It’s clear that a part of the Corinthian church was encased in unrepentant sexual sin. Were they engaging in temple prostitution with pagan cults? Where they committing incest in families? We cannot be certain. But 12:21 makes it clear that they were continuing in sexual sin. Even worse, they were rejecting Paul as a weak apostle who wrote strong letters. They were not worried about him to any great extent. They did not fear Paul returning to discipline them.
As Paul addresses this unfortunate situation he calls them to repent of their sinfulness before he comes and deals with them before the congregation. He will no longer be ‘weak’ with them. This discipline will, in turn, prove that Christ is speaking through him. But being a loving father to this congregation he would rather have them repent before he arrives so that discipline is not necessary. Every father or mother can probably identify with Paul here.
Paul turns to the death of Christ to urge them to repent. Christ was not weak in dealing with them. Even though He died in weakness He was raised in glory and lives powerfully among them. Those who live in Christ, should no longer live for themselves (and for their own lusts) but should live for Him who died for them. The death of Christ produces a repentant heart and godly sorrow within us, that leads us away from sin.
Prayer:-
- A survey in America reported that 80% of Christian men struggle with pornography. While we may not know the figures for Australian Christian men, we can still pray for them. Pray that God would make the men in your congregation men of integrity who love the Lord and are able to stand against the temptations of the world, especially the temptation of pornography.
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