Ministry of the Apostles. A. D. 57.
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye
receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee
in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:
behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But
in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience,
in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments,
in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge,
by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness
on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report
and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well
known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having
nothing, and yet possessing all things.
In these verses we have an account of the apostle's general errand and
exhortation to all to whom he preached in every place where he came, with
the several arguments and methods he used. Observe,
I. The errand or exhortation itself, namely, to comply with the
gospel offers of reconciliation--that, being favoured with the gospel,
they would not receive this grace of God in vain, v. 1. The gospel is a
word of grace sounding in our ears; but it will be in vain for us to hear
it, unless we believe it, and comply with the end and design of it. And
as it is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to exhort and persuade
their hearers to accept of grace and mercy which are offered to them, so
they are honoured with this high title of co-workers with God. Note, 1.
They must work; and must work for God and his glory, for souls and their
good: and they are workers with God, yet under him, as instruments only;
however, if they be faithful, they may hope to find God working with them,
and their labour will be effectual. 2. Observe the language and way of
the spirit of the gospel: it is not with roughness and severity, but with
all mildness and gentleness, to beseech and entreat, to use exhortations
and arguments, in order to prevail with sinners and overcome their natural
unwillingness to be reconciled to God and to be happy for ever.
II. The arguments and method which the apostle used. And here
he tells them,
1. The present time is the only proper season to accept of the grace
that is offered, and improve that grace which is afforded: NOW is the accepted
time, NOW is the day of salvation, v. 2. The gospel day is a day of salvation,
the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the
offers of salvation, and the present time the only proper time to accept
of these offers: To-day, while it is called to-day. The morrow is none
of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be;
and we should remember that present seasons of grace are short and uncertain,
and cannot be recalled when they are past. It is therefore our duty and
interest to improve them while we have them, and no less than our salvation
depends upon our so doing.
2. What caution they used not to give offence that might hinder the
success of their preaching: Giving no offence in any thing, v. 3. The apostle
had great difficulty to behave prudently and inoffensively towards the
Jews and Gentiles, for many of both sorts watched for his halting, and
sought occasion to blame him and his ministry, or his conversation; therefore
he was very cautious not to give offence to those who were so apt to take
offence, that he might not offend the Jews by unnecessary zeal against
the law, nor the Gentiles by unnecessary compliances with such as were
zealous for the law. He was careful, in all his words and actions, not
to give offence, or occasion of guilt or grief. Note, When others are too
apt to take offence, we should be cautious lest we give offence; and ministers
especially should be careful lest they do any thing that may bring blame
on their ministry or render that unsuccessful.
3. Their constant aim and endeavor in all things to approve themselves
faithful, as became the ministers of God, v. 4. We see how much stress
the apostle upon all occasions lays on fidelity in our work, because much
of our success depends upon that. His eye was single, and his heart upright,
in all his ministrations; and his great desire was to be the servant of
God, and to approve himself so. Note, Ministers of the gospel should look
upon themselves as God's servants or ministers, and act in every thing
suitably to that character. So did the apostle,
(1.) By much patience in afflictions. He was a great sufferer, and
met with many afflictions, was often in necessities, and wanted the conveniences,
if not the necessaries, of life; in distresses, being straitened on every
side, hardly knowing what to do; in stripes often (ch. xi. 24); in imprisonments;
in tumults raised by the Jews and Gentiles against him; in labours, not
only in preaching the gospel, but in travelling from place to place for
that end, and working with his hands to supply his necessities; in watchings
and in fastings, either voluntary or upon a religious account, or involuntary
for the sake of religion: but he exercised much patience in all, v. 4,
5. Note, [1.] It is the lot of faithful ministers often to be reduced to
great difficulties, and to stand in need of much patience. [2.] Those who
would approve themselves to God must approve themselves faithful in trouble
as well as in peace, not only in doing the work of God diligently, but
also in bearing the will of God patiently.
(2.) By acting from good principles. The apostle went by a good principle
in all he did, and tells them what his principles were (v. 6, 7); namely,
pureness; and there is no piety without purity. A care to keep ourselves
unspotted from the world is necessary in order to our acceptance with God.
Knowledge was another principle; and zeal without this is but madness.
He also acted with long-suffering and kindness, being not easily provoked,
but bearing with the hardness of men's hearts, and hard treatment from
their hands, to whom he kindly endeavoured to do good. He acted under the
influence of the Holy Ghost, from the noble principle of unfeigned love,
according to the rule of the word of truth, under the supports and assistances
of the power of God, having on the armour of righteousness (a consciousness
of universal righteousness and holiness), which is the best defence against
the temptations of prosperity on the right hand, and of adversity on the
left.
(3.) By a due temper and behaviour under all the variety of conditions
in this world, v. 8-10. We must expect to meet with many alterations of
our circumstances and conditions in this world; and it will be a great
evidence of our integrity if we preserve a right temper of mind, and duly
behave ourselves, under them all. The apostles met with honour and dishonour,
good report and evil report: good men in this world must expect to meet
with some dishonour and reproaches, to balance their honour and esteem;
and we stand in need of the grace of God to arm us against the temptations
of honour on the one hand, so as to bear good report without pride, and
of dishonour on the other hand, so as to bear reproaches without impatience
or recrimination. It should seem that persons differently represented the
apostles in their reports; that some represented them as the best, and
others as the worst, of men: by some they were counted deceivers, and run
down as such; by others as true, preaching the gospel of truth, and men
who were true to the trust reposed in them. They were slighted by the men
of the world as unknown, men of no figure or account, not worth taking
notice of; yet in all the churches of Christ they were well known, and
of great account: they were looked upon as dying, being killed all the
day long, and their interest was thought to be a dying interest; "and yet
behold," says the apostle, "we live, and live comfortably, and bear up
cheerfully under all our hardships, and go on conquering and to conquer."
They were chastened, and often fell under the lash of the law, yet not
killed: and though it was thought that they were sorrowful, a company of
mopish and melancholy men, always sighing and mourning, yet they were always
rejoicing in God, and had the greatest reason to rejoice always. They were
despised as poor, upon the account of their poverty in this world; and
yet they made many rich, by preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ.
They were thought to have nothing, and silver and gold they had none, houses
and lands they had none; yet they possessed all things: they had nothing
in this world, but they had a treasure in heaven. Their effects lay in
another country, in another world. They had nothing in themselves, but
possessed all things in Christ. Such a paradox is a Christian's life, and
through such a variety of conditions and reports lies our way to heaven;
and we should be careful in all these things to approve ourselves to God.
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