BUSINESS 569 Is-it the duty o f the minister o f Christ to defend his reputation which may be falsely assailed (cf. Genesis x x x ix ) ? Yes, if such, wrong imputation hinders the work o f Christ. There is a great difference between defending one’s own wounded per sonality and defending the cause o f Christ (Jude 3). It is the duty o f the friends of a Christian worker or minister .who has been wrongly attacked, to come to his defense (v. 12; cf. Acts iv. 34-41). Zeal and earnestness in God’s work may lead to a wrong estimation o f one’s char acter and work. Paul’s enemies said he was unduly obscure, or overwrought and crazy (iv. 3; xi. 1, 16; cf. Acts xxvi. 24). They said likewise o f Jesus (Mark iii. 21; John viii. 48), and all the apostles (Acts ii. 13-16). The love o f God in Christ as reconciling the world unto Himself and the passion of the apostle to proclaim this great fact to men, the realization o f his. position between a beseeching God and needy humanity gave to the apostle a zeal and strenuosity which those who were barren o f such a passion misunderstood and wrongly stigmatized as undue sobriety, or lack o f self-control (v. 13-19). It is interesting at this point to note the apostle’s belief regarding the death o f Jesus Christ. It is set forth as a reconciliation (v. 18, 19; cf. Romans v. 10; Ephesians ii. 16; Colossians i. 20). W e are reconciled to God by the death o f His Son, by His cross, and by the blood o f His cross—that is the message o f these Scriptures. Reconciliation has two sides: active and passive. In the active sense we may look upon Christ’s death as removing the efimity existing between God and man, which had hitherto been a barrier to fellowship. This, state o f existing enmity is set forth in such Scriptures as Romans viii. 7—“ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.” Also Ephesians ii. 15 and James iv. 4. In. the passive sense of the word it may indicate the change o f attitude on the part o f man towards God, this change—from enmity to friendship—being wrought in the heart of man by a vision o f the cross o f Christ (cf. ' ' v
THE KING’S Christ, then a new and right relation takes place. Such has been the experience o f the Apostle Paul, and the great facts of such a reconciliation which has been provided by God in Christ has been committed to him to proclaim. Having personally experienced such faith in Christ, and having been then commis sioned with the gospel o f reconciliation, the apostle glories in the fact that he is a worker together with God and Christ in announcing this gospel o f reconciliation to the world (2 Corinthians vi. 1). The apos tle is both an ambassador (v. 20) and a sup pliant (vi. 1). To commend himself to God and men as a worthy minister o f Christ is the apos tle’s ambition (vi. 4). The sufferings and afflictions of the apostle were the creden- , tials of his divine apostleship (vi. 5-10). Three things are here referred to as characteristic o f the ministry of the apostle: First, fear o f Christ as the Judge, and •Christ’s love for us as a Redeemer (v. 11- 15) is its motive. Second, the basis of it lies in the finished work o f reconciliation in Christ (v. 16-19). Third, the credentials of it are the facts o f the apostle’s ministry and ambassadorship (v. 20-vi. 10). Such facts clearly demonstrate that the apostle is a sincere and thoroughly authenticated ambassador o f Christ. (a ) The Apostle’s Experience (v, 11-19). Paul is here dealing largely with the defense o f his apostolic sincerity, particu larly as in the sight o f God, as well as of men, and because o f the motive—the sacri ficial love of Christ—that actuates his min istry. The apostle was persuaded that God knew and honored his sincerity; he would have the Corinthians do likewise (v. 11). God trusts the apostle; why should not the Corinthians? This appeal to God is true not only o f the future
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