2 Corinthians 6:1
As God's fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
As God’s fellow workers
This phrase emphasizes the collaborative nature of Paul’s ministry. The Greek term for "fellow workers" is "synergoi," which implies a partnership or cooperation. In the context of the early church, this highlights the unity and shared mission among believers. Historically, Paul often worked alongside others, such as Timothy and Silas, to spread the Gospel. This partnership is not just among humans but with God Himself, indicating a divine calling and empowerment in their mission. It serves as a reminder that believers today are also called to be active participants in God’s work, not merely passive recipients of His grace.

then, we urge you
The word "urge" comes from the Greek "parakaleo," which means to call alongside, exhort, or encourage. This is a strong appeal from Paul, reflecting his pastoral heart and deep concern for the Corinthian church. The historical context reveals that the Corinthian church faced many challenges, including divisions and moral issues. Paul’s urging is both a plea and a command, emphasizing the importance of responding to God’s grace with seriousness and commitment. It is a call to action for believers to live out their faith actively and intentionally.

not to receive God’s grace in vain
The concept of "receiving God’s grace in vain" is profound. The Greek word for "vain" is "kenos," meaning empty or without purpose. Paul warns against a superficial acceptance of God’s grace that does not lead to transformation or action. In the scriptural context, grace is not merely a passive gift but an empowering force that should result in a changed life. Historically, the Corinthian church struggled with living out the implications of the Gospel, and Paul’s admonition serves as a timeless reminder that grace should lead to growth and fruitfulness. For contemporary believers, this is a call to examine whether their lives reflect the transformative power of God’s grace, urging them to live in a way that honors and utilizes the grace they have received.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
- The apostle who authored the letter to the Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth with pastoral concern and apostolic authority.

2. Corinth
- A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and moral challenges, where Paul established a church during his missionary journeys.

3. God’s Fellow Workers
- Refers to Paul and his companions in ministry, emphasizing their role in spreading the Gospel and working alongside God in His mission.

4. The Corinthian Church
- The recipients of the letter, a diverse group of believers facing internal and external challenges in living out their faith.

5. God’s Grace
- The unmerited favor and love of God, offered through Jesus Christ, which believers are called to receive and live out in their lives.
Teaching Points
Understanding Grace
Recognize that grace is a gift from God, not earned by works, but it should lead to a transformed life that reflects God’s character.

Active Participation in God’s Work
As God’s fellow workers, believers are called to actively participate in His mission, using their gifts and talents to further the Gospel.

Avoiding Complacency
Receiving God’s grace in vain means failing to let it impact our lives. We must guard against complacency and strive to live out our faith daily.

The Responsibility of Grace
With the gift of grace comes the responsibility to live in a way that honors God, demonstrating His love and truth to the world.

Encouragement in Community
The church community plays a vital role in encouraging one another to not receive God’s grace in vain, fostering accountability and growth.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to be "God’s fellow workers," and how can you apply this in your daily life and ministry?

2. How can you ensure that you are not receiving God’s grace in vain? What practical steps can you take to live out this grace?

3. In what ways can the church community support each other in living out the grace of God effectively?

4. Reflect on a time when you may have taken God’s grace for granted. How can you learn from that experience to deepen your faith?

5. How do the additional scriptures connected to this verse enhance your understanding of grace and its role in the life of a believer?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Corinthians 3:9
- Paul previously describes believers as "God’s fellow workers," highlighting the collaborative nature of ministry and the responsibility to build on the foundation of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-10
- Discusses the concept of grace and works, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not by works, but believers are created for good works.

Galatians 2:21
- Paul warns against nullifying the grace of God, reinforcing the idea that grace should lead to transformation and not be taken for granted.

Hebrews 12:15
- Encourages believers to ensure that no one misses the grace of God, which can lead to bitterness and spiritual downfall.

