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But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

The gospel isn’t complex and it is not difficult to understand. We do not need to enhance the simple message of our sin, Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection etc. We do not need a “bait-n-switch” of offering one thing only to change it to another once we “get ‘em.” Following Jesus means giving-up your life, everything you are, into the hands of your new Lord… but it’s totally worth it! We are not asking people to add a little Jesus to their life, to change their behavior, or anything else we might try to feed people in order to soften the truth… following Jesus demands personal death to yourself so that He might live through you. It’s not difficult, we sin, that keeps us from God. God sent Jesus to pay for our sins, He did, now you can exchange your messed-up sinful life for His perfect sacrifice… but you can’t keep both. That’s the gospel, and it truly is “good news,” and it’s our story to tell. If someone doesn’t understand, let it be a spiritual issue, not because we didn’t communicate it clearly. 

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

When you meditate on the Lord, you spend time looking at Him in His word, you begin to see who He is. He is marvelous! When we give our lives to Him, there is a veil, a barrier between us and God, that is removed. This freedom between us and God allows us to perceive the truth of Scripture. When you’re looking at Jesus, seeing who He really is through His word, as you are learning more and more about Him, you naturally become more like Him. He is where you are pointed, you are headed in His direction. Believers are each a residence of the Holy Sprit and He changes us. Day-by-day, part-by-part, sometimes little-by-little, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, as God makes changes in our lives, we progress to become more like him. Keep your eyes on Him today.

5 Now if anyone has caused pain… to all of you. 6 …this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

When someone comes out and asks for forgiveness, that is to say, they are repentant, you don’t need to drag it out any longer or any more public than it already is. The idea of “Church Discipline” (as it is sometimes called) is not to enact a “punishment” on someone, as though we are their parents, no, it is to help them acknowledge their mistake, ask forgiveness from God and those whom they’ve wronged, and then rejoin the fellowship of their church family. Love keeps no record of wrongs… forgiveness is key to the Christian life. Only forgive if Jesus has forgiven you. Has Jesus forgiven you?

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

We ask for comfort from God, and he gives it, but when he does, it’s so we can be an instrument of his comfort to others, later on, who are going through the same kinds of things. The idea is that we need to “pay it forward.” What has been the hardest thing you’ve had to go through? Did you make it? Now, look around for others who are dealing with the same thing. Your previous struggle was, in part, how God was preparing you to minister to others. Your current struggle is not without purpose… look for others who’ve gone before you and find out how they made it. You are not alone, we can do this, together!