Last Things First - Part 1
We Need To Be Presently Pursuing The Principles That We Want To End Up With
Introduction
Today, we’re beginning a brand new series of sermons that I’m calling “Last Things First.” And we’re drawing upon some of the occurrences of the word “Finally” as it is used in the New Testament.
In several of these occurrences, the word “finally” has been translated from a Greek word that forms a transition to something else. In other words, it is moving the hearer or reader’s attention from one point to another point; from one line of thought to another line of thought. (According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
It’s a word that really expresses the same thing that the old TV character, Lieutenant Columbo, would always say when he was uncovering the plot with his murder suspect: “Just one more thing.”
So several times when, for example Paul, used this word “finally,” he is saying, “Let me just say one more thing (or one last thing) before I finish this letter.” Now as the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write, he put these “finally” lessons near the end of the letters that he was writing. But as I have meditated on these “finally” statements, I realized that I didn’t want to wait until the end of my ministry here at Piney Grove to share these lessons with you. These lessons are so important that I wanted to share them with you towards the beginning of my ministry here. I wanted to give you these “Last Things First.”
Part of the message that I want to convey to you in this series is that if you want to get somewhere, then you have to start out going towards where you want to go. Now as simple as that sounds, we as Christians sometimes have problems accomplishing this.
For example, you can’t just stay at point A and expect to one day magically appear at point B. When our family went to Pigeon Forge last week, we didn’t just sit around the house in Emerson saying, “We’ll get there one day.” No. We had to actually begin the process and continue on the journey. I remember thinking sometimes, when I was a young believer, that I would just wake up one day as a mature, successful Christian who had arrived. But it just doesn’t happen that way. In order to arrive at the destination, some due diligence is needed.
Another point to consider is that you cannot leave point A going towards point F or G and expect to arrive at point B. We couldn’t leave Emerson the other week, headed towards Tampa, Florida or Houston, Texas and expect to get to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In order to arrive at the destination, some definite direction is needed.
The truth is that we have to begin with the end in view. And in this series, we will hopefully discover the fact that…
2. We Need To Be Presently Pursuing The Power That We Want To End Up With
This morning, our first “Finally” teaches us that …
1. We Need To Be Presently Pursuing The Principles That We Want To End Up With
The American Heritage Dictionary says that a “principle” is a basic truth, or law, or assumption. It is also a basic or essential quality or element determining fundamental nature or characteristic behavior. And in this verse, Paul is highlighting five basic truths and assumptions that should exist in the life of every believer so as to reveal the fundamental nature and characteristic behavior of a Christian. First of all…
I. Paul Highlights The Essential Principle Of Being Complete
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
The Perfect Story: There was a perfect man who met a perfect woman. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect.
Answer: The perfect woman. She’s the only one that really existed in the first place. Everyone knows there is no Santa Claus and there is no such thing as a perfect man.
A Man’s Response: So, if there is no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the perfect woman must have been driving. And this explains why there was a car accident.
A. Let’s Distinguish This Thing Of Being Perfect – To Determine What It Doesn’t Mean
1. It Doesn’t Suggest An Impeccability
im·pec·ca·ble (adjective) – 1. Having no flaws, perfect. (See Synonyms at perfect.) 2. Incapable of sin or wrongdoing. (American Heritage Dictionary)
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren … Be perfect …
“Be perfect.” We do not like that. Somebody says, “I do not believe in perfection.” What you believe is very little matter. When God speaks it is of very little use to say, “I do not believe in perfection.” I want you to say, “My God, what this perfection is Thou knowest, and I want Thee to give it to me.”
Well we don’t have to guess or wonder about what this perfection is. All we have to do is study the word. So…
B. Let’s Define This Thing Of Being Perfect – To Determine What It Does Mean
perfect – Greek NT:2675; means to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. It Has The Idea Of A Break That Has Been Corrected
Paul prayed for their perfection, which does not mean absolute sinless perfection, but “spiritual maturity.” The word is part of a word family in the Greek that means “to be fitted out, to be equipped.” As a medical term, it means, “to set a broken bone, to adjust a twisted limb.” It also means “to outfit a ship for a voyage” and “to equip an army for battle.” In Matthew 4:21, it is translated “mending nets.” (Warren Wierse)
2. It Has The Idea Of A Building That Has Been Completed
As Beza says on this passage: “The apostle’s meaning is, that whereas the members of the church were all, as it were, dislocated and out of joint, they should be joined together in love; and they should endeavor to make perfect what was amiss among them, either in faith or morals.” It is a metaphor, also, taken from a building; the several stones and timbers being all put in their proper places and situations, so that the whole building might be complete, and be a proper habitation for the owner. (From Adam Clarke’s Commentary)
II. Paul Highlights The Essential Principle Of Being Comforted
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
A. This Phrase May Involve The Idea Of Receiving Comfort
be of good comfort – Greek 3870. parakaleo; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, exhortation or consolation).
