Verse 1. “But (as) fellow workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain” (N. T.). What it means is, that as workers with one another the apostle beseeches that the Corinthians would not receive the grace of God in vain. They had received it outwardly, but whether they had all received it in their hearts, was the important point. While fully acknowledging their profession of Christ, he had become troubled about their behavior, for if they did receive it in vain, they were still in their sins; they were not quickened at all. If we have truly received grace, we are saved by it. We have believed the gospel by which we are saved. A person may make a profession of faith in Christ, without the reality in his soul (as in Matt. 13:20-2220But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:20‑22)).
Verse 2 is a parenthesis quoting from Isaiah 49, where the Lord was not only saving Israel, but also the Gentiles; but He being rejected, Israel is set aside, and the gospel of the grace of God is going out to both Jew and Gentile before the fulfillment of Isaiah 49 comes. This is the church period, not mentioned in that chapter. But the apostle applies it in the words, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” a blessed and important truth for the present time.
Verses 3-10. It was the ministry of reconciliation that he had proclaimed as an ambassador to the world around, without which none could be saved, and those who were, were made the righteousness of God in Christ. And he is showing to them how he exercised this ministry in the varied ways and trials that he had passed through. He was indeed and in truth a minister of God, and he was careful to act in ways becoming the One who sent him, worthily representing Him in whose name he spoke, giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; in all things approving himself as one who was sent, showing out the character of the One who sent him. What patience he exercised, in the midst of his afflictions, his necessities, his distresses, with such spiritual energy that told how greatly he realized his important commission, and his need of constant dependence for supply of strength and wisdom, to endure such stripes and imprisonments, such tumults and labors, in watchings and fastings, going through it all in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Ghost, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the arms (see N. T.) of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceiving, but trite; as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold we live; as disciplined, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things. What a path the apostle had to tread, as the Lord said of him at his conversion, “I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Another has written on this:
“Thus he showed himself to be the minister of God in everything which could test him; in pureness, in kindness, in love; as a vessel of power; whether disgraced or applauded; unknown to the world, and known and eminent; outwardly trodden under foot of man and chastened, inwardly victorious and joyful, poor and enriching others, having nothing, and in possession of all things. Here ends his description of the sources, the character, the victory over circumstances, of a ministry which displayed the power of God in a vessel of weakness, whose best portion was death.”
Verses 11 to 13. Here he tells them that he speaks freely to them now, and that his affections are flowing out to them, theirs are straitened or hindered toward him, and he asks, as an answer to his love for them, to let their hearts expand in affection to him. They were his children, and it was as a father that he spoke to them. Love ever begets love.
Verses 14-18. He gives them instruction to choose their company, and specially not to be yoked together with unbelievers in any voluntary association. As a matter of employment, and filling our place in the world, we need to mix with it all the day long in most cases, but that is not what is mentioned here. Our voluntary associations are to be with the children of God, as in Acts 4:2323And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (Acts 4:23), “And being let go, they went to their own company.” It was an unequal yoke for King Jehoshaphat to go to war with Ahab, and so partnership with the world is forbidden here. One can do business legitimately with any, if it is a legitimate business for a Christian, and not be yoked with him. The difference between the believer and the unbeliever is very great, the one is righteousness, the other doing as he pleases. What fellowship has light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with Belial? and what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? and Christians are the temple of the living God; as God hath said (see Lev. 26:1212And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. (Leviticus 26:12)), “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Here he again in his love is impressing upon them how God has separated them to Himself, and seeks to detach them from what would hinder communion with God, and hinder his pleasure in them, and to attach them more firmly in love to Christ. So now he exhorts them to come out from the yokes that belong to this world. A Christian is not to enter marriage with one who is unconverted, but if already married he or she is not to leave the unconverted partner, but he is to separate from everything that denies the position of one who has his life and his interests in the new creation, of which Christ is the Head in heavenly glory. He cannot put himself under the same yoke with those who can have only worldly motives. He is to separate from one who can only live for self, being unconverted; while being converted, should live for Christ.
So the Christian is enjoined to “come out from among them,” and “be separated from them,” and “touch not the unclean thing,” and “I will receive you” (they were already saints, and children of God their Father), “and will be to you a Father, and ye shall to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Under this title God declares that He will provide for and protect and guide those who thus walk in true heart obedience and separation to Him, owning them as His dear dependent ones, His special care in this world, and it is as the Lord Almighty He promises it.