WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM

Newsletter 362                                                                            August 25, 2013

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2 Corinthians 6:1-18

GOD’S GRACE

God’s grace toward us is shown in that He loved us so much that He gave us what we can attain in no other way. (John 3:16,17) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son  into the world to condemn the world; but that thew world through him might be saved.”

Salvation can not be bought by good works, it can not be bought with gold or coin of any kind.

It is a gift, we can’t do good works for we are reminded that there is no such thing as a good man, only God is good. Our feeble attempts to be good are hopeless without the grace of God. He wants us, as Christians to do our best, to give to the needy, to help the helpless, but aside from God, they are nothing and they do not earn us salvation. Neither can we buy salvation. For, after all, is not everything, we included, already his by the right of creation. Everything was created by Him.

 

1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

We can receive, or we can reject His gift. That reminds me of memories of trying to get my children to eat something they did not particularly like, particularly peas. They would clamp their teeth closed and make lunch time a misery for everyone! I really hope they had the same problem with their own children. Likewise, God can offer us a way of salvation, but we have to accept it. That was is through His Son, as Peter preached for the first time at that first Pentecost after our Lord’s resurrection. We have to believe in Christ His Son, Confess that faith in Him and as Peter said then, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The gft is the remission of sins and the Holy Ghost to be our guide and strength always that we might enter into eternity with Christ.  Of all the Gate of heaven jokes, none of them fit reality. We have the Holy Spirit who will be our guide in life and lead us to that great pearl of a gate. He is with us to guide us home..

(1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 11:23)

2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time acceptable, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Every time is acceptable to be our day of salvation. But, are we ready? The moment we come to realize that we are sinners and only Christ, God’s Son can save us. Then, we are ready, and we need to act on that faith immediately. I remember my own agony as a young boy, when I realized that I was lost without Jesus, and that our minister was preaching his last sermon before moving on. Who could baptize me? I was so upset that I had to flag down the neighbors car as they passed or home and beg a ride so I could get to the church. All the baptisms I had seen were done by the minister. I did not realize that there were others who could do it later. I don’t remember, but their car must have been overloaded even before they made room for me.

(Isaiah 49:8)

In all that we do, let it be such as will not bring reproach upon the Lord’s purposes for the church.

3  Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:

(1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 8:13, 1 Corinthians 9:12)

4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.

(Romans 3:5, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Timothy 2:24, Acts 9:16, 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, 2 Corinthians 12:10)

5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

(Acts 16:23, Acts 19:23, 1 Corinthians 4:11)

6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

(1 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 11:6, 2 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Romans 12:9)

7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

(2 Corinthians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Corinthians 2:5, Romans 13:12, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:11)

8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

(1 Corinthians 4:10, Romans 3:8, 1 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:16, Matthew 27:63, 2 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:3)

9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

(Romans 8:36, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 4:11)

10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

(John 16:22, 2 Corinthians 7:4, Philippians 2:17, Philippians 4:4, Colossians 1:24, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:5, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Acts 3:6, Romans 8:32, 1 Corinthians 3:21)

HOLINESS

From this verse on, Paul seeks to encourage righteous and holy living in speech and actions..

11  O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

(Ezra 33:22, Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 60:5, 2 Corinthians 7:3)

12  Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

(2 Corinthians 7:2)

13  Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as to my children,) be ye also enlarged.

(Galatians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 4:14)

We can really show holiness well when our marriage and business partners are likewise believers. He sums this up by asking a rhetorical question, What communion hath light with darkness? The one destroys the other.  

14  Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ?

Deuteronomy 22:10, 1 Corinthians 5:9, 1 Corinthians 6:6, Ephesians 5:7, Ephesians 11:1, John 1:6)

15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel ?

(1 Corinthians 10:21, Acts 5:14, 1 Peter 1L21, 1 Corinthians 6:6)

16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? for ye are temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

(1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6;19, Matthew 16:16, Exodus 29:45, Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 31:1,  Ezekiel 37:27, Exodus 25:8, John 14:23, Revelation 2:1)  

17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

(Isaiah 52:11, Revelation 18:4)

18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(Revelation 18:25, Revelation 7:14, 1 Chronicles 17:13, Isaiah 43:6, Hosanna 1:10, Romans 8:14)

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

AUGUST

25th  Sunday  -  2 Chronicles 23, 24,    1 Timothy 3,4,    Psalm 102:20-28   

26th  Monday -  2 Chronicles 25, 26,    1 Timothy 5,    Psalm 103:1-12

27th  Tuesday -  2 Chronicles 27, 28,    1 Timothy 6,    Psalm 103:13-22

28th  Wednesday  2 Chronicles 29, 30,  2 Timothy 1,    Proverbs 21:1-12

29th  Thursday -  2 Chronicles 31, 32,    2 Timothy 2,    Psalm 104:1-14

30th  Friday -  2 Chronicles 33, 34,    2 Timothy 3,    Psalm 104:15-25

31st  Saturday - 2 Chronicles 35, 36,    2 Timothy 4,    Psalm 104:26-35

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MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  -  2 Timothy 2;15

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A POEM FOR THOUGHT

Some go to church to weep,  While others go to sleep.

Some go to tell their woes, Others to show their clothes.

Some go to hear the preacher,  Others like the solo screecher.

Boys go to reconnoiter girls,  Girls go because they orter.

Many go for good reflections,  Precious few to help collections.