II Corinthians 13

Warning of Paul toward those sinning in churchverses 1-4

 This is the third time I am coming to you

in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall

every word be established

I told you before – and foretell you – as if I were present

the second time and being absent now I write to them

which heretofore have sinned

and to all other – that – if I come again

I will not spare

since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me

which to you-ward is not weak

but is mighty in you

FOR though HE was crucified through weakness

yet HE lives by the power of God

FOR we also are weak – in HIM

but we shall live with HIM

by the power of God toward you

Paul wants individuals to examine themselvesverses 5-6

 EXAMINE yourselves – whether you be in the faith

PROVE your own selves

KNOW you not your own selves

how that Jesus Christ is in you

except you be reprobates?

BUT I trust that you shall know that we are not reprobates

Paul wants the church to accept correctionverses 7-9

 Now I pray to God that you do no evil

            not that we should appear approved

but that you should do that which is HONEST

            though we be as reprobates

FOR we can do nothing against the truth – BUT for the truth

for we are glad – when we are weak – and you are strong

and this also we wish – even your perfection

Paul wants to strengthen the believersverse 10

 THEREFORE I write these things being absent

lest being present I should use sharpness

according to the power which the Lord

has given me to EDIFICATION

and not to destruction

Paul ends with challenges and promiseverses 11-14

 Finally – brethren –  FAREWELL

            be perfect – be of good comfort – be of one mind

live in peace

and the God of love and peace shall be with you

Greet one another with a holy kiss

            all the saints salute you

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ – and the love of God

and the communion of the Holy Ghost

be with you all         AMEN 

COMMENTARY: 

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 5        Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? (96 “reprobates” [adokimos] means castaway, rejected, not standing the test, not approved, spurious, unqualified, worthless, depraved, failing the test,  disreputable or drossy)

DEVOTION:  There was a test given to silver in the ancient world to see if it had been mixed with some other metal. If it failed the test it was considered drossy. It had little worth.

Paul is stating that each individual has to examine themselves to see if they are truly believers. We are not to condemn people who say they are believers. We can think that they are not saved by their actions but the LORD and the person know for sure if they are believers. However, sometimes even the person might not realize that they are not saved because they act like a believer but have never made a true commitment to serve the LORD.

There are so man nominal Christians in our pews that we need to be like Paul and tell them to really check their hearts to see if there is a genuine desire to serve the LORD or just go through the motions to please the people around them.

Some churches can really be good social clubs for people to get together and do whatever they want with no commitment to seeing others come to know the LORD.

In some of these churches even the pastor is one who is just interested in pleasing the people and never challenges himself or others to look at their lives. Those pastors are going to answer to the LORD. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were making converts who were twofold more the children of hell then themselves. It is sad but true of some false pastors who tell individuals they are believers because they have said a prayer but there is no other commitments necessary. They are lying to the ones they are ministering too.

CHALLENGE: When you talk to someone about the LORD make sure they know it is more than a prayer. It is a heart commitment to a changed life.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 9        For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. (2676 “perfection” [katartisis] means thorough equipment, a strengthening, a training, disciplining, instructing, a putting right, or completion)

DEVOTION:  Paul closes this letter with some warnings. He is coming to the church at Corinth. He wants them to deal with their problems before he arrives or he will have to deal with them then. He wants to come to only encourage them but if there must be discipline he is willing to do it.

Paul encourages the Christians to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith. There are some who are acting like reprobates. They are acting like they were not followers of the LORD. They seem to be fighting against the TRUTHS that Paul is teaching. He states that they can’t fight a winning battle against the TRUTH.

In the last chapter Paul told of his weakness in Christ. However, he also told that God works in weakness to produce strength of witness. He wants the Christians in Corinth to be strong. He also wishes for their completion of growth toward maturity. There is a difference between maturity and sinlessness.

There was only one individual who lived on this earth who was sinless and that was Christ. As believers we are told that we are supposed to be spiritual believers not carnal believers. The spiritual believer is one who is accepting instruction from the Holy Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD.

The Holy Spirit uses people, circumstances and our personal time with HIM to train us. This life is full of times of closeness to the LORD and distance from the LORD. Each day is different. Sometimes each moment is different. Paul wanted the Corinthians to complete their training or instructions. He wanted them to be strong in the faith. To be thoroughly equipped for the work of serving Christ everyone has to go through a training that lasts a lifetime.

