1068. Constrained by Christ’s Love

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville South Carolina today on The Daily Platform were continuing a study series called ministry according to second Corinthians today speaker is Dr. Alan Benson, the title of his message is constrained by Christ's love from second Corinthians 511 through 15. I was asked if I would preach this section and it actually is a section of Scripture that in ministry God has greatly used in my life at times of of throwing up your hands and sand okay. What I do next. How Can I figure this out.

This is a passage of Scripture that is centering for me.

How many are familiar thing Simon cynic. Anybody know that name is think it's interesting the guy is the name. He's a cynic that's but anyway he has coined a phrase you know it's comes across different ways but know your why find your why, I really think that that's at the heart of this passage of Scripture. The passage that that were going to to be in it, really. And in verses 11, down through verse 15 it is a couple of things I look at this passage, one I want you to see it through the lens that I think Paul hears being very autobiographical also say things in a general sense of all died. One died all died. One lives all live. I really think Paul as he is addressing ministry here, particularly to the Corinthians is is speaking in terms is actually speaking about himself.

This is what is this is what is true of me. Secondly, I want you to see that that I believe this passage is very Christological obviously and in that the heart of this passage is something is very truly the love of Christ constrains me. It's kind of in the in the heart of this passage starts with another very strong statement at the beginning of the passage where he refers to the that therefore or or knowing then the fear of the Lord, and if you look back and look at his use of the of the word Lord there, he is referring to Christ. So, if you will there's there's there's pulsing in this very short passage of Paul speaking for himself and it's interesting you look at the letters Apollo how often point of having to defend himself, but what he was doing and then most often about why he was doing what he was doing. You have ulterior motives or something that you're after. Are you are you a gospel huckster is that is that what you are. And Paul is defending his is motives I think. Here Paul actually gets to the heart of his why this is why Paul does what he does. This is why Paul ministers the way he ministers and I think you can find pulsing in that these two great truths.

The fear of the Lord in the constraining of Christ, so think with me for a moment your your your theme I love. I love the picture by the way, but the aroma of Christ.

One of things I want us to get there is is Paul is to be motivated by swinging Mike and be motivated in a sense by what motivated Christ and most will see that in this passage of Scripture as he deals with with kind of the Christological truth of what Christ did for us and why he ministers the way he ministers so that the aroma of Christ as is. Throughout this passage the whole passage but but it really is here in Paul's motivations and so asking ourselves, what, why, why did cry what was Christ. Why do you think about different encounters a Christ that I think in particular John for the disciples go away to find food in their focused on earthly needs a manhole encounter with a woman at the well there in Samaria when they return there like someone else feed into the get food like an and Jesus says to them. I have meat to eat that you know not of or aren't there something that feels me if you will that you don't quite understand and he makes the statement about his relationship to his body says I've come to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. While God centered purpose for the Christ and what he was was doing and I think that then echoes as Paul embraced the ministry of Christ.

Philippians 2 is remarkable to me in so many ways. One, the fact that here we have this risk which Christology is actually just an illustration right like Paul is is writing this to capture a point. It's not actually the point is capturing. The point is using Christ what's remarkable to me.

As you consider the motivations of Christ to look at Philippians chapter 2 there. Paul tells us what the motivations of Christ weren't. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God's he wasn't grasping at something, it wasn't self focused in any way, and thus you have the whole rest of the stenosis explained for us, and in light of that incredible truth so Paul is seemingly facing the constant task of having to defend himself against accusations whether Philippi those that preach Christ even of envy and strife for the Hymenaeus and Alexanders of the world and I think he reflects in this passage of Scripture that he is motivated by that which motivates Christ, no. It's interesting as we consider ministry. All of us. I think rightly would say somehow or after influence, and instead influenced for a certain thing to a certain direction in a certain way, hopefully its influence to accomplish Christ likeness in people overall. After influence in the question. I think we have to ask ourselves is how I how I get influence. The typical is that I get a position of authority and from my authority I gain influence.

It's so very interesting to me that that's not what Christ does. At times we have Paul writing Paul and apostle, but most often you hear him say servant your first himself most often in two ways Christological. He is in Christ, and secondly ministry is dual as a slave, so he never just comes barking as a dog. As the light is loud voice.

