Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1788
“Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak towardsyou, butis mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we, also, are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know, yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:3,4.
The Apostle had much joy in being the founder, the father and the fosterer of so many Churches, but this joy brought with it constant and heavy trial. Care pressed heavily upon him, for he mentions it as the crown and crush of all his burdens—“That which comes upon me daily, the care of all the Churches.” He was not simply as a father among them, but he was as a nurse, continually on the watch and, in all tenderness, anxious for her little ones. He was deeply grieved when he saw anything wrong, lest he should have labored in vain, and should see any perish who appeared to be hopeful converts. He always had in his mind’s eye the account which he would have to give at the last—and his prayer was that he might render that account with joy and not with grief, for he adds, “That is unprofitable for you.” His whole soul went after the people of his charge and his heart sank within him when he observed prominent sin among them.
The Corinthian Church was enriched with many gifts, but impoverished by slender Grace. This Church had elected to conduct its arrangements upon the principle of everybody speaking who had something to say. Moreover, it chose to be a Church without rule and order, not caring to appoint officers who would be shepherds of the flock. That Church seems to have been a frequent trial to the Apostle and, after writing to them once very earnestly, he wrote to them a second time with equal tenderness and energy—and then he said he would have to visit them in person—and when he did come, he would, by discipline among them, make them know that Christ would not endure sin in His Church. Whatever they had to say about Paul, personally, he meant to be faithful to God and to the Truth of God—and he was sure that the power of God would be with him to support him in the work of reformation.
He writes in a sorrowful strain and yet one cannot help seeing how calm and judicious he is—how deliberately he enquires into evidence and how impartially he judges the case. He had an intense desire to do the right thing and, therefore, passion and prejudice did not operate upon him. In this particular text he shows the high qualities of moral courage, inflexible justice, loving tenderness and wise prudence—proving himself to be a fit leader of the host. On account of Paul’s having put his finger upon the mischief that was among them, the Corinthians turned round upon him and disparaged him—his letters might be weighty and powerful, but his personal presence was weak. And his speech—well, it was contemptible! They even questioned whether he was an Apostle at all!
Had he lived with Christ? Had he sat at Jesus’ feet? No—it was apparent to everybody that his conversion took place after the departure of the Lord and you could never be quite sure that he had been supernaturally called as he said he had been. Thus they murmured among themselves. From this ordeal, Paul does not shrink for a moment, but he answers all their evil speeches in the language before us.
First, notice that he exhibits God’s chosen method of operation in the Church by His appointed servants. This is a very interesting feature in the text. Secondly, he shows them what was the sure proof of power. And then, thirdly, he turns the tables upon those who had examined him and bids them give the needed proof of themselves— “Examine yourselves; prove yourselves; know you not, yourselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?” ’ I. The Apostle Paul teaches us in these verses THE LORD’S CHOSEN METHOD OF OPERATION. The rebellious Corinthians had spoken ill of the Apostle as lacking in power—his personal presence was not commanding, his speech was not fascinating, and so forth. Paul does not deny the charge, nor endeavor to exalt himself, but he glories in his infirmities because the power of God rests upon him! He admits anything they may have to say about his deficiency in natural dignity and elocution, but he declares the general principle of power in weakness, by which the Lord conducts the matters of the Gospel dispensation.
Power in weakness is the great secret of the Gospel mode of working! Life, born of death, is the life of our souls—a life which would never have been in us at all if it had not been for the most cruel death on record—when men crucified the ever-blessed Lord. The Apostle says, in verse four, “Though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” That is to say, our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished His mighty purpose by becoming weak—through His weakness He became able to suffer and to die—in order to save us from the thralldom of sin.