January 14, 2024

Marks of the Church

Read 2 Corinthians 12: 11-21

Paul summarizes his defense against the claims of the “super-apostles” in this passage.

These last few chapters Paul appearing to be defending himself has set a table of comparison.

In his defense of his boasting, his foolishness, he reminds the church of his service to the Lord.

In his absence, they have been unable to speak up, to defend the church or its founding father.

In v. 12 he speaks to signs of the true apostle performed as evidence of God’s hand upon him.

These signs of the true apostle showed that his defense should have been unnecessary.

Signs of the true apostles are marks or attributes of the true apostle are God lead acts.

These signs, wonders, and mighty works by the apostles are captured in the book of Acts.

The apostles, chosen by Christ to spread the gospel, were unique in their apostolic gifts.

Not everyone has been given these signs of the true apostles, which are not self-appointed.

Their ability to manifest the powers of Christ were special and different from our spiritual gifts.

Apostles like Paul were chosen to spread Christianity by their personal experience with Christ.

The end of the apostolic age these gifts passed, yet the church body has different spiritual gifts.

These gifts are not miraculous signs but to show the genuineness of our faith or evangelism.

They are used to grow the church, build congregations of believers, a testament to the Lord.

We are the body of the risen Christ, his heart, hands, feet, and voice reaching out to people.

The church is measured in its spiritual discipleship and discipline in performing the mission.

No church is perfect, a part of our faith is striving for perfection, to live to the example of Jesus.

The Bible has provided us with characteristics or signs to recognize a church is true to God.

These characteristics or signs are known as the marks of a church, its Godly attributes.

There is one church, one body of Christ, different parts working together to share the Gospel.

Ephesians 4:5-6 Paul writes it this way, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

A healthy church teaches Biblical doctrine based on the inerrant and infallible Word of God.

A church of believers is focused is on worshipping the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Faithful interpretation and application of biblical doctrine producing a Christian lifestyle.

A healthy church encourages discipleship, produces faithful followers who know and love God. They obey His Word, getting involved in the church, build relationships with other believers. Use their spiritual gifts for ministry and service, grow in sanctification and bear His fruit.

The marks of a healthy church are those we find in the book of Acts 2:42-47.

Devoted to meeting together for the apostles teaching, prayer, fellowship in breaking bread.

Dedicated to one another, forming a loving, generous church that cared for one another.

Which brings us to the church in Corinth, are they displaying the marks of a healthy church?

As this third visit looms before them, Paul shares his concerns as to their sinful behavior.

That in his visit concern he will mourn over those that have not repented and continue to sin.

This is the challenge of the modern church as well we risk losing our marks of a healthy church.

We live in an age where the truth is presented as a lie, where Christian attributes are weakness.

In fact, the definition of a Christian is defined, derided to the point of disillusionment.

We in this moment must withstand the mob, the “super-apostles” teaching another Jesus.

If we must, declare we are foolish, then let’s be foolish in Jesus Christ as we boast in Him.

If we must, may our weaknesses be in the way we present the Gospel and show Christ in us.

In this world our best defense as a church will be how they see Christ is us.

For if they don’t understand or have been blinded to the truth, we have opportunity.

We have an opportunity to share Jesus Christ with them in being different we honor him.

v.19 “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you?”

He has used this argument to demonstrate the attributes of Christ in him.

“It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding.”

Paul is willing to be humbled before the world for the sake of God and Jesus Christ.

This man who was once at the pinnacle of his people and his profession is now humbled.

Humbled in the knowledge of all the Christ has done for him and all he has done to Christ.

To Paul these marks of “a true apostle” represent his work for Christ, everything else is loss.

His desire is to return to Corinth and find that this church he loves, exhibits these same marks.

That they are humble, sacrificing, not a burden to others but demonstrate Christ in them to all.

This is how we the modern church must gauge ourselves do we demonstrate Jesus Christ.

This third visit is an assessment, for if he comes, finds they are in sin then judgement comes.

We wait for a third assessment as well, first the flood, then the end of the covenant, judgment.

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

In this study of 2 Corinthians, the church in Corinth is challenged, as so are we as a church.

That church became distracted by false teachers and doctrine, what distracts us in our work.

They had members that professed Christ but lived an unchanged sinful life, do we do the same?

God uses our weakness to demonstrate his strength, as we are faith and obedient to him.

When we are weak, trust in the Lord, God willing through that weakness, we will be perfected.

To be marked not our humanity but like the early church of Acts, doing God’s work joyfully.

Search your heart, seek to know the Lord, ask for strength, knock on the door of righteousness.

As church we must demonstrate the marks of being focused on the mission Jesus has given us.

As individual believers, be foolish and show weakness to others, if it is a mark of Christ in us.