Paul continues the theme of being ambassadors for Christ. Paul is working together with God in his ministry and he appeals to the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain. The grace of God is Christ’s reconciliatory work on the cross given to believers. It can be received in vain if we accept the gift of salvation but do nothing with it. Earlier Paul stressed that Christ died for us so we might no longer live for ourselves but that we would live for Him (2 Cor 5:15).

Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8 in support of his statement, now is the favourable time (of God’s help), and now is the day of salvation.
In Isaiah 49:6, God states that His salvation would be offered to the ends of the earth. As ambassadors for Christ, today is the day we need to take God’s offer of salvation to others while God is favourable towards people before His patience comes to an end (2 Pet 3:9).
But Paul also uses salvation in his letters to the Corinthians to refer to the state believers will find themselves when they stand before Christ to give an account (2 Cor 5:10; see 1 Cor 1:18;3:15;5:5). With this view, now is the time we need to live for Christ and not for ourselves. We can do this most effectively by fulfilling our mandate to take his message of reconciliation to the world.

Paul now shares how he has conducted himself in ministry. He and his fellow workers put no obstacle in anyone’s way so no fault could be found with his ministry (remembering that a large part of Paul’s letter was a rebuttal against the accusations of false teachers). Paul commended himself as an example of ministering with integrity. He is putting himself forward as an example of a servant of God who does not live for himself. With God’s help, they had great endurance as they faced various trials. They faced general difficulties in afflictions, hardships, and calamities (Rom 8:35). They faced specific persecutions in beatings, imprisonments, and riots (Acts 16:18-23). He worked hard labouring through sleepless nights and facing hunger. His ability to face these trials was because of the inner spiritual qualities of purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness all relating to dealing with other people. The Holy Spirit may have been included here to represent the spiritual fruit He causes (Gal 5:22-23), His control (Eph 5:18), or in this list of spiritual qualities the Greek could be translated “in a spirit of holiness”. Ultimately Paul was motivated by a genuine love for others. Paul faced these trials armed with the spiritual resources of truthful speech, the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness held in both hands (Eph 6:11-18). Paul then faced various conflicting responses to his ministry. Some welcomed him but some dishonoured him. He was maligned by those both outside and inside the church while others gave him a good report. He was treated as an imposter despite being a genuine apostle of Christ. He was treated as unknown, perhaps in people not acknowledging his apostleship and ministry but he was known by God. In many trials he faced imminent death and yet he lived. Despite facing many beatings he was saved and preserved by God. He faced many moments of sorrow yet always rejoiced because of inner joy (1 Thes 5:16; Phil 4:4). He lived economically poor and yet he made many rich spiritually. He possed nothing materially and yet he was rich in spiritual blessing.

How would you describe your life? Consider the things you have gone through, the qualities you have demonstrated, the resources you have depended on, and peoples’ responses. Are you living your life for Christ in dependence on God? Can you be accused of receiving God’s grace in vain? What do you need to change in your life today?