raised； henceforth to live forever with their Lord。 〃Behold；〃 the apostle
declared； 〃I show you a mystery： We shall not all sleep； but we shall all be
changed； in a moment； in the twinkling of an eye； at the last trump： for the
trumpet shall sound； and the dead shall be raised incorruptible； and we
shall be changed。 For this
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corruptible must put on incorruption； and this mortal must put on
immortality。 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption； and
this mortal shall have put on immortality； then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written； Death is swallowed up in victory。 O death； where is
thy sting？ O grave； where is thy victory？ 。 。 。 Thanks be to God； which
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ。〃
Glorious is the triumph awaiting the faithful。 The apostle； realizing the
possibilities before the Corinthian believers； sought to set before them
that which uplifts from the selfish and the sensual； and glorifies life with
the hope of immortality。 Earnestly he exhorted them to be true to their high
calling in Christ。 〃My beloved brethren；〃 he pleaded； 〃be ye steadfast；
unmovable； always abounding in the work of the Lord； forasmuch as ye know
that your labor is not in vain in the Lord。〃
Thus the apostle； in the most decided and impressive manner； endeavored to
correct the false and dangerous ideas and practices that were prevailing in
the Corinthian church。 He spoke plainly； yet in love for their souls。 In his
warnings and reproofs； light from the throne of God was shining upon them；
to reveal the hidden sins that were defiling their lives。 How would it be
received？
After the letter had been dispatched； Paul feared lest that which he had
written might wound too deeply those whom he desired to benefit。 He keenly
dreaded a further alienation and sometimes longed to recall his words。 Those
who； like the apostle； have felt a responsibility for beloved
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churches or institutions； can best appreciate his depression of spirit and
self…accusing。 The servants of God who bear the burden of His work for this
time know something of the same experience of labor； conflict； and anxious
care that fell to the lot of the great apostle。 Burdened by divisions in the
church； meeting with ingratitude and betrayal from some to whom he looked
for sympathy and support； realizing the peril of the churches that harbored
iniquity； compelled to bear a close； searching testimony in reproof of sin；
he was at the same time weighed down with fear that he might have dealt with
too great severity。 With trembling anxiety he waited to receive some tidings
as to the reception of his message。
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Chapter 31
The Message Heeded
From Ephesus Paul set forth on another missionary tour； during which he
hoped to visit once more the scenes of his former labors in Europe。 Tarrying
for a time at Troas； 〃to preach Christ's gospel；〃 he found some who were
ready to listen to his message。 〃A door was opened unto me of the Lord；〃 he
afterward declared of his labors in this place。 But successful as were his
efforts at Troas； he could not remain there long。 〃The care of all the
churches；〃 and particularly of the church at Corinth； rested heavily on his
heart。 He had hoped to meet Titus at Troas and to learn from him how the
words of counsel and reproof sent to the Corinthian brethren had been
received； but in this he was disappointed。 〃I had no rest in my spirit；〃 he
wrote concerning this experience； 〃because I found not Titus my brother。〃 He
therefore left Troas and crossed over to Macedonia； where； at Philippi he
met Timothy。
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During this time of anxiety concerning the church at Corinth； Paul hoped for
the best； yet at times feelings of deep sadness would sweep over his soul；
lest his counsels and admonitions might be misunderstood。 〃Our flesh had no
rest；〃 he afterward wrote； 〃but we were troubled on every side； without were
fightings； within were fears。 Nevertheless God； that comforteth those that
are cast down； comforted us by the coming of Titus。〃
This faithful messenger brought the cheering news that a wonderful change
had taken place among the Corinthian believers。 Many had accepted the
instruction contained in Paul's letter and had repented of their sins。 Their
lives were no longer a reproach to Christianity； but exerted a powerful
influence in favor of practical godliness。
Filled with joy； the apostle sent another letter to the Corinthian
believers； expressing his gladness of heart because of the good work wrought
in them： 〃Though I made you sorry with a letter； I do not repent； though I
did repent。〃 When tortured by the fear that his words would be despised； he
had sometimes regretted that he had written so decidedly and severely。 〃Now
