Motives for Ministry (preaching resource for 3/30/25, Lent #4)
This post exegetes 2 Corinthians 5:9-21, offering context for the RCL Epistle reading on the fourth Sunday in Lent (3/30/25). Insights are drawn from Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Exposition Commentary").
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| "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" from Tissot (via Wkimedia Commons) |
Introduction
Paul's epistles typically address both doctrine and duty. Why? Because he seeks to establish that what God has done for us (as summarized in doctrine) should motivate us to participate actively in God's ongoing work in the world (our duty--what Paul calls "the obedience of faith"). Another way to state this is that the indicatives of the Gospel motivate the imperatives of the Gospel. We see this dynamic relationship in Paul's frequent use of the word “therefore” (sometimes translated "so," "since then", etc.) as in 2 Corinthians 5:9, 11, 16–17 where Paul moves from explanation-declaration (indicatives) to application (imperatives).
In the passage unpacked in this post (2 Corinthians 5:9-21), Paul's theme is motivation for ministry. He is addressing this topic because a group of Judaizers in the church at Corinth were accusing him of using the ministry of the Gospel for his own selfish purposes, when in reality they were the ones “merchandising” the Gospel (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2).
What is the ministry of the Christian? Paul answers that is involves first declaring the Gospel truth (the indicative) that God has reconciled all humanity to himself through Christ (2 Cor. 5:18), then calling (inviting) people to respond (the imperative) to live into that reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20). As Paul makes clear, in this Christ-centered, Gospel-shaped ministry we do not seek to force people to trust Christ, nor do we seek to coerce them via devious means. Rather, “our message... is true, our motives are pure, our conduct is absolutely aboveboard” (1 Thes. 2:3, PH). Paul's point is that the Christian minister must have both the right message (the Gospel) and the right motive. What is that motive? He answers in 2 Corinthians 5:9-21 by addressing three right motives for ministry: 1. the fear of Christ, 2) the love of Christ, and 3) the commission of Christ.
1. The fear of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:9–13
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men... (2 Cor 5:11a). Here fear is referring to reverence toward God--a motive that sadly is missing among some ministers. Paul explains this motive for ministry by sharing his own testimony in three powerful statements: we are ambitious, we must all appear, and we persuade men.
a. We are ambitious
2 Corinthians 5:9
"We make it our goal" means “we are ambitious." There is an ambition that is selfish and worldly, but there is also a godly ambition that honors Christ. Paul’s great ambition was to be well-pleasing to Jesus. The Judaizers troubling the congregation in Corinth ministered to please men and enlisted them in their cause; but Paul ministered to please Jesus Christ alone (Gal. 1:10). A man-pleasing ministry is a carnal, compromising ministry that God will not bless.
The word translated “please” is used in several other places in the New Testament, and each of these references helps us better understand what it is that pleases the Lord. It is well-pleasing to Him when we present our bodies to Him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), and when we live so as to help others and avoid causing them to stumble (Rom. 14:18). God is well-pleased when His children separate themselves from the evil around them (Eph. 5:10), as well as when they bring their offerings to Him (Phil. 4:18). He is pleased with children who submit to their parents (Col. 3:20), as well as with saints who permit Jesus Christ to work out His perfect will in their lives (Heb. 13:20–21).
There is nothing wrong with godly ambition. “Yea, so have I strived [been ambitious] to preach the Gospel,” was Paul’s testimony in Romans 15:20; it was this godly ambition that compelled him to take the message where it had never been heard. Paul commanded the Thessalonian believers to “study [be ambitious] to be quiet” (1 Thes. 4:11). If, led by the Spirit, believers would put as much drive into Christian living and service as they do athletics or business, the Gospel would make a greater impact on the lost world. “I want to be as zealous for God as I was for the devil!” a new Christian told me, and his life was greatly used of God.
b. We must all appear
2 Corinthians 5:10
In the resurrection, every believer will appear before the Lord; and now is the time to prepare. The Judgment Seat of Christ is that future event when God’s people will stand before the Saviour as their works are judged and rewarded (see Rom. 14:8–10). Paul was ambitious for the Lord because he wanted to meet Him with confidence and not shame (1 John 2:28).
