“As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” vs10

This is a gift of God through faith in Christ: We are able to love each other by His love shed abroad on our heart. This liberates us from sin and condemnation. The guilt is gone, and we receive the Spirit. This is the only gospel that saves, and Paul had it in abundance. He’d been a chief sinner, a transgressor, and he obtained mercy. He never forgot the Fountain cleansed him. He never took his eye off Christ. What happened to him was so MIRACULOUS that it motivated him the rest of his life, as he continued to obtain fresh mercies [Acts 26:16].

Therefore, he loved the church at Corinth, humbling himself to serve. He took no wages and ministered the gospel freely, working with his own hands. He labored among them as a parent over a wayward child, yearning dearly. He even left a booming ministry in Troas just to hear about Corinth. Likewise, we have as much reason to love God as anyone, and He commands us to feed His sheep. Let’s go the extra mile and not be disobedient to the law of love!

“And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.” vs12

Paul’s willing to keep going, because he knows it destroys the confidence of mockers. They are ashamed, as we show ourselves zealous of good works. They cannot speak against our character of love and humility. Our actions tell the story that we know God.

Ask Him to make you pure. You may have been filthy and a hypocrite, but you can repent now, and say, “I’ve seen my wrongs.” They may bring up the past, but God’s washed you now. They will see your repentance and tremble. They know good works when they see them. They know God allows U-turns.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. vs13

People disguise themselves as the apostles of Christ. They fake it and never make it. They pretend, when they should submit. Like Saul, they won’t let go of the crown, so they perish in hypocrisy. Do not be like them, and don’t follow them. Choose the path of Jonathan, who humbled himself for eternal mercy [1 Sam 18:1-4]. It is better to be the FRIEND of the King than His enemy.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” vs14-15

It’s a disguise. They are not really righteous: they are deceiving themselves and others; it is all pretend. There is no imputed righteousness, no imparted holiness, and no leaning on grace. They are trusting themselves instead of God.

Satan has men spellbound! They follow him until the end. They are deceived by fair words and fancy speeches. They are puffed up with pride at their leaders, as they turn them from Christ to the wisdom of men. The Holy Spirit and the Bible are not enough, they tell you. You need something else, and in this, they tangle you up.