THE VERSE
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ.~2 Corinthians 9:13
THE THOUGHT
Paul identifies the submission of the Corinthians as "flowing from" their confession of the gospel of Christ. Why does submission flow from confessing the gospel? What is it about the gospel that grows the fruit of sacrificial, humble love? The gospel grows the fruit of submission in three main ways: by breaking the back of our pride by unmasking the true condition of our hearts, by giving us an example of sacrificial love in Christ, and by providing for us a real Spirit-filled righteousness that changes us into the image of Christ.The Gospel grows the fruit of submission in us by breaking the back of our pride. Real submission to each other in love is only possible when we start to see our own sin as serious and deadly and noxious. Most of our interpersonal problems can be traced back to this fundamental root of pride: we think that other people's sin is more serious than our own. We are quicker to see their flaws than to see our own, and when we do see our own, we are quick to explain them away. But the Gospel shatters our self-righteousness by showing us how vile our sin really is: it is so hideous in the sight of God that He had to kill His perfect Son in our stead in order to accept us. Submitting to another sinner is a lot easier when we see our own sin as the worst thing in the relationship.
The second way that Gospel grows the fruit of submission is us is by giving us the pinnacle of sacrifice as our example. Philippians sets up the picture like this: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who... made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant and... humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." By setting Christ as our example, the Holy Spirit gives us a powerful and practical inspiration to "follow in His steps."
The final way that the Gospel grows the fruit of submission in us is by actually changing us. Justification-- the perfect righteousness of Christ's obedience counted to those who believe in Him-- changes our status before God, and our changed status before God results in a changed life. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," Paul triumphantly proclaims. We are saved by grace alone-- this is the heart of the Gospel-- but grace never comes alone. God's grace is an empowering, transforming grace that enables us to live out a life of surrender, service, and submission with Christ's Spirit living inside of us.
THE PRAYER
Dear God, Thank you for the glorious, wonderful good news that You give me in the Gospel. Thank you for the perfect sacrifice and perfect righteousness that You have provided for me, that I might stand before You, spotless and forgiven. Please shine the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ into my darkened heart and break my heart and shatter my pride and bend me into submission. Open my eyes to see my Savior on display, that I might live for His glory following in His steps.EXTENDED READING
2 Corinthians 5:14-172 Corinthians 9:6-15
Philippians 2:1-11
THE QUOTE
"The Word is the gospel of God concerning his Son, who was made flesh, suffered, rose from the dead, and was glorified through the Spirit who sanctifies. To preach Christ means to feed the soul, make it righteous, set it free, and save it, provided it believes the preaching." ~Martin LutherTHROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Ezekiel 31-32Job 11
John 10:11-21
1 John 2:24-29
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