Outline
E
If we are to carry out the ministry of reconciliation, we need to be identified with the crucified Christ—2 Cor. 4:10-12; 5:14; Gal. 2:20; 5:24.
F
The Corinthians still lived in the flesh, that is, in the soul, the outer man, the natural being—1 Cor. 3:1; 2:14:
１
The veil of the flesh, the natural man, separated them from God.
２
Paul was working to cut asunder the separating veil of the flesh so that the believers at Corinth could enter into the Holy of Holies—Heb. 10:19-20.
G
Only when we have been fully reconciled to God are we fully saved—2 Cor. 6:1-2; Rom. 5:10; Heb. 7:25.
H
The extent to which we can bring others to God and into God is always measured by where we are with respect to God; the more we are in Him, the more we can reconcile others into Him—2 Cor. 12:12a; 5:20.
Morning Nourishment
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.5:24 But they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and its lusts.
Although the Corinthians had been saved and reconciled to God halfway, they still lived in the flesh; that is, they lived in the soul, the outer man, the natural being. The veil of the flesh, of the natural man, still separated them from God. This means that their natural being was a separating veil. Therefore, they needed the second step of reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul was working… on the Corinthians to cut the veil of the flesh asunder, to crucify their natural life, to consume their outer man. What the apostle Paul was doing in 1 and 2 Corinthians was to cleave the separating veil of the flesh so that the believers at Corinth could enter into the Holy of Holies. (Life-study of 2 Corinthians, p. 320)
Today’s Reading
In the Holy Place are the blessings of the Spirit, the lampstand, and the incense altar. But in the Holy Place there is not the direct presence of God. In order to have God Himself, we must be reconciled further and come into the Holy of Holies. We must take the second step of reconciliation to be brought into the presence of God…This reconciliation brings us not only out of sin but also out of the flesh, the natural man, the natural being. Then we are brought to God and become one with Him.Not only were the apostles commissioned with the work, the ministry, of reconciliation, but in bringing others into God, they worked together with God. They knew that by themselves they could not bring anyone into God. They did not have this ability, this capacity. They needed to do this work with God.
There is an important difference between working for God and working with Him. Even in our human living, working with another person is different from simply working for that person…A wife may enjoy cooking for her husband; however, she may not like to cook a meal with her husband…The same may be true of working for the Lord. Often we like to work for the Lord, but we do not want to work with Him…If we work in this way, we will not be able to reconcile others into the Lord. Because we are not in the Lord ourselves in a practical way in our work, we cannot reconcile anyone else into the Lord. Only by working with the Lord can we reconcile others into Him.
To work together with God means that we are in Him. When we are in Him, we can bring others into Him. Only a person who is in God can bring others into God. If you are not in Him, you certainly cannot bring anyone else into Him. Our closeness to God is the measure of the result of our work. If we are far away from God, we cannot bring others close to Him…If we are those who are one with God, then we can bring others to the very place where we are. Therefore, if we want to bring others into the Lord, we must first be in Him ourselves. The more we are in Him, the more we can reconcile others into Him. May this matter be deeply impressed upon us!
In 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul goes on to say, “For He says, ’‘In an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is the well-acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” The phrase well-acceptable time refers to the time of our being reconciled to God, when He well accepts us. Salvation in this verse, according to the context, refers to reconciliation. Reconciliation actually is full salvation.
In chapter 5 Paul speaks of reconciliation, and in chapter 6, of salvation. Hence, the salvation mentioned in 6:2 actually refers to reconciliation. Only when we the believers, the saved ones in Christ, have been fully reconciled to God are we fully saved. Until then, we are only partially saved; we have not yet been saved in full. (Life-study of 2 Corinthians, pp. 320-321, 340-342)
Further Reading: Life-study of 2 Corinthians, msg. 40