2 Corinthians 6--"The temple of the Living God"

Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 in verse 2.  He quotes a mashup of Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 52:11; 2 Samuel 7:8; and Jeremiah 31:9 in verses 16-18.  

Paul and his ministers are adhering to the ministry of reconciliation, established by Jesus.  So, under His authority, Paul begs the Corinthians to not "brush off" the grace of God like it has no purpose.  Just as God promised salvation to Israel in Isaiah, He is now extending salvation to the Gentiles. Paul says  "Look, there's no better time than now.  Let today be the day of salvation."  Paul stands by his conduct as he's represented God.  They have not wavered in any way from the truth no matter what they faced.  And they've endured a lot!  The list shows the roller coaster ride their ministry has taken them on--physical suffering through hardships, riots, sleepless nights, beatings....mental and emotional anguish through being dishonored, slandered, lied about, punished, and looked down on as poor and possession-less.  Paul has great love for the Corinthians, but he fears their hearts are too narrow to make room for him and the sufferings he's modeled before them.   As mostly Gentile converts, it seems the Corinthians are struggling with disconnecting from the pagan society around them.  Paul paints a stark difference in a follower of Christ and an unbeliever--There is nothing in common and no harmony in light vs. darkness, Christ vs. Satan, temple of God vs. idols.  The Corinthians' ears might have perked up at that last comparison, because temples in Corinth DID have idols.  They were well known for their worship of Aphrodite, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, and Helios.  So Paul spells out the difference for them.  Followers of Christ Jesus (believers) are temples of the Living God. God dwells with His people as their God.  He is jealous (in a good way) and won't share His beloved with any other gods.  But the minute they accept the grace of God, He becomes their Father.  

Weapons and weaponizing of certain things are buzz words right now, aren't they?   Paul lived through so many of the things we are starting to see hit way too close to home.  Paul was a human being like us--scared, hurt, angry, grief-stricken. God (and my closest friends) know I struggle with being all of those things, too.   "The weapons of righteousness" in verse 7 change me.  The weapons in the right hand are for attack. (think sword or spear) The weapons in the left hand are for defending yourself. (think shield) When we find ourselves at odds with others, the world says "Slander them, punish them, look down on them, cause them sorrow, undermine everything about them".  That must be true, because that's what "the world" was doing to Paul. But Paul says what does a follower of Christ have to do with the world?  In our right hand, our attack should only be with integrity, wisdom, uprightness, unhypocritical and unfeigned love.  Our only shields of defense should be truthful Speech, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the power of God.  (The trinity in action!!) Nothing the world can throw our way can harm us because God is our God and we are His people.  As we live through crazy times, I pray the ministry of reconciliation that Christ Jesus Himself established will not find a stumbling block in us.