Christ was crucified in weakness so that we can be strong

Christ was crucified in weakness so that we can be strong

2 Cor 13:4

⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

1 Cor 1:25

²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Php 2:7, 8

⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.

⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

1 Pet 3:18

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)    Christ was crucified in weakness so that we can be strong

2)    For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

3)    Christ made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness for our sins and to set us free.

4)    For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

We are to do everything to strengthen others in Christ

We are to do everything to strengthen others in Christ

2 Cor 12:19

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

Rom 14:19

¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

2 Cor 10:8

⁸ So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  We are to do everything to strengthen others in Christ

2)  Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

3)  Lord gave us authority for building others and not tearing them down

Boasting about our weakness so that power of Christ may rest on us

 Boasting about our weakness so that power of Christ may rest on us

2 Cor 11:30, 16

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

Gal 6:14

¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[a]the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

2 Cor 12: 5, 9

⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

We learn the following from the above verses

1) Boasting about our weakness so that power of Christ may rest on us

2)    Boasting  in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[a]the world has been crucified to us, and we to the world

3)     I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

we will receive our praise from God for our motives of the heart

we will receive our praise from God for our motives of the heart

1 Cor 4:5

⁵ Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Gal 1:10

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1 The 2:4

⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

1 Pet 3:4

⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  we will receive our praise from God for our motives of the heart

2)  Servants of Christ will not try to please people

3)  We speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

4)  The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s sight.

The one the Lord commends is approved

The one the Lord commends is approved

2 Cor 10:18

¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Rom 2:29

 ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

John 5:44

⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

John 12:43

⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  The one the Lord commends is approved

2)  A person’s praise is from God, if he is a Jew inwardly and has the circumcision of the heart by the Spirit

3)  If we have the love of God in our hearts then the glory comes from God

4)  If we openly acknowledge our faith not fearing men then praise comes from God

Let him who boasts boast in the Lord

Let him who boasts boast in the Lord

 2 Cor 10:17

¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Jer 9:24

²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

Psalm 34:2

² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 44:8

⁸ In God we make our boast all day long,
    and we will praise your name forever.

1 Cor 1 :31

²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  Let him who boasts boast in the Lord

2)  Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth

3)  We are to glory in the Lord and let the afflicted hear and rejoice

4)  In God we make our boast all day long,
    and we will praise His name forever

5)  It is because of God that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

2 Cor 10:5

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Eph 4:22-24

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Col 3:2

² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Php 4:8

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

2)  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds

3)  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

4)  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish the strongholds

The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish the strongholds

2 Cor 10:4

⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Jer 1:10

¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jer 23:29

²⁹ “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

2 Cor 13:10

¹⁰ This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)    The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish the strongholds

2)    We are appointed over the nations and kingdoms to build and to plant

3)    God’s word is like a fire and a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces

4)    The Lord gave us authority to build others up.