Knowing The Word in 2 Corinthians: Second Experience of Grace, 1:15-22

Second Experience of Grace

15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace [kindness]. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

In this passage Paul refers to the collection he is taking up among the churches he has established for the saints in Jerusalem. Paul would not accept the Corinthians’ patronage, but he would accept their offerings for the Christians in Jerusalem. He makes the point that his itinerary is not up to himself but to the Lord. He goes on to say that all of God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the great Yes—the positive outworking of God’s promises. God has given the Corinthians and Paul each other and put his seal on them. “Put his seal” refers to what happens to goods. They are claimed from the outset by the proper owner, being marked with a monogram. They belong to God because they have the Spirit, who is the seal of those who belong to Christ.

Holy Spirit, think though me till your ideas are my ideas.

Amy Carmichael, 1868-1951