The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: 2 Corinthians

  • Lesson 6: Growing in Christ: 2 Corinthians 6-13

    Key Verse

    Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

    —2 Corinthians 7:1

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. After reading it, understand it better with the following definitions:

    • Cleanse means “to purify from the pollution and guilt of sin – in a spiritual sense.”
    • Filthiness means “anything that defiles (to make unclean or impure).”
    • Holiness means “exhortation to believers to perfect holiness – to live a virtuous life in the fear of God.”

    In this lesson, we will learn as Paul wrote to the Corinthians helping them understand that God wanted them to remove sin and live a life pleasing Him.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we are to understand the importance of putting away sin, choosing Christian friends, and to grow more Christ-like in our lives. It is imperative that we examine our hearts and lives to be sure we are becoming more like Christ.

    Lesson Summary: After reading the letter of Romans as Paul taught the foundational doctrine (doctrine means “a principle or position laid down as true by an instructor or master”), and instruction for the church, we learned that there were faults in the church at Corinth. Paul then wrote two letters to the Corinthians convincing them of the faults and teaching them how to correct them. As we continue in this lesson, Paul gives further instruction as they were learning how to live and function as the body of Christ. These words were preserved through the years so that Christians today could continue to learn.

    Paul called them to work together, not forgetting they were saved by grace, and to grow in their Christian lives, producing fruit. He also taught them to understand the difference between one who lived a Christ-like life, and one who lived like the world. Christians are to recognize and separate from the unrighteous. God was their father, and they were his children, so Christians were to cleanse their lives from sin, becoming more like Christ.

    When the Corinthian church heard Paul’s words of correction, they received them, growing and abounding in their faith. Paul taught specific ways to walk in that Christian life: in their giving and in the warfare (“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh” 2 Corinthians 10:3). He continued with a warning to not be deceived by false teaching, and to know that God would help them: for Paul learned “for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Finally, Paul encouraged them to consistently examine their own heart and lives – making sure that they were living a Christ-like life.

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 6 Questions

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 6 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember this lesson:

    We laced a frame for the verse from 2 Corinthians 6:1. We then added stickers to complete it.

    The complete lesson is now available in The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Three through Amazon.

  • Lesson 5: Be Faithful to Christ: 2 Corinthians 1-5

    Key Verse

    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

    —2 Corinthians 5:10

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the Key Verse, understand that each Christian will stand before God one day to give an accounting of how they lived their lives. We have already learned that God knows everything, even the things done in secret (see Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”). In this lesson, we will learn as Paul taught that each Christian is to live a life so that others can see Jesus – for Christians are His ambassadors.

    Emphasis: Christians are faithfully to live a life pleasing to God understanding that each Christian will stand before God one day to give an accounting of his life – of things done that are good or bad. We must recognize that living a Christ-like life may not always be easy, but to remember that Christians represent Jesus as His ambassador here on this earth.

    Lesson Summary: Second Corinthians was a letter written to the church at Corinth, approximately a year after First Corinthians. Paul understood that the first letter had been received, and the people were adhering to the teachings, but he had further instructions for them.

    Paul encouraged the church to forgive one another’s faults, and receive the one who had been separated from them because of sin – for he had repented. They had to learn the importance of forgiveness – just as Jesus had taught. Christians were to understand that when they were faced with difficult situations, they were to live according to what they had been taught.

    Paul encouraged them to follow Christ – no matter how difficult it may be. Moreover, Paul led by example, living a life so that anyone could see Jesus by his words and actions. Paul wanted Christians to understand that God had given His Spirit to dwell within each Christian’s heart, and God’s Spirit would teach them the right thing to do in any situation. He continued by teaching Christians the importance of true (correct) teaching because the god of this world, Satan, blinds people because he doesn’t want them to recognize the Light of the world – Jesus.

    Paul taught that each Christian would stand before God, giving an account of how they lived their life, whether good or bad. He wanted them to understand that Christians represent Jesus here on this earth, and Christians are ambassadors for Christ.

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 5 Questions

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 5 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember this lesson:

    One time, we filled a bag with sweet smelling potpourri and attached a tag with verse 2 Corithians 2:15 to help them remember the importance of living a Christ-like life others would recognize. Another time, we decorated a foam sheet with stickers to hang somewhere with the same verse to help them remember.

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Three is now available through Amazon.

  • Faithfulness to Christ

    “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”           (2 Corinthians 5:10)

    Excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life, Year Three Quarter Three” Lesson 5:

    “Read Paul’s conflict of continuing to work for the Lord here on earth, many times in tribulation, desiring to be in heaven. “6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-11) Terror means “the fear of God as in a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God or Christ.” Paul’s conflict was resolved when he understood that God had much work for Christians to do here on earth: teaching Jesus. And that each Christian would stand before the Lord one day to give an accounting of their faithfulness in their Christian walk, “whether it be good or bad.” As we understand that, remember something important that we have already learned. God knows everything, even the things done in secret (see Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”). We are to understand that each Christian will stand before God and be accountable for what they have done with his or her life. What are we to do? We are to “persuade men.” Not only tell about Jesus, but to live for Him, faithfully.

    Why live for Christ? “14. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17). Jesus died on the cross for man’s sin. Once He gave His life, He gave the ability for any who would believe in Him to have life instead of death. Once a Christian receives that gift of life, he must understand that he is now “in Christ, he is a new creature.” No longer what he once was, a sinner doomed for eternal separation from God. Now, all things are become new. There is a new life to live in Christ; for Christ. “20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Because God took man’s sin, placed it upon Jesus (“made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin”), it made those who believe able to stand righteous before God. Each Christian must understand that he represents Christ here in this world. According to the dictionary, ambassador means “a minister of the highest rank, representing the power and dignity of his sovereign. They are ordinary when they reside permanently at a foreign court, but extraordinary when they are sent on a special occasion.” Christians must be considered extraordinary for they do not permanently reside on the earth, but were sent especially by Jesus to represent Him, living right and telling others about Him, until He returns. 

    Paul lived as an ambassador for Christ.”