Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(2Co 13:14) “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”   Before us the Godhead is presented, called upon to bless the hearer of this book. Those words, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ”, reminds us of these verses in John: (Joh_1:14) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”, and (Joh_1:17)  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” 

(2Co 13:13)  “All the saints salute you.”   Once again we are brought face to face with a precious truth. Saints are not those who have died and now answer prayers in the form of miracles. Saints are the redeemed of God who now seek to live in this life for His glory! We would do well to acknowledge each other as such, even if it is just to challenge such false teaching.

(2Co 13:12)  “Greet one another with an holy kiss.”   A “holy kiss” is one free of impurity or guile. It would be full of God given motivation and love. Oh for such a heart among all of God’s people.

(2Co 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.”   If you seek to do the first things mentioned, then “…the God of peace shall be with  you.” Amen. 

(2Co 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.”   “Live in peace”: at the heart of division within a church is someone who expects things to go their way.  There are two officers in the church – the pastor and the deacons. They are the leaders. If you cannot follow them – leave.

(2Co 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.”  “Be of one mind”: at the time of penning this, they were a church of division caused by false teachers. They needed to put off the false and once again embrace the basics. We would do well today to cling to the basics, putting aside what we think in order to hold to the plainly written Word of God.

(2Co 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.”  “Be of good comfort”: the Holy Spirit’s desire expressed through Paul is for God’s people to do right so they can be at ease rather than living in apprehension of His judgment. May we in true repentance always practice First John One Nine.

 (2Co 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.”   “Be perfect”: this word doesn’t mean, “without flaw”, but to be “thoroughly complete”.  So often we excuse ourselves thinking, “I’m still in the flesh.” True enough. Yet, if you are truly saved the Holy Spirit lives “in”  you. He desires to make us more and more like Christ Jesus.

(2Co 13:10) “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.”   No one who loves another wishes to harm them in any way. I’ve always said the Lord did not put me into the ministry to hurt others; but to help them. Yet, there are times the only means of helping is painful. Love does what must be done.