I got this authority and now there got your attention when influence you he actually goes very different direct if there was a crowd if there was a church that which you would expect and apostolic bar can forgive the term don't you agree with me that it would be current like okay have added light here is I'm just gonna tell you the way it is right and then you had to deal with it. And yet here in the second letter to them multiple letters with the one that we have recorded in Scripture for us. You have Paul think you know what when exposed to you my heart for ministry. So let's read together. I'm in the ESV integrity. Chapter 5, universal, and therefore knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade others but what we are is known to God and I hope it's known also to your conscience.

We are not commending ourselves to you again by giving you cause to boast about us. So you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart where if we are beside ourselves. It is for God. If we are in our right mind. It is for you to notice. There is no third statement of it is for us. It is for me actually looks other directions other than an egocentric look. Verse 14 for the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this, that one is died for all, therefore all died and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

I love that you see two expressions here what Christ did for us that actually motivates us for and frees us to do ministry.

They are actually what we see years of vicarious substitutionary death, but you also see here a vicarious substitutionary resurrection and often talk about vicarious resurrection, but that's what he expresses here that he rose and our place in DOS as his death has implications for us in judgment, his resurrection has implications for us in life, the wonderful truth that actually ought to greatly motivate us for ministry. So I really want us to suggest a few simple points three eyes if you will only see the impetus for ministry in this opening statement falls in the state. I think two great values that you'll see.

Then come up throughout the passage that drive him in ministry. It's really simple to God and others. It sounds really simple but it really is God and others.

You lay them out for the rest of the passage I want you to see. First of all, and an awesome Lord, knowing the fear of the Lord on this is one of those those passages that it is easy-to-read. One translation translates as were fear is terror and thus we get that is like. That's the sentiment of this passage and therefore it's like I got approach this as though Manu I see what God's going to do and you do it in judgment next terrifying therefore that needs to motivate me go tell others that I think that's a natural none adhere to totally debunk that.

But when I look back at what he says just before this passage, notice what he says in verse seven through walk by faith not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, we are rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away. We make our aim to please him from us all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil and and he makes that statement. There, but what is Paul's tone and making it is he cringing about this one anodizing before God, no, he's not rather be away from the body so he mentions this this judgment of Christ. But for him.

There is a coming reward so I don't get the sense that as he comes is very next actions and safe knowing the terror of God.

I actually think there's something much more profound here that yes he is rectally rightly recognizing that that Christ is judge. But there's a sense in which that motivates me to live for him because he's the judge he's a righteous judge. He's a good judge. He suggested I did a holy judge. He's a loving judge and yet he's a judge and so I look at the language that he uses here and uses these terms of passionate intimate understanding, having known to be cognizant of or aware of an intimate way into innocence and coupled with his ideas of fear which is a feeling of profound respect and I think what Paul is expressing is that I have come to the place through personal interaction and intimate knowledge of Christ. They know what kind of judge that he is and I am longing for other people to respect him that way the balls and lay out for us here is that that his knowledge of his God burned in his heart in such a way that he wanted other people have that knowledge of his God, and thus, in a sense, respect is God. That way friends we ought to look at a broken world we ought to look on broken people, we ought to look at times and broken church members and our heart ought to break with the sense of saying the way you are living is contrary to who I know your God, to be I want to live in a way that actually reflects him in honor and in respect he's good God is a Paul is motivated somehow to help people know this God know Christ the way he has come to know him is motivated by that I don't think he is going to spread a message of terror or fear which is so interesting because remember where Paul came from remora.

Paul's view of God would've been as a Pharisee.

Remember his understanding of religion and the remember what he was doing as a persecutor in light of that memory is still breathing out slaughters and fears heat. He was actually a terrorist and I think here is expressing something very different with regard to motivation for ministry. So I ask you this question as you consider ministry.

Do you know Christ maybe a better question is how do you know Christ is a personal, is it is it intimate. Have you experienced him are you like Paul saying you know what I am looking forward to one day go. I'm not perfect thing for one that is that good and bad, just, and that righteous and and you know what I've experienced in my own life. The freedom of forgiveness I've come to understand that we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Paul has an ongoing relationship with this one that he has come to profoundly love and respect. He wants others to come to know into and it motivates and then for ministry. How can I help them know God, so an awesome Lord with an secondly, an awesome responsibility. We persuade others. The word that he uses here, I find to be really interesting if using a number of ways, but really at its core is really not an approach to conversation that would cause somebody to adopt a certain position and actually is a present active indicative very common, but actually is is describing a regular habit or an ongoing pursuit if you will a pattern of life always saying that what I do in ministry is marked by a pattern of life of persuading others and I think when you consider then that the way that he is presenting that here Paul I don't think is saying I'm living my life to win the argument, I really don't know that the emphasis is usage here is that I am becoming apologist as much as he is talking about his demeanor in a way that he interacts with people and it has the sense of of of pathos and it is almost a pleading.

