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Read 2 Corinthians 13:11 – 13 (NIV)
 
Today’s text comes from the final verses of what is commonly referred to as the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church.  However, some biblical scholars believe that there were at least three, and possibly as many as five, letters that Paul originally wrote to the church at Corinth.  (See The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes, vol. XI, pp. 5 – 12).
 
Taken together, these letters demonstrate Paul’s deep love and concern for the people that made up the Corinthian church.  In looking at what has been designated as the first letter to the Corinthian Church… Paul was writing to address specific problems within the church that were causing division and disorder. 
 
It seems that the Corinthians understood that they had freedom in Christ… however, they struggled with how that freedom was to be lived out in a culture that was rife with idolatry, indecency, and immorality.  We can probably relate to that dilemma as we look at what is happening in our world today.
 
Now, in order to get a better understanding of what they should and should not be doing, the Corinthians had written to Paul… asking him questions on a variety of subjects… which included things like marriage, freedom, and public worship… as well as the resurrection. 
 
Paul responded to their inquiries… offering guidance and instruction, not only for the Corinthians to live by, but for all of us today as well.  He also provided encouragement for them, and us, to continue growing in the faith.
 
Unfortunately, during this same time, there were false teachers who began to slander Paul, while simultaneously trying to deny his authority… which is why in what is generally considered to be his second letter to the Corinthians… Paul was pushed to defend his position while denouncing the false teachers who were twisting the truth. 
 
This letter, in a sense provides readers, both then and now, with Paul’s resume… highlighting his credentials and qualifications… creating what some might refer to as his CV or curriculum vitae.
 
Doing this was likely uncomfortable for someone like Paul who had become such a humble servant of Christ.  However, it was necessary for Paul to describe the Christian lifestyle he had chosen to live… and to do so with specificity… to better position the Corinthians to emulate his way of life as they sought to follow Christ themselves.
 
Now, Paul did not shy away from sharing hard truths with the Corinthians in his letters… going so far as to speak about his own weaknesses and personal struggle with what he called a thorn in his side. 
 
Paul explained that rather than God taking away this thorn, whatever it may have been… God apparently left it there as a reminder to Paul that he was dependent upon God’s grace… while also offering reassurance that God’s grace was more than sufficient for all his needs. 
 
And Paul also explained what the role of the church was meant to be… especially as it relates to matters of discipline and correction.  However, he also gave instructions about the need for giving generously while honoring commitments.
 
Indeed, this second letter to the Corinthians was chock full of wisdom that the Corinthian church could draw from as they began to mature… not only in their faith individually… but also collectively, as the church… as they sought to become all that God intended them to be.
 
So, as we come to our New Testament lesson for today… it is really just a few short verses from the close of 2 Corinthians.  And what we find is what I would like to refer to as FINAL INSTRUCTIONS that are still quite relevant for us today.
 
Because the reality is that like the Corinthians, we, too, have been living in a crazy, mixed-up world where it feels like we are being presented with far more questions than answers.
 
So, perhaps we might be able to understand just a little bit about how the Corinthians must have been feeling… as they found themselves trying to be the church in the midst of some very unsettling and uncertain times… living in a world where corruption and dishonesty seemed to be the order of the day.
 
After all, isn’t that what we are faced with today?  Finding a way to be the church in a world that feels like it has literally been turned upside down?
 
Well, let me suggest that the FINAL INSTRUCTIONS that Paul gave to the Corinthian church that we find in our text this morning… also provide a blueprint of sorts for us to follow today as we navigate through these turbulent times.
 
Looking at verse 11 of the text, we see that Paul started these FINAL INSTRUCTIONS by telling the Corinthians to rejoice.  Wait a minute.  Say what?  Rejoice? 
 
Paul, have you watched the news lately?  Have you scrolled through any of the social media platforms in the past few days, weeks, and months?  Have you filled up at the gas station lately?  What do you mean, rejoice?
 
Although it was stated rather simply and straight forward here in this letter to the Corinthians, Paul spelled it out more fully in his letter to the Philippians (4:4 – 7) a few years later when he wrote:

So, despite what may be going on in the world around us… we are called to rejoice… not because of the hardship and the heartache… but because of the One who will be with us and keep us through it all.
 
So, the first of Paul’s FINAL INSTRUCTIONS is simply to rejoice.
 
