We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (KJV, 2 Cor. 6:1-2).
We then, as workers together with him”
As Paul starts 2 Corinthians 6, we are informed of a vital component of ministry. Paul does not simply tell us that he is a worker of God or for God. Instead, Paul tells us that he is a worker with God. While this may seem obvious, the implications should not be slighted.
It is common for people to hear the commands of Scripture and think they must go out and live out the commands. Scripture gives the Christian many areas of practical application to be concerned about. Nevertheless, the common thought is that as long as someone is saved, they have the Holy Spirit and can do what the Bible tells them to do. But there is a fine line between doing what the Bible tells them to do in their own strength or the Lord’s.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, they had been saved by grace through faith. They knew that salvation came apart from works. However, it did not take long before they fell into the trap of keeping and prospering in their salvation based upon works and self-effort.
As a result, Paul asked them, “…Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:2-3). Paul goes on to say, “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal. 3:5). Thus, Paul knew that genuine faith brought about the Spirit of God and growth in the Lord. Therefore, Paul worked with God through faith.
“beseech you also”
Paul called to the Corinthians. He beseeched them. The Greek word that is translated as beseech is parakaleo which consists of one calling someone near or to one’s side, inviting them, and invoking them. The force of the word would also include calling someone to one’s side to aid him.
We can see that Paul used the word parakaleo in 2 Corinthians 5:20. In that verse, Paul tells us he is an ambassador for Christ and that God makes his parakaleo through him. Thus, it is God Who beseeches through Paul’s beseeching. The implications of such a high calling cannot be overstated. God invites the lost to His side through the invitation that the Christian presents.
When Paul tells us that he beseeches the Corinthians while previously saying that God does the beseeching, we are further instructed in the reality that Paul and God worked together. Not only that, but we are given a clear indicator of the role of the ambassador.
“that ye receive not the grace of God in vain”
But why would Paul have been concerned that some of the Corinthians would have received the grace of God in vain? At the outset of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we are told that the letter was written to the Saints of Corinth. However, based on Paul’s wording in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 it is clear that Paul did not believe that all of the Corinthians were believers.
The word translated “in vain” is the Greek word kenos which carries the meaning of emptiness or fruitlessness. Therefore, Paul is not talking about people who lost their salvation. He is not talking about people who truly received the grace of God. Instead, Paul is concerned that some had received the grace of God falsely as their reception did not bear fruit.
The Bible clarifies that when someone receives Christ, he is born again. When someone is born again, he is made into a new creation. When someone is made into a new creation, old things pass away, and all things become new. When all things become new, the fruit of the Spirit will be the evidence of the new root. Thus, Paul was concerned with the fruitless lives of some of the Corinthians.
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted”
Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8, which speaks of the restoration of Israel. First, God tells His people that He has answered them in times of favor. This first portion of Paul’s quote must not be overlooked. God grants His favor to the lost and hears voices in a time of favor.
The grace of God must not be taken for granted. A quick look at Romans 1 will reveal that God is not obligated to give favor. What did God do when the people of Romans 1 gave themselves over to sin? The Bible says, “…God also gave them up…” (Rom. 1:24). But surely, as they continued in sin, God brought them back, right? Actually, Paul goes on to say that “…God gave them up…” (Rom. 1:26). But surely, after things got really bad, God restored them, right? Instead, Paul tells us yet again, “…God gave them over…” (Rom. 1:27). God is not obligated to give grace. God withheld his grace from the people of Romans 1. Nevertheless, Paul tells us that there is a time of favor in which God hears voices.
“and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee”
The second half of Paul’s quote reveals that God desires to help and save those who call upon His name. God is not distant, looking down from heaven, ready to stomp on His creation as though they were ants. God is not delighting in man’s failures and the havoc that sin brings. Instead, God stands willing, able, and ready to help.
“behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”
Therefore, Paul tells the Corinthians that it is the accepted time and that today is the day of salvation. Paul’s words will not be told to them forever. There is a day when the Gospel call goes out, and man’s response is to repent and believe the Gospel.
The Bible tells us there is a seed that often falls along the path. The Gospel is heard for these individuals, but there is no response, and Satan takes the seed away. But today is the day of salvation. In God’s design, there is a day and time in which God will respond to sinners.
People must not think they can continue in sin and turn to God whenever they want. The people of Romans 1 were given over to their sin as God drew back His grace. Scripture says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Is. 55:6). There is a day when God may be found. The sinner must call upon Him while He is near.
Elsewhere we read, “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (Heb. 3:7-8). The Holy Spirit calls to the lost, but the heart often grows hard.
Today is the day of salvation. If someone were invited to a birthday which was on July 18th but placed the invitation in a drawer and did not respond, would there be any hope for him to attend the birthday if he sought to contact the person on July 20th? Unfortunately, the invitation was already given, and there was a favorable time to respond. However, he would have waited too late, and his opportunity would have passed. Therefore, it would do no good to respond and seek to go to the birthday, for the birthday would have already occurred.
Do not delay. Today is the day of salvation.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for calling me to Yourself. You have been gracious and kind to me. Thank You for sending Jesus so that I could be forgiven of my sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.