Confidence In God
CONFIDENCE IN GOD
2 CORINTHIANS 1:19-22
We can be confident because the Spirit within us assures us we really are God’s children and Christ really is our Savior.
It was bad enough that Paul’s enemies at Corinth had attacked his character as unreliable and shifty (1:17); it was worse when they go on to insinuate that his gospel is just as unreliable and unsure. The purpose of this passage is to answer that serious charge. How does Paul do it?
First, he defines clearly the person of Jesus Christ as the Son of God whom the early missionaries proclaimed. They offered no yes/no type of preaching, which leaves the hearer in doubt as to Christ’s authority and ability to save, or is confusing to the point of thinking the gospel is irrelevant, but boldly declared that Christ is the answer to all human need (1:19).
Then, Christ has placed his seal of endorsement and fulfillment on the Old Testament prophecies and promises by declaring them to be valid and available to the believer (1:20). The only appropriate response which the Christian can make is a confident Amen, showing acceptance of God’s promises for what they are worth—utterly confirmed by Christ Jesus.
Finally, the message of the apostle is no sham and fraud, because he has been specially appointed and gifted by God for his work. There is a seal upon his ministry, placed there by the Holy Spirit. What is it (1 Corinthians 9:1-2)? And the Christians at Corinth who also are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) should be able to recognize a spiritual affinity with Paul and his party and certainly ought never to doubt their integrity. “Are we then the men to say one thing and mean another?” (JBP) sums it up.
Meditation Think of some of the promises of God in the Old Testament which are given a fuller content in Christ, and of those promises which you have proved in your experience.