S – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

 2 Corinthians 3:17 CSB

O – Commentary:  The Holy Spirit is the personal “Agent” of Christ; He is the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Rom. 8:9). The Two are One in purpose (John 15:26; 16:6–15) and in result (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 5:1). Paul’s words the Lord is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17; cf. v. 18) do not confuse these two Persons of the Godhead. Instead, they affirm the Holy Spirit’s deity.

A major result of the New Covenant is freedom. Elsewhere Paul compared those under the Old Covenant to children of slavery and those under the New to children of freedom (Gal. 4:24–31). This freedom is possible because Christ has redeemed from the penalty of the Law those who believe so that they become children of God (Gal. 4:5–7). This freedom as children is confirmed by the Spirit, who enables Christians to call God Father (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).

3:18. The 

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Christ’s death and resurrection brought freedom from sin and death.  The Holy Spirit gives us the help to walk that out.  When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit is with us to guide and advocate living a life that honors God free from the stronghold of sin and eternal death.

R – Lord, help us to walk in the freedom provided by Christ’s death and guided by the Holy Spirit.  We can easily put ourselves in our own “prison.”  Don’t let us do that.  Help us to move towards true freedom from sin and self-imposed barriers.  We invite your Holy Spirit to move us closer to you and others today!

S – For we do not market the word^r of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God. 

 2 Corinthians 2:17 CSB

O – Commentary:  

In Paul’s day there was apparently no lack of false apostles (cf. 2 Peter 2:1). According to Paul, the ministry of the many false apostles was a matter of self-interest. Unlike them, he had ministered in Corinth without charge (cf. 2 Cor. 11:7–12; 12:14), though in principle he had no problem accepting material remuneration for spiritual labor (1 Cor. 9). What characterized the false apostles were their messages and their motives. Like dishonest merchants they selfishly hawked their wares. Paul said they peddle God’s Word. This word kapēleuontes, “to hawk, peddle,” is used only here…So too these false apostles adulterated the Word of God for profit. They served themselves, not God whom Paul represented. They were “greedy for money” (1 Peter 5:2), an evidence of their falsehood. But Paul ministered with sincerity (cf. 2 Cor. 1:12).

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A  – In doing anything for the Lord, we need to check our hearts.  Is it genuine or does it have other motives attached to it?

R – Lord, thank you for our relationship with you.  Please check my heart and actions today.  Test them.  Show me if there is anything done in your name that is not true and genuine.  We want to reflect you in a way that show an authentic love for you.

S – Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment

2 Corinthians  1:21–22 CSB

O  – Commentary:  

At the moment of belief God anoints each believer with the Holy Spirit so that like Christ (Christos means “the Anointed One”), he may glorify God by his life (cf. Matt. 5:16). John wrote that believers receive this anointing from God (1 John 2:20, 27). It is a pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the believer, reminiscent of the anointing of priests with oil.

A further consequence of the Spirit’s presence is the seal of ownership (cf. Eph. 1:13–14) which also is accomplished at the moment of faith. A seal on a document in New Testament times identified it and indicated its owner, who would “protect” it. So too, in salvation, the Holy Spirit, like a seal, confirms that Christians are identified with Christ and are God’s property, protected by Him (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19–20).

A third work of the Spirit at salvation is His confirmation that what God has begun He will complete. Present redemption is only a foretaste of what eternity holds (cf. Rom. 8:23), and the presence of His Spirit in our hearts (cf. Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:5) is like a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. These last seven words are a translation of one Greek word arrabōna, a down payment which obligates the payer to make further payments. 

“2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – The Holy Spirit anoints, seals and guarantees us.  We can walk in peace knowing that God has claimed us and continues to interact with us through the Holy Spirit.  

R – Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It marks us with your ownership but is also an active part of our relationship with you.  It also empowers us to accomplish all that you have for us to do.  We invite it to be in every aspect of our lives today.

S – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 

 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 CSB

O  – Commentary:  

Paul began the conclusion with a pointed exhortation along a fivefold line. The command, Be on your guard (grēgoreite) might be rendered “be diligent” in carrying out the will of God. In view of the Corinthians’ susceptibility to false teachers (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3) the exhortation to stand firm in the faith was a timely reminder (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1, 58). So too were the closing exhortations to be men of courage and be strong, that is, marked by maturity (cf. 1 Cor. 14:20) and not infants easily swept aside (cf. Eph. 4:14). That sort of diligence and commitment is required if everything is to be done in love (cf. 1 Cor. 12:31b=14:1).

“1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – Be men.  Paul is charging the men of the church to be men.  Diligent, faithful, mature, masculine and loving.  What a great description of what we need in men today.  Not perfect but men who are growing in all five of these facets of their lives.