The term “judgment seat” comes from the Greek word bema, which was the platform in Greek towns where orations were made or decisions handed down by rulers (see Matt. 27:19; Acts 12:21; 18:12). It was also the place where the awards were given out to the winners in the annual Olympic Games. This “judgment seat” must not be confused with the Great White Throne from which Christ will judge the wicked (Rev. 20:11–15). Because of the gracious work of Christ on the cross, believers will not face their sins (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1); but we will give account of our works and service for the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a place of revelation; for the word appear means “be revealed.” As we live and work here on earth, it is relatively easy for us to hide things and pretend; but the true character of our works will be exposed before the searching eyes of the Saviour. He will reveal whether our works have been good or bad (“worthless”). The character of our service will be revealed (1 Cor. 3:13) as well as the motives that impelled us (1 Cor. 4:5). For those of us who have been faithful, it will be a time of rejoicing as we glorify the Lord by giving our rewards back to Him in worship and in praise.
Is the desire for reward a proper motive for ministry? The fact that God does promise rewards is proof that the motive is not a sinful one, even though it may not be the highest motive. Just as parents are happy when their children achieve recognition, so our Lord is pleased when His people are worthy of recognition and reward. The important thing is not the reward itself, but the joy of pleasing Christ and honoring Him.
c. We persuade men
2 Corinthians 5:11-13
How can the Christian minister prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ? Note these three imperatives that flow from the indicatives of the Gospel:
1) Maintain a clear conscience (2 Corinthians 5:11)
No doubt some of the enemies at Corinth were saying, “Just wait until Paul stands before the Lord!” But Paul was not afraid, because he knew that his conscience was clear (see 2 Cor. 1:12). The truth about each one of us shall be revealed and Jesus Christ will commend us for those things that have pleased Him.
2) Don't depend on the praise of men (2 Corinthians 5:12)
This verse relates to 2 Cor. 3:1, where Paul referred to the “letters of commendation” that the Judaizers prized so highly. If we live only for the praise of men, we will not win the praise of God at the Judgment Seat of Christ. To live for man’s praise is to exalt reputation over character, and it is character that will count when we see Christ. Actually, the Corinthians should have commended Paul! Instead, they were “promoting” the Judaizers who gloried in appearance (see 2 Cor. 11:18), but were unspiritual in heart.
3) Ignore the criticisms of men (2 Corinthians 5:13)
Paul’s enemies said that he was crazy. Paul said that he was “mad” when he was persecuting the church (Acts 26:11), but his enemies said he was “mad” since he had become a believer himself (Acts 26:24). But people said that our Lord was mad, so Paul was in good company (see Mark 3:21). “If I am mad,” Paul was saying, “it is for your good and the glory of God—so that makes it worthwhile!” It behooves each of us to examine our lives regularly to see if we are ready for the Judgment Seat of Christ. Wanting to give a good account before Christ is a worthy motive for Christian service.
2. The love of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:14–17
The phrase “the love of Christ” means His love for us as seen in His sacrificial death. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). He loved us when we were unlovely; in fact, He loved us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies (see Rom. 5:6–10). When He died on the cross, Christ proved His love for the world (John 3:16), the church (Eph. 5:25), and individual sinners (Gal. 2:20). When you consider the following four reasons why Christ died, you cannot help but love Him:
a. He died that we might die (v14)
The tense of the verb gives the meaning “then all died.” This truth is explained in detail in Romans 6, the believer’s identification with Christ. When Christ died, we died in Him and with Him. Therefore, the old life should have no hold on us today. “I am crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20).
b. He died that we might live (vv15–17)
This is the positive aspect of our identification with Christ: we not only died with Him, but we also were raised with Him that we might “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Because we have died with Christ, we can, through Christ, overcome sin; and because we live with Christ, we can share in Christ's fruitfulness to God’s glory (Rom. 7:4).
