2Corinthians 8:10-15; Season 8, Episode 4 (30min)

"The First to Begin"

 

The Outline: 

 II.  EXHORTATION:
The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)

1. FOR YOUR CLEANSING  (6:11-7:1)
2. FROM MY CONFIDENCE  (7:2-16)
3. ABOUT THE COLLECTION  (8:1-9:15)

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A.  ABOUT THE COLLECTION  (8:1-9:15)

1. Examples of Grace Giving  (8:1-9)
2. Principles of Grace Giving  (8:10-9:15)

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2.  Principles of Grace Giving  (8:10-9:15)

1. The Reliability  (8:10-12)
2. The Equality  (8:13-15)
3. The Honorability  (8:16-24)
4. The Responsibility  (9:1-5)
5. The Generosity  (9:6-15)

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The NT Church and Socialism:

• “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common…” (Acts 2:44-45); “And not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”(Acts 4:33-37)
• But see on in the context Peter’s speech to Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-4;
  “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?”
  “And after it was sold, was it not under your control?”
• Private property and personal responsibility underlies this scene
• The actions of selling property and donating the proceeds from the sales was voluntary
• This procedure was implemented only in one church at Jerusalem
• Note: A case can be made that this drastic measure taken in this church led to the consequence of other distant churches having to underwrite their welfare later (Rom 15:26; Gal 2:10; 2Cor 9:9)
• There is a principle of “equality” in reciprocal giving (2Cor 8:15); But that is still a voluntary endeavor to meet the need
• The Example of the Apostle Paul: Enterprise, hard work and independence (Acts 18:3; 20:34-35; 1Cor 4:12; 1Thess 2:9; 2Thess 3:6-9)
• At no time was it ever a forced communal lifestyle upon the congregations of believers; At no time did the believers expect the Roman government to equalize the economy