2Corinthians 8:7-15 comments: urging the Corinthians to be generous out of their abundance

8:7 ¶  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Utterance would refer to speaking God’s word boldly without fear.

Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Paul then asks that as the Corinthians abound in faith, preaching and teaching and understanding God’s word, their knowledge and their diligence that they also abound in generosity. Paul is urging, not commanding, the Corinthians to show their love by their generosity. His argument begins with how Christ humbled Himself, making Himself poor so that they might be rich. They are willing and now he is asking them to actually do something. He is only asking them to give out of their abundance even though other churches have been generous even in their poverty.

This voluntary redistribution of wealth,  not made at the point of the government’s sword, but out of a willing heart is asked not so that they are made poor but that other churches may be as they are. It is about churches lifting each other up, with one church assisting another in giving of their abundance to alleviate another’s poverty and suffering. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, uses an Old Testament event to make His point here.

Exodus 16:13 ¶  And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14  And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. 16  This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

A similar sentiment is expressed in the early church at Jerusalem before persecution scattered many of them. This was appropriated by people like Karl Marx and misapplied to governmental extortion rather than a willing heart.

Acts  2:45  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4:35  And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

We know from places like Acts 11 there was suffering among the churches in Judaea in the past and the Apostles took up collections for them. We know from Paul’s own confession that he himself had implemented persecution against Christians when he had been an official sent out to strike at Christianity. So, there was still ongoing and intense persecution of the Judean brethren.

Acts 8:3  As for Saul [Paul’s original name], he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

1Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Galatians 1:13  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

We also know from this letter in chapter one that Paul was on his way to Judaea.

2Corinthians 1:16  And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

2Corinthians 8:1-6 comments: Paul beings his appeal for the churches in Judea

8:1 ¶  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

To wit means that you are about to describe something more fully or in this case to make known or to declare something. Here, Paul says he wants to relate to the Corinthians what is happening with the churches in Macedonia.

Paul refers to the generosity of the churches in the Roman province of Macedonia, which included the churches in the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea among others, in spite of the great persecution and poverty they suffered themselves, to spark the Corinthians into giving more for the care of other churches in places less fortunate. This is the beginning of a plea Paul makes for churches to help each other in their struggle to survive, the temptation to abandon the faith that came in the guise of famine, poverty, and persecution.

Paul is hoping that Corinth will follow suit and be generous of their substance as the churches in Macedonia have done and he is about to give a lesson in Christian economics.

2Corinthians 7:12-16 comments: Paul's purpose in writing these two letters

7:12 ¶  Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13  Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14  For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15  And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16  I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

   

Paul did not write the condemnation of the first letter for the guilty man or his father but to show the Corinthians how much he cared for them and was concerned about them. This is the kind of care he gave to the churches he started. He might rip the hide off of the Corinthians but he lovingly put it back on when they understood what he was saying and why he was saying it.

1Thessalonians 2:1 ¶  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

    7 ¶  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8  So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9  For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

 

Earlier, Paul gave three purposes for Christian preaching.

1Corinthians 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Preachers edify or teach doctrine and truth, they exhort or encourage people to action, to live as Christ would have them live, and they comfort those to whom they speak. These purposes are all necessary in their place.

2Corinthians 7:5-11 comments: godly sorrow worketh repentance

7:5 ¶  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6  Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7  And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Titus apparently brought Paul news that the Corinthians were concerned about him. He is almost apologetic for the tough tone of his last letter. But he is glad they turned from accepting that sin in their congregation that was bringing them down. Godly sorrow bears good fruit, sorrow for your sins against God which leads to your turning from your sin. Worldly sorrow that things just didn’t work out like you thought they would works death because it just leads to more sin. Repentance comes when one is actually sorry for their sin against God, even this congregation.

The words repent and repentance don’t just carry with them an intellectual assent to something like just changing your mind. They involve a turning from something like sin or an action you were purposed to do.

Exodus 32:12  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Jeremiah 4:28  For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

Jeremiah 18:8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremiah 26:3  If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Ezekiel 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Jonah 3:9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Being sick of sin’s ravages on your life doesn’t guarantee you are sorry for your sin. It just means you are sorry you got caught, that your plans didn’t go well. Being sick of the reputation you have among family, friends, and society for being a sinner doesn’t mean you understand that you have sinned against a Holy Creator who has blessed you so abundantly in spite of your pride and your selfishness toward Him.

Verse 6 makes an important statement about reality we must consider. God works through people and events. He probably won’t appear to you in a whirlwind or a burning bush talking to you and giving you instructions or comfort. Be sensitive to the fact that he will change your circumstances through people he sends your way and events that happen unexpectedly. Remember what Paul said at the beginning of his letter.

2Corinthians 1:3 ¶  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

We should be aware when we feel compelled to minister to someone or when someone attempts to minister to us that God is involved and He is working in our situation.

2Corinthians 7:1-4 comments: Paul is glad to suffer for the Corinthians

7:1 ¶  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2  Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3  I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

First, Paul, including himself and his coworkers, urges the Corinthians to honor the promises of God to strive to keep themselves from sin, both in the body and in the mind. For man’s spirit and mind being linked see;

Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Philippians 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

They, and we, must seek to cleansed of our unrighteousness and not, like some weak Christians say, just be glad there is grace. We will always fall short but the command to stay as far away from sin as we can is always there.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 6:1 ¶  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8  Now if

we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11  Likewise reckon ye also

yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul pleads that he and his coworkers have been honest in their portrayal of the gospel and in their ministry toward the Corinthians. We are to honor those who serve the Lord in spiritual matters teaching us, edifying us, exhorting us, and comforting us.

