(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

So it is with some relief that I come to the end of Paul's second letter to Corinth. My relief probably palls into insignificance compared to that of the Corinthians as the public reading of this epistle finally concluded. It is never easy listening to someone condemn others and justify himself - even when he speaks the truth!

It has been difficult at times to follow Paul's reasoning and this last chapter is no exception. I am going to simplify things by just looking at the five-fold appeal that is evident in this final passage of a challenging epistle.

(B) An appeal for repentance.

I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others ... . v2.

Paul urged the Corinthians to mend their ways in his first epistle. They were guilty of many kinds of misconduct: consorting with prostitutes, attending feasts in pagan temples, taking one another to court, disorderly worship, posturing as members of the opposite sex, disunity and pride. There was also much false teaching on freedom, the body and the resurrection.

Paul found on his second painful visit that misconduct and false teaching persisted. There were undoubtedly those who were unwilling to change and publicly challenged Paul's teaching. He seems to have left with matters unresolved. This prompted a second epistle in which Paul stressed his credentials and asserted his authority as Christ's apostle to the Gentiles. He concludes this, his second letter, by telling the Corinthians that the time has come to enforce discipline. Members of the church whose misconduct could be established by two or three witnesses would be punished. It is clear Paul has no appetite for this. He wrote: I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority. v10. However Paul accepted that a time comes when church discipline must be upheld.

Every school teacher knows that you cannot keep warning a pupil about disruptive behaviour that hinders the education of others. Some conduct conflicts with the purpose of a school and has to be stopped. The ultimate punishment is expulsion and sadly EVERY DAY in England 1000 children are suspended from school.

The ultimate punishment in a church is also expulsion. Paul warned that he would ensure that the church at Corinth finally expelled those whose conduct brought the fellowship into disrepute and damaged the spiritual well-being of others. He had no doubt that he would achieve this. The apostle was the servant of Jesus. He might seem weak - as Jesus appeared weak when he was crucified - but Jesus was raised and lives by God's power - a power that Paul shares. He wrote: Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. v4.

Sometimes a church leader needs to point out to a member that his conduct is unacceptable. If the member takes no notice and persists in behaviour that damages the church and brings the name of Jesus into disrepute the other members have no option but to support the leader and exclude the erring brother from the fellowship. This should be a last resort but it is preferable to allowing a church to fail.

(C) An appeal for re-examination.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. v5.

Self-appraisal and re-appraisal is important in all walks of life. I needed to do this as a teacher. I can't say I much appreciated the formal variety which was never done thoroughly enough. However, throughout my career I did ask questions like: Am I teaching this topic in the best way? Couldn't I make that subject more relevant to my pupils? What are my weaknesses and couldn't they be remedied? Complacency will inhibit improvement and progress.

Paul's appeal for self-examination was particularly drastic. He told the Corinthians to test themselves to discover if they really were Christians.

(1) Warren Wiersbe mentions 4 Scriptural tests we can apply:

(a) Have we the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts? The Spirit himself testified with our spirit that we are God's children. Rom8v16.

(b) Do we love our fellow Christians? We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. 1John3v14. This verse was a great reassurance to my friend and fellow elder, Edward, who, like me, never had a dramatic conversion experience or "felt" filling of the Holy Spirit.

(c) Do we practice righteousness? No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him. 1John3v9. This is NOT a test I find very comforting!

(d) Have we rejected worldliness? For everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1John5v4.

(2) Rev Tom Wright probably gets closer to what Paul expected the Corinthians to do by elaborating the apostle's assertion: Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you. v5. This forms part of Christ's great prayer for all believers made before going to the Garden of Gethsemane: I myself may be in them. John17v26.

So Tom Wright issues a fourfold challenge:

(a) When we think of ourselves is it as someone in whom Jesus is alive and active?

(b) When we listen to what we say does it sound like the sort of thing Jesus himself might say?

(c) When we are with other Christians do we behave towards them as brothers and sisters in whom Jesus lives?

(d) When we pray do we know and sense the presence, life and love of Jesus within us - warming and sustaining, guarding and guiding, checking and directing us?

(3) My test.

When I apply the tests above I do not score very well! Indeed I almost doubt whether I am a Christian at all. I cannot say I have experienced the transforming influence of the Holy Spirit within - but rather as one who comes along side to help. I rarely think of myself as someone in whom Jesus lives. My experience of Jesus lacks the intimacy Tom Wright suggests is a feature of the true Christian. My prayer life is akin to that of Philip Yancey who finds it difficult to pray at all.

All I can truthfully say is: I believe in Jesus; I depend upon him totally for salvation and none other; I am committed to serve Jesus; I desire to please him even if I often fail to do so; I am filled with joy whenever I hear someone speak well of him.

It is obviously easier to pass an examination if you make up your own questions! I just hope that the qualities above mean I pass the test.

(D) An appeal for righteousness.

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. v7.

