2 Corinthians 6:13

Not everyone accepted Paul’s authority. In 2 Corinthians Paul responds to such people by asserting that the gospel came to the Corinthians from blameless messengers who spoke on Christ’s behalf. It was the fault of the Corinthians and not the apostle’s that the Corinthians were restricted, that is, were hardened.

The messengers of the gospel are blameless. Paul goes to considerable lengths to describe his experiences, especially his suffering. He talks for instance about tribulations, imprisonments, sleepless nights. All this is to impress upon the minds of his readers that he had suffered for Christ’s sake and that he was a genuine apostle. There were some people in the Corinthian church who challenged the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship. Paul stresses that he has faithfully served the Lord without giving offence so that his ministry would not be blamed. In brief, Paul presents his blamelessness as authentication of his holy calling and to give the Corinthians no grounds to accuse him and thereby reject the gospel.

How crucial it is that we understand that the apostles and their co-workers were blameless ambassadors. No one can hold them accountable for the failure of people to respond to Jesus. The fault lies in the hearers not the heralds. This does not mean that the original heralds were perfect. It does mean that their conduct was faultless and that their lives were no hindrance to the gospel. They gave “no offence in anything” as Paul says.

Every modern-day preacher can take comfort in the fact that the original heralds of the gospel were blameless. Today’s preachers strive to be blameless but they fail. They can point to the apostles as the ideal heralds of the gospel and point people to them and not to themselves. Preachers have a responsibility to be blameless but they are not repsonsible for people’s rejecti on of the gospel.

Pastors and preachers are not perfect. They have a torrid time. Sometimes they are mauled and savaged and are wearied. In New Zealand there are 8 Reformed Baptist congregations. By June 2006 5 of these 8 congregations will be without pastors. This is a matter of concern. Do we treat our pastors with love and respect? Sometimes pastors resign because of the pressures. Churches are shocked but by then it is too late. Look after your pastors. Pray for more men to enter the ministry.

If the bearers of the gospel are blameless why do people still reject the gospel? The fault lies with the hearers and not with the proclaimers of the gospel. Paul ends by saying he had spoken openly to the Corinthians and that his heart was wide open to them (2 Cor. 6:11). Yet they did not listen to him. They were hindered by their own affections. Their hearts were tragically closed to the apostle and his co-workers.

The apostles were blameless heralds of the gospel. The lesson for us is that the gospel comes to us through their blameless witness and it is our fault not theirs that we do not receive the gospel. Our hearts are hardened. We cannot blame the apostles, or anyone else for that matter for our unbelief.

Please heed the call of the holy, blameless apostle Paul and be reconciled to God your Creator today. I do not ask you to look to me. I ask you to look to Paul. He was blameless. He speaks to you today through his writings which writings are inspired. He bids you repent and to believe the gospel. Now is the day of salvation. Do not waste this opportunity.

(Summary of sermon by David Yan)