The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 326

(1) Remark the title. Lord-the Divine One and the Master. Jesus-the Saviour anrl tho MBn. Ohrist---tho Anointed of God, the long-promised Messiah. A trinity ol qualification. (2) 'l'he grace. '!'he favour, and all that the favour of such a Beina involves. The bfessings of Christ's rule as Master, of his redemption as Saviour, of hi~ boundless resources as the Divine Messiah. If we are the objects of his favour how inestim,~bly rich we are I 2. " The love of God." The apostle has just spoken of God I\S the Goel of love (ver. 11); now he desires for the Corinthians the love of this God of love. The riches of Divine love are the Christian's portion. Here is specially referred to the love of Goel as our Father. It was through the Father's love that the Saviour was given, but it is through the Saviour's work, and our participation in it, that we enter into the enjoyment of the love of God as the love of our Father. Thi3 is the covenanted love of God; his special fatherly affection for those who have become, through Obrist, his sons and daughters. Thus" the grace of the Lorri Jesus Christ" is made to precede " the love of God." 3. " The commwnion of the Holy Ghost." The participation in the Holy Ghost. This we enjoy throngh Christ (Gal. iii. 13, 14). Who can estimate the value of this? The great work of sanctification, the constant effective teaching of the truth, preservation in times of spiritual peril, corn fort in sorrow, ability to carry on Christian work,-all these depend upon our participating in the Holy Ghost. "Quench not the Spirit" (1 'l'hess. v. 19). If in aught we hinder the Divine Spirit's working within us, in that measure we become spiritual suicides. II. THE EXTENT OF THE BENEDICTION. It is for all l,'hristians ; it is not for any special order or class, but for every individual. Some privileges were associated with the apostleship, some with certain of mark and power in the early Church, but the privileges which are of supreme value have ever been the common heritage of God's people. Some smaller favours may be for the few, the greatest are for the many. III. How HA.Y WE COME UNDER THIS BENEDICTION? A very important question. To be beyond its reach must be to be in peril and misery. All it is for all the people of the Lord, those must become the people of the Lord who would share in its blessings. If we ar.e willing to be blessed, God is willing to let this benediction rest upon us. By the way of repentance and faith and sincere striving to do the Divine will we pass from under the curse and abide under the benediction.-IL Ver. 5.-Self-examination. I. POINTS ON WHICH SELF-EXAMINATION IS BEQUillED. They relate to your connection with Jesus Christ-whether he is in you and you are in the faith. It is assumed that the word of faith has been preached; then follows the question-How does this Word affect or influence you? It is easy to hear it and give it a formal assent-but this is not enough. Are you really in the faith? Does the truth compass you about and impress itself on all your views, motives, and principles of action? IC so, Christ is certainly in you. He dwells in your heart by faith, and by liis Spirit vitalizes and purifies your spirit. II. THE KIND OF EVIDEN0E NEEDED. The thing is not to be assumed, but proved. 'fhere is a. mode of proof which onlookers may read and estimate. It is that which appears in your temper, demeanour, and actions. If men see gooo. fruit in you, they infer that you are a good tree. But self-scrutiny must go into the matter more deeply. Onlookers see actions, but not the motives from which they spring. Some of your words and deeds they know, but not all of them, and not your actuating dispositions. Examine yourselves by the double test of the inward and the outward life. Review your motives and secret desires, as well as the current of your tempers and the tenor of your lives. III. TIIE DIFFICULTY OF CONDUCTING THIS EXAMINATION. 1. In the nature of the case. Genuine self-knowledge is perhaps a uro attainment. The moment we go beneath the surface and try to probe the hidden things of the bear~, we find ours~lves amona intricacies hard to unravel-a review of motives, the detect10n of half-motives, nnd the analysis of transient thoughts and feelings as respects _their_ mo~al comple?tioL\ and significance. We are in a labyrinth of plans, wishes, 1magmat10ns, 1:ass1ons, caprices, and principles. One motive lurks behind anoth_er, one current of ~es1re fl.o\~s beneath another. And feeling, when subjected to analysis, ceases to be feeling, and 1t is only the recollection or the shadow of it which you can examine. 2. Through the delusions of self-eateem. Men Hhrink from a severe self-examination, lest the result 328 'l'BE SECOND EPISTLE TO 'l'liE COUIN'l'HIANS. [cF_ xm. 1-14.