The Christian life is one of growth in the LORD. There are many who claim to be Christians that never seem to grow. They might not be believers at all. Are we still learning from the LORD? NO ONE has arrived yet!!! Examine yourself. Remember those who are mature are to be edifying those who are not. Not looking to judge them.

CHALLENGE: Memorize verses of Scripture on a daily basis. Carry 3×5 cards with memory verses on them. It is one of the best ways to use every moment to learn the Word of God and keep close to the LORD.           

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 11      Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2675 “perfect” [katartizo] means fit, complete, to be made or become ready, suitable, or equipped in advance for a particular purpose or for some use or event, to furnish completely, or to put in full order)

DEVOTION:  Paul ends this letter to the church at Corinth with many imperatives or commands. His desire is to see the church mature in the faith. God’s desire in giving us this letter is for us to learn so that we can mature in the faith. There are four imperatives to follow and one statement.

First, we are to mature. There is no standing still in our relationship with Christ. We are either moving forward or backwards. God wants us always meditating on HIS Word to learn more about HIM and our relationship to HIM. This means Bible and other good doctrinal books.

Second, we are to be of good comfort. HE wants us to understand that HE will never leave us or forsake us. HE is always there by our side. HE is not a feeling but a fact. If we feel like HE has left us it is a lie of the devil.

Third, we are to be of one mind. HE wants us to have a unity that only the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life can bring. Too many believers are fighting with one another because they are not willing to seek the mind of Christ. It is not what we feel but what the Scriptures teach that is important and they teach we need to work together for the glory of God.

Fourth, we are to live at peace. Our goal should never to be negative toward other believers. We should stand up for good doctrine with the mindset to help someone who is a believer understand the teaching of the Word of God. It is not to fight with them but to instruct them and let the Holy Spirit end the struggle they are having with true doctrine.

Finally, there is the statement that we are to understand that we have the peace and love of God already with us once we become a believer. It is not something we have to obtain ourselves. Christ gave it to believers on the cross.

CHALLENGE: Our desire should be to mature in the faith on a regular basis. It is not to be satisfied with just staying immature. We need to grow up in the LORD!!

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: 14      The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2842 “communion” [koinonia] means fellowship, the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group, especially used of marriage and churches, a close mutual relationship, or joint participation)

DEVOTION:  One of the major doctrines or teaching of the Bible is that we serve ONE GOD in three persons. Those who study the Bible are called Theologians. They use the word Trinity to describe our ONE GOD. The Bible uses the word “Godhead” to describe this relationship.

It is hard for us to understand that ONE GOD can be in three persons. Yet the Bible teaches this as truth. Some have used the illustration of an egg: you have one shell, one yoke and one white. That is the makeup of one egg. The three parts make one egg. There are other illustrations used to help us understand but for us to fully understand this doctrine we have to take it by faith because the Bible teaches it as truth.

This verse as well as many others gives us the three persons and our relationship to each person. The Son who is Jesus Christ is said to give us grace. The Father is said to give us love. The Holy Spirit gives us fellowship. So the THREE persons of the Godhead work together to give us the grace, love and fellowship we need to grow in our relationship to HIM.

Many false teachers try to explain their relationship differently. Study what the Bible teaches.

CHALLENGE: Read good doctrinal books to help you understand this basic teaching of Christianity.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD) 

Writeverse 2

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level) 

Paul’s prayer for Christiansverse 7

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Writeverses 2, 10

Truthverse 8

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Godverses 4, 7, 11, 14

Power of Godverse 4

God of love and peaceverse 11

Love of Godverse 14

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Christverse 3, 5, 14

Crucifiedverse 4

Lived by the power of Godverse 4

Jesus verse 5, 14

Jesus Christ verse 5

Power given of Lordverse 10

Lordverses 10, 14

Lord Jesus Christverse 14

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Holy Ghostverse 14

Communion of the Holy Ghostverse 14

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Trinitarian verseverse 14

Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

Love of God

Communion of the Holy Ghost

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Sinnedverse 2

Reprobatesverses 5-7

Evilverse 7

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Witnesses to truthverse 1

Proof of Christverse 3

Christ speaking in belieververse 3

Live by the power of Godverse 4

Examineverse 5

Faithverse 5

Proveverse 5

Knowverse 5

Pray to Godverse 7

Honestverse 7

Truthverse 8

Gladverse 9

Strongverse 9

Perfectionverse 9

Powerverse 10

Edificationverse 10

Perfectverse 11

Good comfortverse 11

One mindverse 11

Live in peaceverse 11

Greet with holy kissverse 12

Saintsverse 13

Graceverse 14

Loveverse 14

Communionverse 14

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Church (New Testament people of God)

