Weekly Sermon

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 reads, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Again and again throughout God’s Word we are instructed to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing."  Yet why should we so live our lives?  What motivation is given to move us to live our lives in such a manner?  Certainly the very fact that our Lord has instructed us to so walk and to so live should be motivation enough.  Yet our Lord has also provided us with the greatest and most gracious motivation possible.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:14 opens with the declaration, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”  Now, the word “constraineth” here conveys the idea of that which takes a hold of us with force and moves us with that force to act in a certain manner.  In this statement our Lord Jesus Christ”s own love for us is the very force that takes a hold of us and moves us to live as we ought to live. Even so, 1 John 4:19 proclaims, "We love him, because he first loved us.”  This is the believer's motivation – “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”  Then as 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 continues, it reveals three truths that give substance to this motivation.  Thus we find the truth concerning our need, the truth concerning Christ's provision, and the truth concerning our responsibility.

Weekly Sermon

2 Corinthians 2:11 reads, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Brethren, I would direct your attention to the opening phrase of this verse – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.” Let us then consider three truths concerning our spiritual warfare against our adversary the devil and concerning the manner by which he might get a spiritual advantage over us.