“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,
‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.’
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ESV)
The subject matter is the gift of giving to the needs of others within the body of Christ as they had need. And this discussion began at the beginning of chapter 8. The churches of Macedonia, out of their extreme poverty, gave to the needs of others “according to their means,” and beyond their means out of a desire to minister to the relief of the saints who were in need. And they set the example to the church in Corinth to follow in like manner. But they were to give according to their means. And later, when those who were in need no longer were in need, they could then give to others in need.
Now, in the previous writing, “Where is Your Money Going?”, I covered this subject of giving to the church and to the needs of the saints, so I am not going to revisit that subject which you can read about in 2 Corinthians 8-9. But here I believe the Lord is leading me to broaden the subject beyond just financial giving to those within the body of Christ who are in need. For we are to give to others in so many different ways, and not just financially to help meet their physical needs. But we are to give to others spiritually, according to their spiritual needs, to help them to grow in their faith.
For it is true, as well, that if we sow spiritual seed sparingly, we will also reap sparingly. But if we sow spiritual seed bountifully, we will also reap bountifully. And if all that we do is give money or possessions to those who are in financial need but we neglect to minister to them spiritually from the truth of the Scriptures, they may do better in this life in the way of having their physical needs met, but they may not be prepared spiritually to follow Jesus Christ with their lives in death to sin and in living to God and to his righteousness so that they have eternal life with God in heaven.
And this is not teaching works salvation. For the Scriptures teach us that true faith in Jesus Christ results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and us being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Therefore we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires, for if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ our Lord (see Romans 6:1-23).
And the Scriptures teach that, as the body of Christ, that we are to be generous not only financially, but we are to be generous with our time and with our giving to others as they have need spiritually. So, as the body of Christ, we are to be encouraging one another spiritually in our walks of faith to walks of obedience to our Lord in holy living. And we are to be using the spiritual gifts we have been given of the Spirit of God to minister to the saints of the Lord for their spiritual encouragement and maturity in Christ. And we will grow spiritually together as each of us does his/her part.
So, we are also to be speaking the truth in love to one another so that none of us is taken captive by people in their deceitful scheming who are teaching lies to the people rather than the truth of God’s word. And we are to be helping one another to grow to spiritual maturity in our walks of faith and obedience to our Lord in holy living. We are also to be encouraging one another via psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, which we share with the body of Christ, as we are led of the Spirit, for the spiritual encouragement of the entire body of believers in Jesus Christ.
We are to be those who are students of the Scriptures, who are studying them in their appropriate context, who are being led of the Spirit of God as to the truth of what the Scriptures are teaching us, and how they are to be applied to our daily lives. And then, as we are able, and according to the truth of our own walks of faith in the Lord, and not in hypocrisy, we are to be teaching and admonishing one another within the body of Christ. And we are to be exhorting one another daily so we’re not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we’re to stir up one another to love and good works.
[Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]
And we are also to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this world. But we need to make certain that the gospel message that we are spreading is the truth and not the lies which so many are spreading today. For Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity. But if we die to sin and live for God, we have eternal life with God.
[Luke 9:23-26; Matt 7:21-23; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6; Tit 2:11-14; Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Eph 5:11-14; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:4-10]
Who Believes?
An Original Work / October 3, 2013
Based off Isaiah 53
Gospel message, who believes?
Jesus Christ died on a tree,
Saving us from all our sin,
So we might be cleansed within.
Had no beauty found in Him,
That we should desire Him.
Man of sorrows, suffering;
Crushed for our iniquities.
Surely He has borne our griefs;
From our sadness, brings relief.
Bore the stripes; forsaken, He,
So forgiven we might be.
We, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us turned his own way.
Jesus calls, “Repent today;
My commandments, now obey.”
Jesus said, to come to him,
We must die to all our sin.
Crucified with Him, we live,
Walking in His righteousness.
Suff’ring servants, we will be,
Taking His identity on us,
When confessing Him
As our Savior, Lord and King.
https://vimeo.com/115517757
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