Titus 2:11-12
- Describes how the grace of God teaches us to live godly lives, underscoring the transformative power of grace.
Blessed Prosperity Meditations on the First PsalmJ. Hudson Taylor2 Corinthians 6:1
Divine Grace Received to ProfitS. Martin.2 Corinthians 6:1
Grace Given in VainThe Literary Churchman2 Corinthians 6:1
Grace Received in VainS. Coley.2 Corinthians 6:1
Grace Received in VainD. Moore, M. A.2 Corinthians 6:1
Grace Received in VainJ. Vaughan, M. A.2 Corinthians 6:1
Grace Received in VainW. Jenkin, A. M.2 Corinthians 6:1
Receive not the Grace of God in VainA. Farindon, B. D.2 Corinthians 6:1
Receiving the Grace of God in VainA. Raleigh, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:1
Second Sunday in LentMartin Luther2 Corinthians 6:1
The Dignity of LifeJ. F. Bright, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:1
The Grace of God Received in VainJ. Benson.2 Corinthians 6:1
The Needful CautionJ. Summerfield, A. M.2 Corinthians 6:1
The Preaching and Reception of the GospelW. Jay.2 Corinthians 6:1
Workers TogetherH. O. Mackey.2 Corinthians 6:1
Workers TogetherJ.R. Thomson 2 Corinthians 6:1
Appeal Growing Out of the Foregoing ArgumentC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Achaia, Corinth
Topics
Accept, Beseech, Co-workers, Entreat, Fellow, Fellow-workmen, God's, Grace, Purpose, Receive, Received, Request, Urge, Vain, Vain-, Workers, Working
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 6:1

     5205   alliance
     5630   work, divine and human
     5979   waste
     6214   participation, in Christ
     6671   grace, and Christian life
     8415   encouragement, examples
     8654   importunity, to people

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

     1055   God, grace and mercy
     1412   foreknowledge
     5048   opportunities, and salvation
     6512   salvation, necessity and basis
     8438   giving, of time

Library
Blessed Prosperity Meditations on the First Psalm.
INTRODUCTORY. There is a prosperity which is not blessed: it comes not from above but from beneath, and it leads away from, not towards heaven. This prosperity of the wicked is often a sore perplexity to the servants of GOD; they need to be reminded of the exhortation, "Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." Many besides the Psalmist have been envious at the foolish when seeing the prosperity of the wicked, and have been
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

Second Sunday in Lent
Text: First Thessalonians 4, 1-7. 1 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,--that ye abound more and more. 2 For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Love and the Comforter.
"By the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned."--2 Cor. vi. 6. The question is, "In what sense is the pouring out of Love an ever-continued, never-finished work? Love is here taken in its highest, purest sense. Love which gives its goods to the poor and its body to be burned is out of the question. St. Paul declares that one may do these things and still be nothing more than a sounding brass, utterly devoid of the least spark of the true and real Love. In 2 Cor. vi. 6 the apostle mentions the motives of
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Above and Below
"As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing."--2 Cor. vi. 10. P. G. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 In the bosom of the Father, Centre of His endless love, In the light and in the glory, Thus in Christ I dwell above. Filling up His bitter sufferings, Drinking of His cup of woe, And rejoicing as I do it, Thus with Christ I walk below. There above I rest, untroubled, All my service to adore; Cross and shame and death and sorrow Left behind for evermore. Therefore am I never weary Journeying onward through
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

And He was Altogether Wonderful in Faith and Religious...
68. And he was altogether wonderful in faith and religious, for he never held communion with the Meletian schismatics, knowing their wickedness and apostacy from the beginning; nor had he friendly dealings with the Manichæans or any other heretics; or, if he had, only as far as advice that they should change to piety. For he thought and asserted that intercourse with these was harmful and destructive to the soul. In the same manner also he loathed the heresy of the Arians, and exhorted all
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Sanctification.
PAUL ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED. I might urge a great many other considerations, and as I have said, fill a book with scriptures, and arguments, and demonstrations, of the attainability of entire sanctification in this life. But I forbear, and will present only one more consideration--a consideration which has great weight in some minds. It is a question of great importance, whether any actually ever did attain this state. Some who believe it attainable, do not consider it of much importance to show that
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever.
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Clean Carriers
'Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.'--ISAIAH lii. 11. The context points to a great deliverance. It is a good example of the prophetical habit of casting prophecies of the future into the mould of the past. The features of the Exodus are repeated, but some of them are set aside. This deliverance, whatever it be, is to be after the pattern of that old story, but with very significant differences. Then, the departing Israelites had spoiled the Egyptians and come out, laden with silver
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Warfare of Christian Service
'All that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle.' NUM. iv. 23. These words occur in the series of regulations as to the functions of the Levites in the Tabernacle worship. The words 'to perform the service' are, as the margin tells us, literally, to 'war the warfare.' Although it may be difficult to say why such very prosaic and homely work as carrying the materials of the Tabernacle and the sacrificial vessels was designated by such a term, the underlying suggestion is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. vii. 1. That holiness is more than cleansing, and must be preceded by it, is taught us in more than one passage of the New Testament. 'Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.' 'If a man cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9 Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, missed indeed, at this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory (stephanos), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with such a Saviour, and looking for such
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Introductory Note to the Epistles of Ignatius
[a.d. 30-107.] The seductive myth which represents this Father as the little child whom the Lord placed in the midst of his apostles (St. Matt. xviii. 2) indicates at least the period when he may be supposed to have been born. That he and Polycarp were fellow-disciples under St. John, is a tradition by no means inconsistent with anything in the Epistles of either. His subsequent history is sufficiently indicated in the Epistles which follow. Had not the plan of this series been so exclusively that
Ignatius—The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

