Monday's Message: Word = Bond

In the passage of II Corinthians 1:12-18, there seems to be the thought of there being a doubt in the minds of the church at Corinth, of Paul’s sincerity when he wrote to them in his earlier epistle, or spoke to them personally before leaving them, that he would come again.

Paul is used of God, to assure them he meant what he said, even to the degree of the words of the Lord Himself; meaning what He said.

But he also affirms this with the assurance of their kinship in Christ, in that they were his converts.

II Corinthians 1:12-18 “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.”

Please note the words in vs. 14  “ …even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

The days of the Lord Jesus is when they all stand before the Lord and meet Him, and then receive crowns and rewards for faithful service.

Paul assures them, his words to them were not just lip service, or something he did not take seriously in following through, for one of the reasons being; he was used of God to lead them to Jesus Christ.  With that being the case, they will all meet the Lord Jesus one day, and that gives Paul the reason for them to be as his children; [in the Lord]. 

We should all take this to heart; especially when we give our word to someone.  Our word should be our bond, and commitment; just as Jesus’ words to us were and are; as Paul closes this thought with verses 18 –20  “But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

Yea and Amen, meaning with assurance of truth and sincerity of fulfilling them.