I plead with others and so in a sense what he's doing is presenting his interactions with people as I want them to know, love and respect Christ and the way I'm going to do is interact with them on the horizontal plane in a way that comes across as as pleading now not begging that that's not what you say but it's a heartfelt relationship with people that wants to lead them to a convincing of what it is he wants them to do this is not autocratic is not heavy-handed. It is not top-down, it is not. I know more than you know when the argument because of that little convention.

You have no choice. This is actually Paul describing his in his methodology or approach in ministry as one who because of a relationship with God is in a pursue right relationships with people to see them rightly related with God friends that's ministry, that's ministry. It is in the context of relationships. It starts with a relationship with an awesome Lord, and it then grows out through eight a responsibility to help others come into a right relationship with him that that's really what it's about. And so you see the impetus for ministry than secondly I want you to see the integrity for ministry in the really easy to get a lot of things out of whack. If all this was was do something to convince people displayed with them doing whatever it takes but but Paul says there's there's boundaries on that and so look what he says in in verse 11.

Knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade others but what we are is known to God.

I hope it is known also to your conscience were not committing ourselves to you again but but giving you cause to boast about a so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart to Paul very clearly hears and talk about some sense of integrity intent image of the conscience.

He talks about being known to God, which again is gummy contrary maybe somewhat the outward appearance and valuing what is in the heart and so integrity for ministry.

I want you to see that the heart of the matter of the matter, the heart what we are is known to God and the issue of what is in the heart, friends, if were going to do ministry in a way that what people smell when it's done is Christ. This matters, I will tell you it's very very easy to do professional ministry to check all the boxes to be fantastic all the way down to to elocution to have dev all of the axes that I was in the right place to rightly manage organ organize administrate a church. It is easy to do all of those not easy, but it's possible to do all of those things and not have this right, sadly, we have a wife that now reflect some of that knowing I'm not Ravi Zacharias is judge but there was something wrong with the heart, and I can tell you case after case after case after case of men that when they fell, you said what and if you actually think about what is happened in your life you think over maybe six months or over a year, or over two years. One of things it blows my mind always have to go and get along with the Lord and say God might even beginning some of that like a Mike attached for ministry and doing it is not in my heart like how they do the things they did, they preach the messages they preached, they counsel the way that they counseled like their known marriage counseling only think and that's what was going on in your life. How could you do that. All I'm saying you this morning is this know this. It can be done and it shouldn't be done.

And no matter what the human horizontal playing fruit of that may be. I just here to tell you it is fruitless. If God changes the life out of that is because the miraculous work of God working in spite of a broken sinning servant friends. I don't want God to have to work in spite of me when I pursue ministry. This is a high this is the heart of Paul is what we are not we are is known to God. Think with me if you will doctor the psalmist cries out search me oh God, and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me an amazing cry it out to be the cry of all of our hearts. God search me and only the end of that Psalm and he says remarkable things is, oh God, you have searched me and know me like so wait a minute like God search me, and then God you've done it, and something is going on in between and II think what is happening is there's this reconciliation that is happening that is saying God.

I know you know me, I know you see me got what I begging for you is will you show me the me that you see is I want to be right. That ought to be the heart cry of a minister that ought to be our passion for integrity. God I want to see me the way you see me so that I can change to be what I ought to be a matter of the heart that I want to see then that the motivation verse 13 is such an interesting verse to me. For if we are beside ourselves.

I think you know that means right would use the word on your mind or crazier whatever the were crazy.

Some question that for me it is for God. If we are in our right mind. It is for you.