Paul use sharpnessverse 10

Brethrenverse 11

Last Things (Future Events)

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DONATIONS:

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QUOTES regarding passage

5, 6 Rather than demanding proof (dokimē) that Christ was speaking through Paul (v. 3), the Corinthians ought to be examining and testing (dokimazō) their own selves. The repeated heautous (“yourselves”) is in each case emphatic by position. Paul continues like this: “Don’t you know yourselves [heautous] sufficiently well to recognize that Christ Jesus lives within each of you [cf. Rom 8:9] and that therefore you are in the faith?” Although for the sake of emphasis he adds “unless, of course, you fail the test [adokimoi],” he does not believe the Corinthians are counterfeit and knows that no Corinthian is likely to form such a conclusion about himself.

As v. 6 implies, the Corinthians’ belief in the genuineness of their faith carried with it the proof of the genuineness of Paul’s apostleship and gospel, for he had become their father in Christ Jesus through the gospel (1 Cor 4:15). They themselves as men and women in Christ formed the verification of his credentials (cf. 3:2, 3). Only if they doubted their own salvation should they doubt Paul’s claim to be a true “apostle of Christ Jesus” (1:1). If they did not fail the test, neither did he (v. 6). (Harris, M. J. (1976). 2 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, pp. 403–404). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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5. Examine yourselves (ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε). Yourselves is emphatic. Instead of putting Christ to the test, test yourselves. Rev., try, is better than examine. Examination does not necessarily imply a practical test. It may be merely from curiosity. Trial implies a definite intent to ascertain their spiritual condition.

The faith. See on Acts 6:7. In a believing attitude toward Christ.

Prove (δοκιμάζετε). As the result of trying.

Or know ye not, etc. Assuming that you thus prove yourselves, does not this test show you that Christ is in you as the result of your faith in him?

Reprobates (ἀδόκιμοι). An unfortunate translation. A reprobate is one abandoned to perdition. The word is kindred to the verb prove (δοκιμάζετε), and means disapproved on trial. See on Rom. 1:28. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 360). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)

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Unless indeed ye be reprobate (εἰ μητι ἀδοκιμοι ἐστε [ei mēti adokimoi este]). Paul challenged his opposers in Corinth to try (πειραζετε [peirazete]) themselves, to test (δοκιμαζετε [dokimazete]) themselves, whether they were “in the faith” (ἐν τῃ πιστει [en tēi pistei]), a much more vital matter for them than trying to prove Paul a heretic. Such tests can be made, unless, alas, they are “reprobate” (ἀδοκιμοι [adokimoi], the very adjective that Paul held up before himself as a dreadful outcome to be avoided, 1 Cor. 9:27). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 13:5). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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13:5–7. Throughout the letter Paul subjected himself and his ministry to scrutiny. Now he handed the lens to the Corinthians, with the challenge that they consider their own conduct (yourselves is in the emphatic position in Gr.). Paul’s question is usually construed with regard to positional justification: were they Christians or not? But it more likely concerned practical sanctification: did they demonstrate that they were in the faith (cf. 1 Cor. 16:13) and that Christ was in them by their obeying His will? To stand the test was to do what was right. To fail was to be disobedient and therefore subject to God’s discipline. The words fail(ed) the test (2 Cor. 13:5–6) and failed (v. 7) render the Greek word adokimoi (“disapproved”; cf. adokimos in 1 Cor. 9:27).

Whatever doubts the Corinthians may have had about Paul’s conduct (e.g., 2 Cor. 1:17, 2:17; 7:2) he believed that a sober evaluation would lead them to vindicate him. He hoped they would not be disapproved by God; and he hoped they would see that he was not disapproved by God. Still it was their reputation or standing, not his, that concerned him. (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 584–585). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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“Examine yourselves!” (vv. 5–8) This paragraph is an application of the word proof that Paul used in 2 Corinthians 13:3. “You have been examining me,” wrote Paul, “but why don’t you take time to examine yourselves?” I have noticed in my ministry that those who are quick to examine and condemn others are often guilty of worse sins themselves. In fact, one way to make yourself look better is to condemn somebody else.

To begin with, Paul told the Corinthians that they should examine their hearts to see if they were really born again and members of the family of God. Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart? (Rom. 8:9, 16) Do you love the brethren? (1 John 3:14) Do you practice righteousness? (1 John 2:29; 3:9) Have you overcome the world so that you are living a life of godly separation? (1 John 5:4) These are just a few of the tests we can apply to our own lives to be certain that we are the children of God.

