2 Corinthians 13:3-5 Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.… Notice — I. GOD'S METHOD OF OPERATION IN THE CHURCH BY HIS APPOINTED SERVANTS. 1. The rebellious Corinthians had spoken ill of the apostle as lacking in power: his personal presence was not commanding, his speech was not fascinating. Paul does not deny the charge, but declares the general principle of power in weakness, by which the Lord conducts the gospel dispensation. (1) Life, born of death, is the life of our souls (ver. 4). By assuming our weakness Christ gained the power to act as our substitute, and put away our sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Because of His being obedient to death, even the death of the Cross, "God also hath highly exalted Him," etc. By this sign He conquered: the ensign of His Cross is the seal of victory. It is Himself thus slain which is His power to pardon and to save. (2) Our Lord's power over our hearts comes by His great love, and this matchless manner of His showing it. Stooping so low to save such unworthy ones He conquers our hearts. His dying love has begotten living love within us. 2. Why did Paul interject this teaching? To show us that God does not save by the strength of His ministers, but by their weakness. (1) Paul was willing to lose all personal honour, though, in truth, not a whit behind the chief of the apostles. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," etc. He cheerfully sank that his Lord might be exalted. (2) In those days there was a great liking for philosophy. But Paul determined not to know anything among them save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. "But at least," they said, "what he has to say ought to be delivered with the graces of oratory." "No," says Paul, "my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."(3) He might have come among them and said, "I am an apostle; I have supreme power over churches; out of this Church I shall eject offenders without any question"; yet he never used such authority; on the contrary he was the servant of all, gentle, unselfish. If any one was grieved, Paul was grieved with him; if any suffered trial, Paul was tried. Thus he was a power among them. By laying aside authority he became mighty to influence them for good. All who desire to be useful must learn that in self-sinking their usefulness will be found. He who becomes least is greatest of all. "When I am weak, then am I strong." II. THE SURE PROOF OF POWER; the indisputable evidence of any minister's call from God to preach the gospel. 1. "Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me."(1) He did not care about what they thought of his own speaking; but he was greatly concerned that they should not think lightly of the Lord Jesus who spoke in him. (2) Further, the apostle declares that even the power of the living Christ is the power of God. Our Lord kept nothing to Himself, but His weakness through which He was crucified, for He liveth by the power of God. Such must be the power of every Christian worker. (3) Then, says Paul, "If you want a proof of Christ's speaking in me with power, look at yourselves." He says elsewhere, "Ye are our epistle." "Ye are God's husbandry," and the test of how far our husbandry has been the Lord's husbandry must be found in your fruitfulness. The proof that Christ really doth speak by us is that He has wrought by that speaking in you after such a fashion as proves the doctrine to be Divine. Your souls are the seals of Christ's power. If ye seek any proof of Christ speaking by me, ye have it in your — 1. Conversion. When the chief priests and scribes saw the man that was healed standing with Peter and John, they could say nothing against them. Conversion proves that He by whose means it was wrought was sent by God. 2. Comfort. If by our speaking the Lord strengthens your weak hands and confirms your feeble knees, He points us out to you as His messengers. 3. Correction. Have you not sometimes felt your hearts turned inside out, as if the spirit of burning were scorching and purging you? Was not that of the Lord? 4. Conduct. My heart sinks within me when I hear of some who have been numbered with us. Do people say, "These are members of Spurgeon's church"? You are either our joy and crown, or else our sorrow and dishonour. You must estimate whether a man farms well by the crops which he raises. True you cannot condemn him if a few thorns and thistles spring up in the hedgerows, but if there is a preponderance of weeds, everybody says, "This is wretched farming." 5. Consecration. When your zeal burns, when you speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, then again I can say, seek ye a proof of Christ speaking by me? You are my witnesses inasmuch as by our word you have been stirred up to speak in the power of the Holy Ghost for the winning of souls. 6. Completion of the Christian character, and the display of it in the last hours. I have come down many times from the chamber of dying Christians with faith confirmed and joy increased. No dying man has looked me in the face and said, "Sir, you did not preach a religion which a man can die with." III. A NEEDED PROOF OF OURSELVES. 1. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." It is something to have our ministry attested, but it is much more to have your salvation attested. (1) Therefore you are not to take it for granted that you are saved. In London years ago every shop had its sign, and they had a saying that the house which had the sign of the sun in a certain street was darker than any other. So there are some who have grace for their sign, but no sign of grace. To have a name to live is a wretched thing, if we be really dead(2) Of course we are to examine our lives, but he says, "Examine yourselves." Sin within will ruin even if it be not seen in act. Of course we are to examine our doctrines, but even more we are to examine ourselves. Heart error is more deadly than head error. (3) "Prove your own selves." Pry deeper. You have already given yourself a sifting; take a finer sieve and go to work again. You have already been in the crucible — go in again, and become as silver tried in a furnace purified seven times. A man cannot make too sure work about his own salvation. But can we not be certain of our safety? Yes, we can: but certain because we have not shunned the most rigorous self-examinations. 2. And what is to be the point of search? "Whether ye be in the faith," whether what ye believe is true, and whether you truly believe it. 3. Dwell mostly on this point, "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Is Jesus Christ in you? I know all about Him. Yes, but is He in you? I read of Him. Read on, but is He in you? (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. |
    |