This does not make very good sense! The probable meaning is conveyed by the Living Bible: I pray that you will live good lives, not because that will be a feather in our caps, proving that what we teach is right; no, for we want you to do right even if we ourselves are despised.

If we love someone we shall want the very best for them. What is the best? Some fathers are very keen for their sons to be brilliant, successful cricketers. What is best: to be a highly accomplished cricketer or to be an honourable one? Is it more important to score lots of runs or to accept the umpire's decision without complaint? Is it more praiseworthy to take lots of wickets or to graciously accept defeat in a sporting manner?

Now I was a competent cricketer for many years but I only became an honourable one towards the very end of my long career! When I was young I found it much easier to score runs off Suffolk's best fast bowler than I did to exercise self-control.

Christians should delight in what God delights in, namely the fruit of the Spirit. Paul reminded the Galatians: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. I love that ending - Against such things there is no law.

We should be like Paul and love to see virtue in others. I came across two examples of virtue only last week that strongly appealed to me. Alan, an old colleague, took me out to lunch at the Norton Dog last Wednesday. At the age of 87 he has several things wrong with him! So much so that his very attractive, young, lady doctor asked him what was his chief problem. Alan, who is a widower, replied, "Well to tell you the truth doctor it is loneliness." The doctor responded, "Well Mr Mattock you can make an appointment to see me for a ten minute chat every week if that helps." So that is what Alan did until she left the practice to get married. Alan reckons that some young man is going to be very lucky. You might say the doctor wasn't making best use of her valuable time chatting to a lonely old man. I rejoice in what she did because it was good.

Yesterday I went to see Ivy, one of our church members. She is also 87 and in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Her daughter who lives with her and cares for her is making arrangements for Ivy to move into residential care. My old friend is accepting this with good grace and without bitterness even though it will entail moving away from her friends and giving up most of her possessions. She doesn't think it is fair to tie her daughter to looking after her. Ivy is showing a measure of selflessness that is greatly to her credit and it warmed my heart.

(E) An appeal for ripeness.

Paul wrote: We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong and our prayer is for your perfection. v9.

Paul prayed that the Corinthians would ripen or mature as Christians. He suggested some ways that would help in this slow but necessary process.

He urged the Corinthians to:

(1) Listen to my appeal. The immature members at Corinth would only grow in knowledge if they remained teachable. The most important knowledge is that which affects conduct - it is the knowledge how .... . Paul referred to this in his letter to Titus: the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. Titus1v1.

(2) Be of one mind, live in peace. Children are inclined to squabble. Churches full of squabbling Christians are a bit like badly run nurseries or infant classrooms.

Every parent hopes their children stop bickering and fighting. It is a mark of growing maturity when brothers and sisters live in peace. Harmonious relationships are enriching and promote further growth.

It is difficult for Christians to mature in a church where the members are always disagreeing with one another and falling out. It doesn't help a plant to grow and bear fruit if it is knocked about or interfered with too much.

(3) Greet one another with a holy kiss. This would certainly not feature in some Christian's recipe for growth to spiritual maturity!

A long time ago I read a revealing anecdote about the great 19th century evangelical clergyman Charles Simeon. Sadly, although I made a note of it at the time and used it in sermons, I have long since mislaid the details. The gist of the story is as follows. When Charles was at Cambridge University he was entertained by a well known Cambridgeshire vicar who had three daughters. Simeon singularly failed to make a good impression on the girls. They complained to their father that the young man was awkward, rude and uncouth. The old clergyman took his daughters into the garden and directed their attention to a peach tree growing by a south-facing wall. He said, "Look at those tiny peaches - they are green, hard and sour now but give them a few weeks of sunshine and showers and they will be sweet and succulent. All Mr Simeon needs is sunshine and showers." Those were wise sentiments and they proved true!

We will all increase in sweetness as we receive appreciation, approval and affection. The lack of these sunny qualities keeps Christians sour and crabby.

(F) An appeal for reality.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Warren Wiersbe deals with this benediction in a fine end to his most helpful book on 2 Corinthians. (A book that benefits greatly from his wide experience of American churches.)

Paul wanted three things to be very real to the Corinthians:

(1) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Son became poor to make us rich. See Phil2v6to8 and 2Cor8v9.

(2) The love of God. The love that gave us his Son; the love that accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for sinful men; the love that raised Jesus from the dead - the firstfruits of them that sleep. See John3v16.

(3) The communion of the Holy Ghost. The apostle wanted his readers to experience the reality of fellowship with the Holy Spirit - to participate with the Spirit in serving the church.

I hope Warren Wiersbe will forgive me for quoting his conclusion: The church is a miracle, and it can be sustained only by the miracle ministry of God. No amount of human skill, talents or programs can make the church what it ought to be. Only God can do that. If each believer is depending on the grace of God, walking in the love of God, and participating in the fellowship of the Spirit, not walking in the flesh, then he will be a part of the answer and not a part of the problem. He will be living this benediction - and being a benediction to others!

What the church needs more than anything else is for the grace of Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Spirit to be abundantly REAL to all its members.