Paul then gave this set of FINAL INSTRUCTIONS to the Corinthians, “Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” 
 
As one Bible commentary noted:

There is some extremely hard work that we, as the church, must be willing to do in the midst of everything that is going on around us. 
 
We cannot simply sit around shaking our heads and wringing our hands… we have to respond in some way. 
 
We cannot remain silent while people are being stripped of their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  As the saying goes, “Silence is Violence.” 
 
We cannot turn a blind eye to the injustice that continues to permeate our society.  If we see something, we have to say something. 
 
And we cannot turn a deaf ear to the cries of those who are rightfully demanding freedom and equality for all – regardless of one’s gender, race, age, socioeconomic status or any other demographic characteristic that can be used to segregate and discriminate, ostracize and marginalize.
 
As Paul’s charge to the Corinthian church says, we must “strive for FULL restoration, we must encourage one another, we must be of one mind and we must live in peace.”  And we can only do that when we are united with Christ.
 
As Paul wrote to the Philippian church:

Paul’s charge to the Corinthians and by extension the charge that is given to us is to find ways to encourage one another… which literally means we cannot be in the business of discouraging one another. 
 
Which in turn requires us to learn how to celebrate the diversity of our brothers and sisters and honor the wonderful variety of skills, gifts, and talents that each one brings to the table.
 
Because not only does Paul charge us to encourage one another, he says we are to be of one mind… opening the door to us learning to live united in one spirit.  But sadly, we have been witnessing first-hand, day after day, the consequences of what happens when we live divided.
 
And yet, the reality is that none of us can make it through this life alone.  It takes all of us working together, being in concert with one another, being of one mind. 
 
Just think about when an orchestra or a band plays a particular song… each instrument has its own unique sound when it is played independently… but when each of those instruments plays together, in harmony, we hear a glorious sound.
 
And that is how the church, the body of believers, ought to be.  Each one of us has a unique set of gifts and talents that when blended together, in harmony, creates a beautiful picture of life as God intended it to be. 
 
As Paul said to the Romans, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:4-5).
 
But let’s be clear, being of one mind does not mean that we all have to think exactly alike.  What it does mean is that we must bring our diverse thoughts together and work toward a common goal. 
 
And for the body of Christ, being of one mind means that we are focused on living in the way Christ has called us to live – carrying out His command to love God and the people of God.
 
And when we encourage one another and are of one mind, that is when we can truly begin to live in peace with each other. 
 
Now, it is no secret that our society has not done the best job of living at peace with each other, especially looking back over recent events.  But I am cautiously optimistic that we, as a nation, are reaching a tipping point, much like what we saw during the Civil Rights Movement when images flooded living rooms that brought home the reality of man’s inhumanity to man…
 
As someone once said, once you have seen something, there is no way to “unsee” it.  And we have seen for ourselves what can happen when people make a conscious effort NOT to live in peace.  That is why, as the church, it is incumbent upon us to be at the forefront of promoting peace, even as we champion the cause of justice. 
 
And when we do that, Paul says, “the God of love and peace will be with [us].”
 
And “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
 
So, after Paul issued his FINAL INSTRUCTIONS to rejoice, to strive for full restoration, to encourage one another, to be of one mind and to live in peace, Paul told them something interesting.  He told them to “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
 
But in order to do that, we have to get proximate… we have to be close to one another… we cannot greet someone with a kiss from afar… it requires getting up close and personal. 
 
And after all of that, Paul closed out this second letter with these words of benediction found in verse 14, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
 
And with this benediction, Paul offered a blessing to the Corinthians that we often hear pronounced by pastors and preachers, still to this day.  It is an all-encompassing blessing that invokes the power of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 
God’s grace that was given freely to us through His Son, Jesus the Christ.  God’s love that has been lavished upon us, that went to a cross for us, so that we might have eternal life.  And God’s fellowship, God’s communion with us, in the presence of His Holy Spirit who guides us, directs us, comforts us and does so much more.
 
Paul’s blessing was a reminder to the Corinthians that no matter what they had been through and no matter what else may come their way, they need not worry because God would be with them… every step of the way.
 
And that is a word of reassurance for us today.  In spite of the chaos and confusion we find ourselves facing… we have the promise of God’s grace, God’s love and God’s presence… and that means we have God’s power and protection so we can make it through whatever comes our way.
 
And that is surely good news for us to hold on today as we continue to pray for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways… where love is lived… and all is done with justice and with praise.
 
And if your desire is to live in a world like that… then won’t you stand and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: O for a World #683