In one of the churches I pastored, we had a teenager who was the center of every problem in the youth group. He was a gifted musician and a member of the church, but nevertheless he was a problem. One summer when he went off to our church youth camp, the youth leaders and church officers and I agreed together to pray for him daily. At one of the meetings, he got up and announced that he had been saved that week! His Christian profession up to that time had been counterfeit. He experienced a dramatic change in his life, and today he is serving the Lord faithfully.

No doubt many of the problems in the church at Corinth were caused by people who professed to be saved, but who had never repented and trusted Jesus Christ. Our churches are filled with such people today. Paul called such people reprobate, which means “counterfeit, discredited after a test.” Paul used this word again in 2 Corinthians 13:6–7, emphasizing the fact that it is important for a person to know for sure that he is saved and going to heaven (see 1 John 5:11–13).

In 2 Corinthians 13:7, Paul made it clear that he did not want the Corinthians to fail the test just to prove that he was right. Nor did he want them to live godly lives just so he could boast about them. He did not mind being despised and criticized for their sakes, so long as they were obeying the Lord. He was not concerned about his own reputation, for the Lord knew his heart; but he was concerned about their Christian character.

The important thing is the truth of the Gospel and the Word of God (2 Cor. 13:8). Paul did not state here that it is impossible to attack the truth or hinder the truth, for these things were going on at that time in the Corinthian church. He was affirming that he and his associates wanted the truth to prevail, come what may, and that they were determined to further the truth, not obstruct it. In the end, God’s truth will prevail, so why try to oppose it? “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 678–679). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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13:5 If some in Corinth are asking what proof Paul can provide that Christ speaks in him, he turns the question around and challenges them to conduct a spiritual audit on themselves to see how they check out as Christians: “Test yourselves”; “Prove yourselves.” They should be examining themselves, not cross examining him. Paul plays on the verb “to prove” (dokimazō, 13:5; see 8:9; 24) and the adjectives “proven” (“approved,” dokimos, 13:7; see 10:18) and “unproven” (“fail the proof,” “unapproved,” “counterfeit,” adokimos, 13:5, 6, 7). He tells the Galatians that each one should test (dokimazō) his own work, then he might have a boast, but only in himself, not by comparing himself to someone else (Gal 6:4). Paul uses the adjective dokimos to refer to Apelles who is “tested and approved in Christ” (Rom 16:10, NIV). He tells the Corinthians that he beats his body to make it his slave “so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (adokimos) for the prize” to warn them that no one can slide by God’s judgment (1 Cor 9:27; see 3:13). Hebrews 6:8 contains a vivid picture of what “failing the proof” entails: “But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless (adokimos) and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.”

Betz ties the parallel challenge in Gal 6:4, “Each one should test his own actions,” to the famous Delphic maxim, “know yourself.” He comments that “self-examination meant the scrutinizing of one’s own conduct of life … exclusively, not a comparison with others.” This is Paul’s answer to those who dare to commend themselves by comparing themselves to others. They are to know themselves in Christ and to examine themselves by the faith.

“To see whether you are in the faith” may also be translated “to see whether you are holding the faith” (RSV). “Faith” here does not refer simply to trust in Christ, which is its primary meaning in Paul’s usage, but to the whole Christian way and truth (see Titus 1:13; 2:2). It is not a matter of examining their doctrines, however, but of bringing their conduct and thinking into conformity with their belief in Christ.

We have interpreted Paul’s statement in 1:24 to mean that they stand firm by faith, but others take it to be an affirmation that they stand firm in the faith. Even if this latter interpretation is correct, this challenge at the end of the letter, “see whether you are in the faith,” does not mean that his former confidence in them is now shaken. If it were, he could hardly expect them even to want to administer such a test, let alone to grade it responsibly. The suggestion of doubt, “to see whether” is part of his exhortation for them to shape up before he arrives so that he can be pleasantly surprised by their moral reform and their good order.