Epistle Xl. To Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople.
To Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople. Gregory to Cyriacus, &c. Observing diligently, most dear brother, how great is the virtue of peace from the Lord's voice, which says, My peace I give unto you (Joh. xiv. 27), it becomes us so to abide in the love thereof as in no wise to give place to discord. But, since we cannot otherwise live in its root except by retaining in mind and in deed the humility which the very author of peace has taught, we entreat you with befitting charity, that, treading
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"And Truly Our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And These Things Write we unto You, that Your Joy May Be
1 John i. 3, 4.--"And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." It was sin that did first break off that fellowship that was between God and man, and cut off that blessed society in which the honour and happiness of man consisted. But that fundamental bond being loosed, it hath likewise untied all the links of society of men among themselves, and made such a general dispersion and dissipation of mankind,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The First Native Converts and Christian Schools
1800-1810 A carpenter the first Bengali convert--Krishna Pal's confession--Caste broken for the first time--Carey describes the baptism in the Hoogli--The first woman convert--The first widow convert--The first convert of writer caste--The first Christian Brahman--The first native chapel--A Bengali "experience" meeting--Carey founding a new community as well as church--Marriage difficulties solved--The first native Christian marriage feast in North India--Hindoo Christian death and burial--The first
George Smith—The Life of William Carey

Christian Behavior
Being the fruits of true Christianity: Teaching husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., how to walk so as to please God. With a word of direction to all backsliders. Advertisement by the Editor This valuable practical treatise, was first published as a pocket volume about the year 1674, soon after the author's final release from his long and dangerous imprisonment. It is evident from the concluding paragraph that he considered his liberty and even his life to be still in a very
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
Text: Ephesians 5, 15-21. 15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk [See then that ye walk circumspectly], not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus.
[3712] I.--Comments [3713] On the First Epistle of Peter. Chap. i. 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy hath regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us. "The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in us, through the operation of our unbelief. For He said again, that the soul never returns a second
Clement of Alexandria—Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?

That the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action.
The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Some Man Will Say: "What Then Does it Profit a Servant of God...
32. Some man will say: "What then does it profit a servant of God, that, having left the former doings which he had in the world he is converted unto the spiritual life and warfare, if it still behove him to do business as of a common workman?" As if truly it could be easily unfolded in words, how greatly profiteth what the Lord, in answer to that rich man who was seeking counsel of laying hold on eternal life, told him to do if he would fain be perfect: sell that he had, distribute all to the indigence
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Concerning Perfection.
Concerning Perfection. In whom this pure and holy birth is fully brought forth, the body of death and sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their hearts united and subjected to the truth; so as not to obey any suggestions or temptations of the evil one, but to be free from actual sinning and transgressing of the law of God, and in that respect perfect: yet doth this perfection still admit of a growth; and there remaineth always in some part a possibility of sinning, where the mind doth not most
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

The Yoke of Christ.
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."--Matt. xi. 29, 30. These words, which are brought before us in the Gospel of to-day's festival[1], are also found in the address made to us upon Ash Wednesday, in which we are told that if we "return unto Him who is the merciful Receiver of all true penitent sinners, if we will take His easy yoke and light burden upon us, to follow Him
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

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