2 Corinthians

Commit everything in our lives to Jesus. He will do the rest by the power of Holy Spirit.

God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus!

2 Corinthians

Because Paul indicates that he experienced the comfort of the risen Christ in the midst of his hardships, he reveals Jesus as the source of the believer’s comfort: “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” Given Paul’s personal tragedies, Jesus the Comforter is a major emphasis in this letter. But, look further and you will find much more. Jesus is celebrated as our triumph, our light, our reconciliation, our substitute, our gift, and our strength.

2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Despite his suffering, Paul is confident in his victory through Christ. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers a new creation. The Hebrew word used here, kosmos, for the world refers to people estranged from God and under the influence of sin and the devil. Paul affirms that Christ did not sin, though He was tempted.

This describes how God regarded Christ as sin for the sake of undeserving sinners. More specifically, Paul may be presenting Christ as a substitute for sinful humanity or he could be referring to Christ’s identification with sin through His union with sinful humanity. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God demonstrated His righteousness  (dikaiosynē) by judging sin yet showing mercy to sinners. Here Paul refers to the idea of Christians becoming the righteousness of God. He may mean that believers, as a result of God’s justification, receive a right standing before God while Christ takes on their sins.

This indescribable gift refers to Christ, who brought about salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. He became poor so that those who believe in Him might become rich. Paul appropriately closes his appeal for the Corinthian church to give generously by thanking God for His generous gift.

Grace in this context, the Greek word used here, charis, refers to Christ’s power to help Paul endure hardship, be strengthened when struggling (physically, mentally, or spiritually), or experience forgiveness. God’s grace  enables Paul to participate in Christ’s sufferings for the gospel and the Church and to still demonstrate God’s power despite his weaknesses. Despite Paul’s troubles, God will help him. Paul does his work because God chose to empower Him. Weakness provides the opportunity for God to show His power. For this reason, Paul can boast about his weaknesses even though others may mock him. Faithlife Bible.

As God commanded the light to shine in the darkness at creation (so he “turns on” the light in peoples’ hearts so they can see who Jesus Christ is. People who do not believe are blinded by Satan. But believers see the light. 

God could change His relationship toward us because our sins have been imputed (reckoned) to Christ, instead of to us. In other words, God placed our sins on Christ, who knew no sin. His death was in our place and for our sins. If we believe in Jesus, God counts Jesus’ righteousness as our righteousness. The word of reconciliation that has been entrusted to us is to tell all people that God wants to restore them to a relationship with Himself. This is the Good News that everyone needs to hear. Jesus never did anything wrong. Yet He died for our sins, so that we could be declared righteous, that is to say, justified. 

God’s indescribable gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. Our gifts can never compare to God’s sacrifice for us. When believers are without strength and look to the Lord, He provides power by His grace. NKJ Bible.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.