R – Lord, help us to grow in these areas today.  We want to be consistent in all of them.  When we waiver, get us back to the line you are causing us to walk.  I ask your Holy Spirit to empower us with your presence and power to excel in these today.

S – For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. ²² For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 CSB

O – When Adam sinned, all of humanity that came from him was condemned to die due to their sin.  When Christ was resurrected and was victorious over death, He became the pathway to defeat sin.

A  – This is the simple statement of how we are sinners and need to recognize Christ as our savior.  It is a challenging principle for some and easy for others.  As believers,  we must continue to keep this central in our message as we share the good news with others.

R – Lord, I am a sinner.  I am grateful that you provided a way out of my sin through Jesus Christ.  Help me to share this with other s who need the good news.  Let me carry your message with compassion, courage and humility.

S – What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

When the church met, anyone was free to participate by contributing a hymn, or a word of instruction (cf. 1 Cor. 14:6; probably a lesson based on the OT), a revelation from one gifted in prophecy (cf. vv. 6, 29–32), or a word from one gifted in a tongue followed by an interpretation of what was said. The controlling principle in this free participation was the rule of love. All that was said and done was to have as its goal the need to strengthen (pros oikodomēn, “edifying”) others (cf. vv. 4–5).

“1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When the church gathers, everyone is a participant.  Each person uses their gifts to strengthen others.  It builds yourself as well.  When the body comes together this way, the whole grows together and community is established.

R – Lord, thank you that you don’t want us to do life alone.  In coming together, we gather to glorify you, build each other up and walk in unity with others through your Word.  Help us to use our gifts with a humble heart and a courageous expression.  In loving You, let us love each other unconditionally.

S – Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love

1 Corinthians  13:13 CSB

O – Commentary:  “…“faith and hope,” as well as “charity,” abide; namely, after the extraordinary gifts have ceased; for those three are necessary and sufficient for salvation at all times, whereas the extraordinary gifts are not at all so; compare the use of “abide,” 1 Co 3:14. Charity, or love, is connected specially with the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of the loving union between the brethren (Ro 15:30; Col 1:8). Faith is towards God. Hope is in behalf of ourselves. Charity is love to God creating in us love towards our neighbor. 

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 

A – All three – faith, hope and love are necessary for salvation.  The driving force of the three is love.  We need to bring all three into each day knowing they are working together for our good and God’s purposes.

R – Lord, thank you that the foundation of our relationship is the love you have for us.  You demonstrated this when Jesus went to the cross.  We can walk in that love today.  We can have faith in you because you are a big God – you have no limitations and there is no other god besides you.  We can have hope that you because we know you are present with us today.

S – Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Paul’s (here proto-trinitarian) triple repetition of the same thought in three ways (“there are varieties of … but the same …”) reinforces his point in a way that rhetorically sensitive ancient audiences would have appreciated (in *rhetoric, anaphora began successive clauses the same way). Paul emphasizes that all the gifts are different but all are useful; hence a Christian with one gift is not more or less important than another Christian with a different gift.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Each person and gift is important to the body of Christ.  We want to elevate people because of their gift, usually revolving around “the stage.”  This is a great reminder that each role is crucial to the effectiveness of the body.  And, we should walk humbly knowing that the Holy Spirit is the source of our gift, not ourselves.

R – Lord, thank you for the gifts and blessings you have put on my life.  You are my source.  Help me to steward this gift so you will receive glory and others will see your love.  Help me to exercise it so that I operate it at the highest level.  Help me to see how I serve the body of Christ in my use.

S – On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 CSB

O – This is the instruction of communion.  The body is the sacrifice given in our place and the blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins.

A – Communion is one of my favorite biblical traditions.  There is a deep intimacy when I take communion. To remember specifically the sacrifice that Jesus made is important.  It was the ultimate sacrifice…and when I didn’t deserve it.  The forgiveness of sins gives me hope that even in my imperfection, there is hope…even when I didn’t deserve it again. 

R – Lord, your love for me is immense.  It is unfathomable that your love would allow your Son to die in my place.  The pain endured in sacrificing His body so that I could be made whole.  The blood shed so I can have my sins forgiven…it all speaks to love beyond comprehension.  And, I get a relationship with you.  Thank you for the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

S – No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

O – Although we are unique in our creation, the things that tempt us are the same.  God allows temptation to be part of our life but not beyond our threshold.   And He gives us another path to pursue.

A – It is easy for me to think my temptation is unique because our human flesh is “me” focused.  The more I put my focus on God, I can see that my temptation is part of the refining and maturing process.  God doesn’t want me to stumble but knows it works in my character and relationship with Him. He gives us the Holy Spirit and alternative ways to pursue fulfillment that line up with His Word.

R – Lord, when the temptations come, help me to put my focus on You and not me.  Give me the strength and courage to pursue the path that You lay out before me to conquer this temptation.  Let this be part of my refining process that yields God-honoring results.