I believe that Paul is is is expressing rather than some kind of dichotomy. Here Paul is expressing his values is I'm going to serve God with integrity and leave the results in his hand and that is construed that I've lost my mind that I'll accept that appraisal for God's glory and not to change the things I do to be thought better of, I'm not to change the things that I know God is asking me to do in ministry so that made her change her opinion of you not I'm not gonna do that and is in doing ministry the way God has called me to do it. It's a praise that somehow I am profitable or I am brilliant. What I want you to know is that I will God use that for your benefit not for my own accolades so hard for God and others at Woody's reflecting, I would live in such a way that if people think I'm crazy. It'll it'll be because I'm living for God, the one I want people to respect and they look and see it anyways profitable. I want them to realize that it's all being done to benefit others, for God's glory drives me nuts. That's the motivation so that brings us into the third point that the influence for ministry. We have this famous well-known statement for the love of Christ constrains or controls us, and it does so for a very profound concrete read Paul has become convinced of something we've concluded this, that one is died for Alderfer all died so I believe really this is autobiographical. While I think this profound truth here just in exploring Christology. I think this is autobiographical Paul is saying is I'm saying this to you about ministry because I don't have any rights Christ died in and here again. Maybe this the sentiment of I am crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless I live in Oneida.

Christ lives in me life which I now live in the flesh is not saying that was carnal flesh just in life. The realize that I live the everyday life that I love the task that I have to do for the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

What he is saying is, as I come to life and ministry and living for the Scott, I've come to know it's not about me.

I'm convinced of something I have concluded something as I look at life and ministry. Jesus died for all, and I've died in him and have rights. Verse 15 he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was in. I have life with a sense is whose life is it so first policy. The the control if you will. This phrase, the love of Christ controls me think Paul is here giving up a reason for his method of ministry that he had given us in verses 11 through 13. He's convinced of this theological truth and because of that, here's the conclusion that that I have made, and it binds me whenever I actually go through the process obviously is a mental process. You're right, he's coming to a conclusion.

He's thinking through things and he's making decisions about how to do ministry and he says here's a conclusion I made. Christ did this for me. I died in him.

I don't have rights and I think he's making is an active process as I think about what I'm going to do I bring it back to that quotient. They said this about me and I'm thinking this, and here's what I want to do. As I said on my commute or write an email. I take that firm and plug it back in my formula. Oh, I don't have rights and my goal is I want them to respect all the way that I want to love Christ the way I love them and therefore my approach to them is good to be the sense of appealing because it's not about me.

Maybe having to change that email when I think Paul is really coming down to the brass tacks with me.

Paul made himself a doormat. It does mean a Paul told less than the truth, not saying any of that but it might impact why I say what I say north. Paul is never going to enter into a conversation. It's okay to hear what you so now the wall is attempted, pulses or something way more important than that for me that would be my Moses more I strike the rock instead of making about God the way it was supposed to be about people looking at some house about me just how he is a shepherd.

That's really easy to do this. This is control that's coming out of the conclusion that innocence undertakes to plug in it all the time.

When should I get know I probably shouldn't because I don't think it's good to be received. The right way. I don't think I'll see Jesus the way they should see Jesus. I think they might see me more than they should see me because I learned Jesus ready sometimes to give an impression about Jesus. That really isn't just the site thinking comes to the end and he speaks them with this confidence.

Can I really do not want to get run over kill them and take a minute of the people are wicked and evil and and and ministry is hard to start it and I'll make myself a doormat and NOW doormat. That's all will be. I would say that all of that was true.

If it weren't for the fact that were actually serving somebody whose adjuster and you know what the rewards for ministry are coming from the people you serve at that's not what it's about. It's actually about the 100 ministry for them to look again at the end of this passage. Verse 15 he died for all those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him. What is he say about them for their sake died and was raised so I asked this question, you trust him all that we had to offer and ministry is that truth is offered first to you. If you minister to bring glory to him and he did that much for you, don't you trust to care for you member what Scripture say in several places, but says of Christ, and that can gnosis passenger member the end of it. There were four God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every theirs.

Christ but also it says Paul says that he is the one that that will lift us up. In other words, work at helping people rightly know Christ and honor him and you will never have to worry about them respecting God will take care that so the aroma of Christ, I think, flows through this passage, Scripture. How can I help people. I'm done.

Ministry smell Jesus. I think that's what Paul is telling us here regard is ministry you would listing to a message preached in seminary chapel by Dr. Ellen Benson, Executive Vice President for ministry advancement that Bob Jones University, which was part of the series ministry according to second Corinthians.

Join us again tomorrow is we continue this series on The Daily Platform