c. He died that we might live through Him (v15)
“God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9). He also died that we might live for Him, and not live unto ourselves (2 Cor. 5:15). It has well been said, “Christ died our death for us that we might live His life for Him.” If a lost sinner has been to the cross and been saved, how can he spend the rest of his life in selfishness? Christ died that we might live through Him and for Him, and that we might live with Him. “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thes. 5:10).
d. He died that we might share in the new creation (vv16–17)
Jesus died that we might die, and He died that we might live. Our new relationship to Christ has brought about a new relationship to the world and the people around us. We no longer look at life the way we used to. Adam was the head of the old creation, and Christ (the Last Adam, 1 Cor. 15:45) is the Head of the new creation. The old creation was plunged into sin and condemnation because of the disobedience of Adam. The new creation means righteousness and salvation because of the obedience of Jesus Christ. Because we are a part of the new creation, everything has become new.
Because “all things are become new,” we also have a new view of people around us. We see them as dearly beloved children whom God has reconciled to himself through Christ. We should also look at other Christians as a part of the new creation, and not evaluate them on the bases of education, race, finances, or position in society. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
3. The commission of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:18–21
The key idea in this paragraph is reconciliation. Because of his rebellion, man was the enemy of God and out of fellowship with Him. Through the Incarnation culminating in the work of the Cross, Jesus Christ has brought man and God together again. In and through Christ, humanity has been reconciled to God. From God's side, reconciliation is completed--it's a "done deal." What is needed is for people to become aware of and in faith accept this reconciliation, and so "be reconciled."
Another key idea in this section is imputation. This is a word borrowed from banking; it simply means “to put to one’s account.” When you deposit money in the bank, the computer puts that amount to your account, or to your credit. When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins were imputed to Him—put to His account. The result? All of those sins have been paid for and God no longer holds them against us, because we have trusted Christ as our Saviour. But even more: God has put to our account the very righteousness of Christ! “For He hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
Reconciliation is based on imputation: by fully meeting the demands of God’s holy Law on the Cross, through Christ we (sinners all) have been reconciled to God and stand as those who stand in right relationship (righteousness) to God. There is a lovely illustration of this in the letter Paul wrote to his friend Philemon. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, stole from his master and then fled to Rome. Because of his crimes, he could have been crucified. But in the providence of God, Onesimus met Paul and was converted. Paul wrote the Letter to Philemon to encourage his friend to forgive Onesimus and receive him home. “Receive him as myself,” wrote Paul (Phile. 17); “if he … oweth thee aught, put that on mine account” (Phile. 18). Paul was willing to pay the bill (imputation) so that Onesimus and Philemon could be reconciled.
How does this wonderful doctrine of reconciliation motivate us to serve Christ? We are ambassadors with a message. God has committed to us the ministry and the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–19).
In the Roman Empire, there were two kinds of provinces: senatorial provinces and imperial provinces. The senatorial provinces were made up of people who were peaceful and not at war with Rome. They had surrendered and submitted. But the imperial provinces were not peaceful; they were dangerous because they would rebel against Rome if they could. It was necessary for Rome to send ambassadors to the imperial provinces to make sure that rebellion did not break out.
Since Christians in this world are the ambassadors of Christ, this means that the world is in rebellion against God. This world is an “imperial province” as far as God is concerned. He has sent His ambassadors into the world to declare peace, not war. “Be ye reconciled to God!” We represent Jesus Christ (John 20:21; 2 Cor. 4:5). What a great privilege it is to be heaven’s ambassadors of the message of the Gospel.
Conclusion
God has not declared war on the world; at the cross He declared peace. Satan is seeking to tear everything apart in this world, but Christ and His church are involved in the ministry of reconciliation, bringing things back together again--helping people to "be reconciled to God"--to live into the reconciliation with God that is theirs in Christ.
Ministry is not easy. If it is to be fruitful, we must be motivated by reverence for the Lord, the love of Christ, and the commission that our Lord has given to us. What a privilege it is to serve Him!