1Thessalonians 5:11 ¶  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

He has already asked the Corinthians to help those who work with him.

1Corinthians 16:15  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)16  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

As he did elsewhere.

Romans 16:1 ¶  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Paul glories in the tribulation he has suffered for these difficult and stubborn Christians.

2Corinthians 6:11-18 comments: separation

    6:11 ¶  O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12  Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13  Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Paul expresses his heartfelt love for the Corinthian church. Although we today confine bowels to a very clinical reference to our intestines, bowels in the Bible refer to that pit of the stomach feeling of love and compassion that people have, yearning for someone out of love and affection.

Genesis 43:30  And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

Straitened, as in straitjacket, is narrowed or confined.

Job 36:16  Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

Matthew 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Paul is now going to warn them about too great an association with unbelievers. He already gave warning in his first letter about the feasts associated with pagan temples and pagan worship. This is not to say that they must not have any affiliation with unbelievers because, as he said in his first letter;

1Corinthians 5:9 ¶  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

But in intimate associations such as the church, marriage, and one might even go so far as to say in business there is a great danger in walking together with the unsaved. You don’t throw your clean shirt into the mud and expect the mud to get clean. The shirt gets soiled. There is a danger of adopting the values of the world when one spends a great deal of time in the most personal situations rubbing elbows with worldly people.

But, Paul’s warning, in context is focused mostly on the association that some Corinthian Christians had with the non-Christian in their pagan festivities, feasts, which he argued against in his first letter. So, let’s not take this too far. You will probably have to work with non-Christians and there may be many non-Christians in your extended family. So, just be careful how you limit yourself in your influence on people by avoiding them. Keep the context foremost in your mind and the principle as a guide for your life.

The Spirit of God dwells within each believer. We are the temple of the living God. Three times in the first letter Paul makes this reference.

1Corinthians 3:16 ¶  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Also, in the letter to the Ephesians;

Ephesians 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Christ also, lives in each believer.

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Which is what Jesus promised.

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you…23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

What are the Old Testament cross-references for verse 16 so we can see how Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, used them?

Exodus 29:45  And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

Leviticus 26:12  And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:1 ¶  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

Ezekiel 37:27  My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And verses 17 & 18?

Isaiah 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Hosea 1:10  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

2Corinthians 6:1-10 comments: workers together with Christ

6:1 ¶  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

As ambassadors of Christ we are working with Him in this ministry of reconciliation to God and should behave ourselves in a way that is becoming to the mission of the gospel, to save men and women. God has displayed a great deal of grace toward us. We should give no offence, that is, cause anyone to stumble over the word. We, our lives, are to be a testimony to the power and love of Christ, presenting the word of God clearly and in truth.

Matthew 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

We must not act in such a way as to bring shame on the cause of the gospel of Christ. Remember how Nathan told David about how his behavior brought shame on the cause of God in Israel.

2Samuel 12:14a  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Sometimes our faith is revealed by how we deal with difficulties. You will have no greater witness than how you bear the strife and trouble of life. Paul here masterfully has a list that speaks for itself in the trouble that can await a Christian who is living for Christ. We have to be thankful for God’s grace as how many of us actually suffer the things he is speaking of? What a triumph there is in his statements, particularly verse 10.

10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

How can we do this? How is this possible? Because as John says in his first letter in 1John 4:4 greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

2Corinthians 5:16-21 comments: the reconciliation

5:16 ¶  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Here is a good place to make a statement about how the Bible is written. In verse 16 the implication is carried through in our minds, if we understand the phrasing, that we can insert after the flesh at the end of the verse as in know we him no more after the flesh.

This is similar to how our minds should add, in our understanding, the words with evil at the end of this verse.

James 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

For the apostles who had seen Christ, and although Paul came into view after Christ’s resurrection he is counting himself among them, Christ’s bodily presence was not to be desired more than His glorified spiritual presence. And as the apostles no more looked to the flesh and blood Jesus Christ but to his glorified presence so we are to regard our brothers and sisters in Christ no more as purely physical beings of weak and tortured flesh but as spiritual beings destined for an eternity together with the Lord.

The born-again Christian is a new creature, fundamentally different, if his or her conversion was genuine. Yes, we will occupy a body of flesh, a body of sin, but inside of us we are qualitatively different and God the Father looks at us through a Christ-colored lens. Two points can be made here. One, if you read the first letter of John you will see the difference between the two creatures. In the flesh;

1John 1:5 ¶  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

    8 ¶  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Then, John moves to our new born-again state if it is genuine;

1John 3:1 ¶  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

    4 ¶  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Secondly, Paul laments that fact that he is a born-again believer in Christ encased in a body of flesh.

Romans 7:14 ¶  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

    8:1 ¶  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

    10 ¶  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

  

The principle subject of the Bible is God’s own ministry of reconciling mankind to Himself. To reconcile is to return to a former state of harmony, to bring us and the entire universe back into a right position with God. This was damaged by man’s sin, allowed to be done so by God so that we would know in eternity that it was Him who saved us and returned us, and that we had no power of our own to do so.

Permitting Adam’s sin and the fall of nature itself is a way God has of revealing Himself to us by His ministry of reconciliation.

Talking about Jesus Paul says;

  Colossians 1:12 ¶  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

We are now, as ambassadors of Christ, committed to spread this ministry of reconciliation to all people, as witnesses of God’s mercy. Christ was made sin for us so that we, through Him, could be reconciled to God in righteousness.

Philippians 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: