“Intense Compassion” II Corinthians 11:1-15
“And I will keep on doing what I am doing…”
11 1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
INTENSE COMPASSION AWAKENS INTENSE CONCERN.
“foolishness… godly jealousy… to one husband, to Christ,… But I
am afraid… you put up with it easily enough.”
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
INTENSE COMPASSION CALLS FOR AN INTENSE REALITY CHECK.
Paul accused of arrogance and self-serving motives by false prophets:
“… lower myself… free of charge… robbed other churches to serve
you… I was not a burden to anyone… As surely as the truth of
Christ is in me… Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!”
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
INTENSE COMPASSION STIRS INTENSE CONFLICT.
“I will keep on… in order to cut the ground from under those…
masquerading as apostles of Christ… Satan himself masquerades
as an angel of light… his servants also masquerade… Their end will
be what their actions deserve.”