I rejoice；〃 he continued； 〃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。 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of。〃 That repentance which is produced by the
influence of divine grace upon the heart will lead to confession and
forsaking of sin。 Such were the fruits which the apostle declared had been
seen in the lives of the Corinthian believers。 〃What
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carefulness it wrought in you； yea； what clearing of yourselves； yea； what
indignation； yea； what fear； yea； what vehement desire； yea； what zeal。〃
For some time Paul had been carrying a burden of soul for the churchesa
burden so heavy that he could scarcely endure it。 False teachers had sought
to destroy his influence among the believers and to urge their own doctrines
in the place of gospel truth。 The perplexities and discouragements with
which Paul was surrounded are revealed in the words； 〃We were pressed out of
measure； above strength； insomuch that we despaired even of life。〃
But now one cause of anxiety was removed。 At the tidings of the acceptance
of his letter to the Corinthians； Paul broke forth into words of rejoicing：
〃Blessed be God； even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ； the Father of
mercies； and the God of all comfort； 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。 For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us； so our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ。 And whether we be afflicted； it is for your consolation and
salvation； which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which
we also suffer： or whether we be comforted； it is for your consolation and
salvation。 And our hope of you is steadfast； knowing； that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings； so shall ye be also of the consolation。〃
In expressing his joy over their reconversion and their growth in grace；
Paul ascribed to God all the praise for this transformation of heart and
life。 〃Thanks be unto God；〃
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he exclaimed； 〃which always causeth us to triumph in Christ； and maketh
manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place。 For we are unto
God a sweet savor of Christ； in them that are saved； and in them that
perish。〃 It was the custom of the day for a general victorious in warfare to
bring with him on his return a train of captives。 On such occasions incense
bearers were appointed； and as the army marched triumphantly home； the
fragrant odor was to the captives appointed to die； a savor of death；
showing that they were nearing the time of their execution； but to those of
the prisoners who had found favor with their captors； and whose lives were
to be spared； it was a savor of life； in that it showed them that their
freedom was near。
Paul was now full of faith and hope。 He felt that Satan was not to triumph
over the work of God in Corinth； and in words of praise he poured forth the
gratitude of his heart。 He and his fellow laborers would celebrate their
victory over the enemies of Christ and the truth； by going forth with new
zeal to extend the knowledge of the Saviour。 Like incense the fragrance of
the gospel was to be diffused throughout the world。 To those who should
accept Christ； the message would be a savor of life unto life； but to those
who should persist in unbelief； a savor of death unto death。
Realizing the overwhelming magnitude of the work； Paul exclaimed； 〃Who is
sufficient for these things？〃 Who is able to preach Christ in such a way
that His enemies shall have no just cause to despise the messenger or the
message
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that he bears？ Paul desired to impress upon believers the solemn
responsibility of the gospel ministry。 Faithfulness in preaching the word；
united with a pure； consistent life； can alone make the efforts of ministers
acceptable to God and profitable to souls。 Ministers of our day； burdened
with a sense of the greatness of the work； may well exclaim with the
apostle； 〃Who is sufficient for these things？〃
There were those who had charged Paul with self…commendation in writing his
former letter。 The apostle now referred to this by asking the members of the
church if they thus judged his motives。 〃Do we begin again to commend
ourselves？〃 he inquired； 〃or need we； as some others； epistles of
commendation to you； or letters of commendation from you？〃 Believers moving
to a new place often carried with them letters of commendation from the
church with which they had formerly been united； but the leading workers；
the founders of these churches； had no need of such commendation。 The
Corinthian believers； who had been led from the worship of idols to the
faith of the gospel； were themselves all the recommendation that Paul
needed。 Their reception of the truth； and the reformation wrought in their
lives； bore eloquent testimony to the faithfulness of his labors and to his
authority to counsel； reprove； and exhort as a minister of Christ。
Paul regarded the C