than You for this much-needed reminder of Your power to save and transform. You don’t just forgive our sins, but You also provide us with the capacity to live righteous lives. You make our pursuit of holiness possible, even while we live in a fallen world and do daily battle with our sinful flesh. We are no longer slaves to sin because Christ delivered us from its control through His death on the cross. And, as Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT). So, through the indwelling presence of Your Spirit, would You continue to provide me with strength and the motivation to live freely, faithfully, and powerfully as Your child, looking eagerly to the day when my salvation will be completed with my glorification. Because You are not only powerful, but You are faithful to finish what You began. Amen
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.