For By Faith You Stand...

“Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:24, NKJV

While writing first Corinthians, Paul planned on visiting Corinth in the near future. This plan didn't work out as he originally intended, and the Corinthians were offended. Paul deals with this matter early in his second epistle to these believers, writing in verse 23, “Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.” It was better that Paul's visit had not worked out, since he would have found much that needed to be set right and both he and the Corinthians would have been grieve rather than refreshed by their time together. Paul takes care, however, to add the caveat above. Though he had a certain amount of spiritual authority over the Corinthians (as their spiritual father and pastor, he could lovingly correct them as the Holy Spirit directed), but they and he were nevertheless fellow workers. Joy was their aim as both Paul and the Corinthian believers strove to obey the Lord and walk in His Spirit (since there is much blessing in spiritual maturity). Broken though these believers were, broken though we all are, we stand by faith. The Corinthians were not somehow inferior to Paul or to other, stronger believers; by faith they stood before God with the standing of Christ Himself, righteous, beloved, honored, and accepted. Faith, in a believer, is the acknowledgement of our own inability and an acceptance of God's perfect sufficiency on our behalf. By faith, we say that in and of ourselves we are fallen, unable to stand. By faith, we receive God's free gift of salvation. Thus, by faith, we stand. It's no longer dependent on us, our ability or our performance. It is all Christ. He is able to make us stand.

by Rebecca...