Paul has been defending his life and ministry in the first five chapters. His enemies at Corinth had accused him of wrong methods and motives, and he successfully answered them. His final statement in chapter 5 deals with his ministry of reconciliation. The first two verses in the sixth chapter carry on the instruction from chapter 5 concerning our calling and task as ambassadors. God has just finished a passionate plea that each person who is a new creation in Christ Jesus participate in the ministry of reconciliation. Each one reconciled by Christ is to be involved in reconciling the world to God. But not all those in the church are. They have missed their ministry. According to our text, they have received the grace of God in vain. God expects those who have received grace to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. He not only beseeches the sinners in 5:20, but he beseeches the saints in 6:1. How tragic it is when churches and Christians receive God’s grace in vain. The Corinthians were babes in Christ, immature saints, because they failed to grow in knowledge and grace. They had the greatest pastor available, and yet they failed to benefit from Paul’s ministry! How tragic it is, if the Corinthians’ hardness of heart made such grace of no practical, transforming value to them at all (6:1–2).
Paul said, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Workers together - with God 5:20 says that we are Ambassadors for Christ! Now he says that we are not only His "ambassadors”, but we also are “workers together with God.” Paul is describing what real ministry looks like. For not only are we saved by grace, but also the grace of God sanctifies us as we join Him in the ministry of reconciliation. Co-workers with God! One of the highest compliments ever bestowed upon believers is calling us co-laborers with the Almighty God. He who scattered the stars in space, set the world upon its axis, created night and day and all forms of life has allowed us to join Him in His creative work. While God is busy making sinners into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold all things have become new) He has called us to be His ambassadors (His Kingdom Representatives on Earth)!
So Paul begs us (New Century Version) "So we beg you: DO NOT let the grace that you received from God be for nothing!" Men not only need the ministry of the Gospel before they have received grace, but also after they have received grace they need to continue in it. How could one "receive. . . the grace of God in vain?" A Christian’s salvation is forever secure, but some of us choose to spend our lives on ourselves rather than on the purposes to which God has called us. Those who do not join together with God in this ministry of reconciliation have received the grace of God in vain. Justification is not grace's end result. The justifying grace of God seeks to bring us into fuller sanctification. There is no indication that the salvation of the Corinthian believers is in jeopardy, but what about the salvation of others?
Here the Apostle quotes Isaiah 49:8 as an appeal for them to receive God’s grace. Because of the reconciling work of Christ on the cross, today is indeed “the day of salvation.” There is no guarantee that any sinner will have the opportunity to be saved tomorrow. We must “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). Isaiah prophesied Thus says the Lord: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; That You may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Isaiah is saying that God will give you authority: to say to those in bondage – Go Forth & to say those in hiding in darkness – Show Yourselves! When do we get this authority Isaiah spoke of? Paul says, Now is the time! Let me remind the saints today that God has HEARD you, God has HELPED you, and God has HASTENED you!
I. God has Heard you He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you”
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. Paul wants us to remember that Now is the Time because He hears you! You see Ephesians 2:12 says, “at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” A songwriter called Isaac Watts in 1719 wrote a song that says “I love the Lord, He heard my cry and pitied every groan.” Minister Smith taught me in the Hour of Power that he got that from Psalm 116 “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.”
II. God has Helped you He says: "in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, WHO made heaven and earth!
Paul wants us to remember that Now is the Time because He helps you! Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee… God never said it’s going to be easy! Serving the Lord is never easy! But God sent Isaiah to remind us (43:1-3) Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
III. God has Hastened you Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation - The present time is the only proper season to accept of the grace that is offered, and improve in that grace which is afforded: NOW is the accepted time, NOW is the day of salvation. This means To-day, while it is called to-day. Tomorrow is not ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be; and we should remember that present season of grace are short and uncertain and cannot be recalled when they are past. Isaiah said (55:6) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: The Hebrews writer said (4:7) there is a saying in the writings of King David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."
Now is the Time because He hastens you! David’s son King Solomon tells us that God has a set time and when that time is over, He will be done! In Proverbs 1:27 it says, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.” The Apostle John recording Jesus saying (9:4) “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” In 2003 Richard Smallwood took Isaac Watts’ lyrics I Love the Lord ©and composed the music, “I love the Lord - He heard my cry - And pitied every groan - Long as I live - And troubles rise - I hasten to his throne” Do not wait until tomorrow to do the ministry God has called you to today! If you are outside the “Ark of Safety” do not wait until tomorrow but place you trust in Jesus today! Now is the Time!
Richards, L. (1991). The Bible reader's companion. Includes index. (779). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (2 Co 6:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. (from Geneva Notes, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2005, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Wiersbe, Warren W.: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1997, c1992, S. 372 (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)
