2 Corinthians 13:1-14
Realise that Christ Jesus is in you
Do you realise that Jesus Christ lives within you? The apostle Paul had no doubt that Jesus Christ was living in him. He realised that in the words he spoke to the Corinthians, ‘Christ is speaking through me’ (v.3).
Paul had the advantage of meeting the risen Jesus. He was able to write with great confidence, ‘for to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you’ (v.4).
Self-examination is important and is totally different from self-condemnation. He urged them to ‘examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it’ (v.5a, AMP). The purpose of self-examination is so that you can see what is wrong in your life, admit it, turn from it and be set free by Jesus.
Paul urged the Corinthians to realise that just as Jesus Christ lived in him, so too ‘Jesus Christ is in you’ (v.5). Paul talks far more often of us being in Christ than Christ in us. Nevertheless, the passages in which he puts it the other way round are remarkable. In Colossians 1:27 Paul writes, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’, and here too he writes about Christ being in you, and the difference it makes: ‘Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you…?’ (2 Corinthians 13:5).
This is what turns our weakness into strength (v.9). This is why he prayed for their perfection (v.9), and was able to urge them to ‘aim for perfection’ (v.11).
Of course, none of us will reach perfection in this life. Being a perfectionist is unhealthy. But we can all aim to live in a perfect relationship with God and with one another. He appealed to them, ‘be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you’ (v.11).
How is this possible? Paul ends with the words of ‘the grace’: ‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’ (v.14).
The whole Trinity is involved. It is the ‘amazing grace’ (v.14a, MSG) of Jesus that enables you to be constantly forgiven and cleansed. It is ‘the extravagant love of God’ (the Father) (v.14b, MSG) filling your hearts that enables you to aim for perfect love. It is ‘the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit’ (v.14c, MSG) of Jesus living in you that enables imperfect people to grow into maturity and one day see him face to face. Only then will you reach perfection.
Lord, thank you that you live within me. May your amazing grace flow out of everything I do. Fill me today with the knowledge of your extravagant love and the intimate friendship of your Holy Spirit.
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