This is the same basic word as “exhort” in … (Titus 2:6) Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
1. We Can Receive Comfort From The Compassionate Father
(2 Corinthians 1:3) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
2. We Can Receive Comfort From The Christian Family
be of good comfort – Greek NT:3870; means to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort; in the passive, it means to receive consolation, be comforted
[Be of good comfort] or “exhort” one another to the diligent discharge of duty, to love and good works; or comfort one another in all distresses, inward and outward, both by words and deeds, according to the ability God has given; or take comfort, be of good heart, do not refuse to be comforted either by God or men. (John Gill)
B. This Phrase May Involve The Idea Of Rendering Comfort
1. Notice The Meaning Of This Comfort
[Be of good comfort] Be consoled by the promises and supports of the gospel. Take comfort from the hopes which the gospel imparts. Or the word may possibly have a reciprocal sense, and mean, comfort one another. Rosenmuller renders it, “receive admonition from all with a grateful mind, that you may come to greater perfection.”
2. Notice The Movement Of This Comfort
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; {4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. {5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Cf. (Job 16:1-2) Then Job answered and said, {2} I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
III. Paul Highlights The Essential Principle Of Being Compatible
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
A. This Compatibility Requires A Meeting Of The Minds – To Be Compatible With The Saints
1. To Be Of One Mind Suggests A Harmony In Our Focus
be of one mind – literally means to “think the same thing” (According to The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
be of one mind – Greek NT:5426; to feel, to think; to be of the same mind, to agree together, cherish the same views, be harmonious. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Illustrate: In a Vulcan mind-meld, Spock would say, “I know what you know; I feel what you feel.”
B. This Compatibility Requires A Merging With The Master – To Be Compatible With The Savior
If we’re going to be of one mind, whose mind is it going to be? Paul tells us in …
(Philippians 2:5-8) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: {7} But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: {8} And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Illustrate: Synchronizing a Palm PDA with a laptop (from the laptop to the PDA)
1. We Need To Be In Sync With His Selfless Thinking
He humbled himself
humbled – Greek 5013. tapeinoo; to depress; fig. to humiliate (in condition or heart) – abase, bring low.
and became obedient unto death
obedient – Greek 5255. hupekoos; attentively listening, by implication it means submissive.
John Calvin said …
To be of one mind, and to live in peace, are expressions which mean two different things.
Matthew Henry said…
The apostle would have them, as far as was possible, to be of the same opinion and judgment; however, if this could not be attained, yet, he exhorts them to live in peace, that difference in opinion should not cause an alienation of affections.
IN other words – What if, even in being of the same mind, we come to different conclusions about something? Paul says we have to peaceably agree to disagree, and just get along with each other.
Cf. (Romans 12:18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
IV. Paul Highlights The Essential Principle Of Being Calm
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
A. Let’s Consider The Conflict Of These People
“Live in peace” was a needed admonition, for there were divisions and dissensions in the church. (Warren Wiersbe)
1. Notice The Previous Contentions
(1 Corinthians 1:11) For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:8,9,12
2. Notice The Present Concerns
(2 Corinthians 12:20) For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
B. Let’s Consider The Concept Of This Peace
1. This Word Speaks Of An Actual Peace
live in peace – this phrase is derived from the Greek term (1515) eirene; which means to join; peace (literally or figuratively). It is also translated as “one, quietness, rest, + set at one again.”
2. This Word Speaks Of An Active Peace
Strong’s Concordance says that the word used here has the idea of being a peacemeaker.
(1518. eirenopoios; pacificatory, i.e. peaceable – peacemaker.)
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that the word used here means to cultivate or keep peace, harmony; to be at peace
live in peace – Greek (NT:1514): Eireeneuete
Adam Clarke said that this phrase “live in peace” means to Cultivate peace; or, as it says elsewhere, “Follow peace,” and pursue it, (Hebrews 12:14). Cultivate a peaceable disposition, and neither say nor do anything which has a tendency to irritate each other.
V. Paul Highlights The Essential Principle Of Being Confident
(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
A. We Can Be Confident About God’s Personality
The highest character and the highest companion – God
“Love and peace.”
“Love” is the highest attribute of any character.
“Peace.” Wherever there is real love, there is peace. The stronger the love, the more essentially pacific the soul.
(D. Thomas from The Biblical Illustrator)
1. Notice The Tenderness Of His Personality
He is the God of love (agape) means the highest and noblest form of love, i.e. affection or benevolence.
2. Notice The Tranquility Of His Personality
He is the God of peace (eirene) means to join; peace (literally or figuratively). It is also translated as “one, quietness, rest, + set at one again.”
B. We Can Be Confident About God’s Presence
1. Notice The Certainty Of His Presence
shall be – Greek NT:1510; to be, to exist – used in passages in which some person or thing is said to exist by way of distinction from things non-existent.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
2. Notice The Companionship Of His Presence
with you – Greek NT:3326; the phrase (to be with, see b.) is used of God, if he is present to guide and help one:
God – The Highest Companion For Man.
“The God of love and peace shall be with you.” No companion is …
1. So tender. In all our affliction He is afflicted.
2. So wise. He knows all about us: What we have been; what we shall be. He can solve our problems, clear all our perplexities, baffle the machinations of all our enemies.
3. So constant. Human companions are constantly leaving us, either by change or death. But He will never.
4. So enduring. The greatest sorrow of earth arises from the loss of endeared companions. But no bereavement can tear Him away from us.
Conclusion:
The precepts given here are all in the present imperative (“keep on . . .”).
The Heavenly Principal has given us some Heavenly Principles…