THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE
2 Corinthians 10:4-11 (KJV)
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
I hope I have established that the letter of 2 Corinthians is, in a large measure, a comparison the Apostle Paul, under the leadership of the Holy Ghost lays out between his own ministry and that of a divisive group in the church, generally known today as Judaizers.
· They had challenged his credentials
· They had challenged his gospel
· They had challenged sacrifice
And here, the question seems to be that of “testimony.”
Notice the phrase in verse 7, “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?”
This is an awfully common human practice, isn’t it?
I’ve read a number of books about Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers in England in the 1800’s.
Spurgeon was a burly man who wore a beard and, though he was a city preacher in London, he grew up in the country and often dressed like it.
They said he looked like the kind of man you would not want to meet in a dark alley.
They judged his outward appearance.
People can be mean spirited and cruel just because someone doesn’t meet up to their expectations.
Even the Prophet Samuel had a problem with that. God sent him to the family of Jesse to anoint a man to replace King Saul.
One after the other the sons of Jesse were presented, but none of them was the man God chose.
God selected David, the youngest of the sons.
Jesse didn’t bother to even call him out of the fields. He could not imagine that God wanted him.
It was at that point when God said, 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
While they attempted to judge the Apostle on outward appearance, he claims three truths.
First,
*I. I AM CHRIST’S
2 Corinthians 10:7 (KJV)
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
Paul did not directly accuse them of being false Christians.
How could we ever know that for certain about another person?[1]
But it does appear that they were making that accusation of him.
Paul did imply that they might want to rethink their faith.
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again,
Paul definitely said that they should rethink his relationship with Christ.
let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
He knew that he knew the Lord.
Secondly,
*II. I HAVE AUTHORITY
2 Corinthians 10:8 (KJV)
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
It has been observed that I make a great deal of authority.
I believe in it and I believe it is becoming increasingly detested in our day.
· People want to defund police these days.
· I think they have defunded preachers[2]decades ago.
The word is a huge one in the Bible.
You’ll find the word used 35 times in the New Testament.
It has more meanings than I can possibly get to but let me give you these:
· Competency or ability
· Rule
· Liberty
· Power
· Influence
· Jurisdiction
In this specific case
A. Paul had jurisdiction over the direction and doctrine of the church
B. Paul had the power to influence the congregation in a particular philosophy of ministry
C. Paul had competently communicated to the church what he had received from the Lord.
Thirdly,
*III. I AM THE SAME BY LETTER OR IN PERSON
2 Corinthians 10:10-11 (KJV)
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
The background for this statement by his detractors is the First Letter to the Corinthians.
He had written that powerful statement of correction and the majority of the church had repented.
Those who did not were saying that the letter was powerful, but he wouldn’t have that influence over them if he were there in person.
The point that Paul wanted to make is that he was the same person
· In private as well as in public
· In person as well as by letter
· At home as well as at church
And I want to tell you, that is what every one of us ought to aim at.
If your personal life is one thing at church and something completely different at work – then you have no real ability to influence others to become Christians.
All of us will always have critics.
If you are consistent in your faith at all times, you will be confident in your faith and you will be more effective in communicating your faith to others.
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