Paul does not give them a checklist of items to inspect to ascertain whether they are approved or in the faith. We might assume that such a list would involve theological, ethical, and social criteria. For example, he has told them in 1 Corinthians, “no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:2). He warned, “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor 6:18), and, “Flee from idolatry” (1 Cor 10:14). He berated them for ignoring and mortifying the poor at their Lord’s supper, “Do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?” (1 Cor 11:22). But given the Corinthians’ high opinions of themselves as “spiritual ones,” (1 Cor 3:1), Paul may be taking for granted that they will conclude that Christ is indeed in them (Rom 8:9–11; Gal 2:20). He does not think that they will fail themselves on the test. The jeopardy is real (see 1 Cor 10:12); their conduct has been unseemly for those who are in Christ. But they could not test themselves unless they were true Christians.

The summons to test themselves will therefore authenticate Paul’s ministry to them when they conclude that Christ is in them. This conclusion should lead them to recognize that just as they belong to Christ, so does Paul (10:7). Barnett is correct, “their verdict about themselves will likewise be their verdict about him.” If they approve themselves, they must also approve Paul who brought the gospel to them. If Christ is in them, it was Paul who first preached Christ crucified to them. But Paul has spelled out another criterion earlier in the letter for determining if one is approved: “The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test [hē dokimē] and be obedient in everything” (2:9). If they are to pass as those who are approved, they will be obedient to Paul, particularly in his commands about appropriate Christian conduct. Christian behavior is the touchstone for determining whether those who claim to be Christians really are. Hanson comments, “A Christian’s conduct, then, is a very good ready reckoner for determining his relationship to Christ, and a much better one than his religious experience.” (Garland, D. E. (1999). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 29, pp. 545–547). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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FROM MY READING: 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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“Impatience was one of Israel’s besetting sins, and God was helping them learn patient obedience; for it’s through ‘faith and patience’ that God’s people inherit what He has promised (Heb. 6:12). God is never in a hurry. He knows what He’s doing, and His timing is never off.” from (Be Strong: Joshua, Warren Wiersbe)

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The destructive criticism and the new theology, both emanating from Germany, were in no sense congruous with his plan, and were wholly rejected as out of harmony with the great historic faith founded upon two thousand years of Christian experience and study. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 98). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)

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HIGHEST POWER

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. John 17:2
There is only one person who can give us the gift of eternal life, and that is the One who is praying: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Christ alone can give us this eternal life.
There is the terrible danger of mysticism here, or at any rate of the mysticism that does not make Christ central. There are many people in the world who are anxious to possess this life of God. You will find them writing about it, and one of the most remarkable examples of this has been Aldous Huxley, who used to be a complete skeptic, but who came to believe that nothing can save the world but mysticism, and who became a Buddhist for that reason. Such men believe that there is this eternal life of God to be had, that what we need is that life of God in ourselves, and that our trouble is that we have not got it. But these people think that they can get this life of God in themselves without mentioning the Lord Jesus Christ at all. You get it, they say, by contemplation of the Absolute, by increasingly sinking into the eternal and being lost in him, because as you do so, you are receiving life from him.
But, my friends, it is Christ and He alone who can give eternal life. He claims it here, and Scripture says it everywhere: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life . . .” There is no one else who can give eternal life to man except the Lord Jesus Christ. If it were possible in any other way, why did He ever come to earth? Why the death on the cross? There is no other way; the whole plan of salvation centers on Him.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ alone can give us this eternal life.
    (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 132-133, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Deuteronomy 26
The Lord teaches the Israelites the importance of giving.

INSIGHT

We offer a portion of our income to the Lord in gratitude for what He has given us. If we know Him for who He really is, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, then we will rightly understand that everything in the world truly belongs to Him. In His goodness and compassion, He has provided us with the things that we need to survive. As we give to the church, “the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow,” we are acknowledging his exuberant generosity and love. (Quiet Walk)

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World Without End
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)
This beautiful Old Testament promise has been appropriated by Paul (1 Corinthians 2:9) and applied to the New Testament believer guided by the indwelling Spirit of God. It looks forward to the ages to come when all those “things which God hath prepared for them that love him” will be given in their fullness.
It is noteworthy that both “the beginning of the world” in our text (Isaiah 64:4) and “world without end” (45:17) are translations of the same Hebrew word, olam, which means essentially “indefinitely long ago” or even “eternity.” Thus, the wonderful plan God has prepared for His people, to be implemented and enjoyed in eternity future, was formulated by Him in eternity past.
We were then chosen “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). He had even planned our redemption from sin through His Son, “with the precious blood of Christ, . . . Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19-20).
We may not, in this life, really comprehend with our minds such marvelous things, but we who “wait for him” can believe them with rejoicing in our hearts, for “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Thus, we can unite with thankful and understanding hearts in Paul’s great doxology: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).

                       (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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