Conquered by Love - Part 2 | Pr Raph / May 25, 2025

Conquered by Love - Part 2

Series - “Power in Our Weakness – A Journey Through 2 Corinthians”

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

In the first session of this letter, covering Chapters 1-7, Paul seeks to win the Corinthians' hearts and reconcile with them regarding their previous rebellious and resistant attitude toward him. And here, in chapter 2, the point is how love has conquered us to the kingdom of unconditional forgiveness. We call that grace.

But why did they reject Paul in the first place? As revealed later in the letter (2 Cor. 10-11), the Corinthians viewed Paul as lacking credibility as a leader. He willingly restricted himself from an opulent lifestyle, earning income from manual labor. Constantly facing persecution, he was often without a permanent home. 

Additionally, from the perspective of some in Corinth, he did not possess remarkable public speaking skills. Once they encountered more affluent and charismatic Christian leaders, the Corinthians lost respect for Paul and felt embarrassed by him.

When you were a teenager, did you ever feel ashamed of your parents ' humble beginnings?

In response, Paul teaches that valuing these leaders for their wealth, eloquence, and accomplishments constitutes a betrayal of Jesus and reflects a flawed value system. True Christian leadership transcends status and self-promotion. He presents himself and the other apostles as captives of King Jesus, who leads a triumphant procession, to exhibit His grace everywhere and in every circumstance. It is not about impressing but about directing attention to the trustworthy source of true greatness, Jesus.

Is forgiveness conditional on repentance? It is not. For some, you have never heard of it before, but you have forgiven us way before we were repentant believers. 

2 Corinthians 5:19 “That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

1 John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Nevertheless, these forgiveness benefits are available only to those who humbly acknowledge their mistakes and seek forgiveness. A person who insists they have nothing to be forgiven has not recognized their wrongdoing, and thus remains unable to access forgiveness.

Restoration and reintegration to the same position also require the fruits of repentance: a change and transformation of habits or practices that caused pain in the relationship, church or community.

But Paul insists that whatever the case may be, the decision for forgiveness is the defense against Satan’s schemes of bitterness, division and divorce.

Satan’s designs are to destroy unity. Satan operates through calculated efforts, often exploiting unforgiveness, division, or pride with bitterness.

Hebrews 12:12-15 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

When someone repents wrongdoing, the church must move from discipline to forgiveness and restoration. We follow Christ’s reconciliation appeal:

2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Conquered by love

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

Troas was an important port city in the northwest corner of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), near the ancient site of Troy. It was a key access point between Asia and Europe.

Even though a “door opened in the Lord,” Paul was too distressed to continue. Despite a clear opportunity for ministry, he expected to meet Titus in Troas to hear how the Corinthians had responded to Paul’s “severe letter” (possibly a lost letter referred to in 2 Cor. 2:4 or 7:8-9). So he left Troas, in unrest, like a parent's anxiety. If you really care, you will suffer some level of stress. Isn’t that true, parents?

Paul speaks of mérimna (μέριμνα- 2 Corinthians 11:28) as a legitimate pastoral concern—a burden of love and responsibility for the well-being of the churches. It’s not selfish anxiety, but a God-centered, other-focused care. It reflects the emotional cost of ministry, not sinful distrust or panic, not the internal turmoil that stems from a lack of prayerful dependence on God.

Ultimately, Paul teaches that ministry success is not just about results but also relational health and pastoral responsibility.

A fragrance of life

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 

The Roman triumphal procession included the use of aromatic flowers and incense. The smell of triumph and life was pleasing and victorious to the Roman citizens and soldiers. But for the defeated captives, it was the stench of death, a sensory reminder of their imminent final judgment.

Paul pictures God as the victorious general, and himself as a captive being led by Christ, not in defeat, but in witness to Christ’s power.

A total submission to Christ’s lordship. Who does yield to Jesus like that make their lives and ministries under Christ’s direction, serving His purposes no matter what life may bring.

The aroma of the gospel is life and salvation; for non-believers, it represents death and judgment. Thus, the same message has different effects depending on the recipient’s response. 

No matter what your circumstances are, God’s love always prevails.

Romans 8:28 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:37-39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our immediate suffering and momentary frustration are not setbacks but still part of Christ’s victory. Even hardships are part of spreading “the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”

Never think that God will ever waste any opportunity to use your life to bless others. Paul was often eager to access Europe, but something else always came up. He would not get discouraged. God would use him in other ways.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Christ is the conquering King, and our message can be a sweet fragrance of life or fatal judgment for others, depending entirely on the spiritual posture of the hearer.

John 12:48: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

If one rejects God’s grace, His grace is itself a form of judgment.

Imagine a judge presiding over the case of two inmates. Both are undeniably guilty—convicted of horrendous crimes with no room for doubt. Justice demands condemnation.

But in an extraordinary act of mercy, the judge issues a surprising verdict. Not because the prisoners earned it, but purely out of his own goodness, he declares both men forgiven. He offers a full pardon, releasing them from all charges. The sentence is no longer death, but freedom.

The courtroom falls silent.

• The first man, broken and aware of his guilt, receives the pardon with humility and joy. He walks out a free man, determined to live a new life. The message of forgiveness becomes a fragrance of life to him—a new beginning.

• The second man, however, refuses to accept the verdict. Suspicious, proud, or determined to justify himself, he rejects the pardon. “I don’t need forgiveness,” he says. Or, “I’ll pay my own debt.” He remains in his cell—not because forgiveness wasn’t real, but because he refused to receive it.

The same message of forgiveness that became a fragrance of life to the first man became a sentence of judgment to the second.

Those who refuse His words are not merely neutral; they are already under judgment because the truth has been given and refused.

Stand firm

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

The term kapelúontes means to “peddle” or “adulterate.” Historically, it referred to merchants who diluted wine for profit. It implies corrupting or commercializing the word of God for personal gain.

Why do some shy away from sharing their faith? There is always the risk of some rejecting and mocking the messenger.

Faithful ministry is not defined by ease or reception but by obedience to Christ, who leads us as His witnesses to spread the gospel—an aroma that brings life to some and judgment to others. The same message (gospel) is experienced differently—some receive it as the scent of death (judgment), others as the scent of life (salvation).

The second aspect of the "peddlers of God’s word” is the commercialization of ministry, which is the transactional relationship that many in the West think is the norm for participating in the church. It is like this: "I pay my tithes, and I expect good service. If not, I will 'shop around' for a better religious service that can please me and my family.”

 However, Christ-centered ministry ought to embody the generosity of God’s grace, which is freely given, and financial support should arise from voluntary contributions rather than transactions.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of false apostles (the “super apostles”) who, in comparison to Paul, charged for their preaching (2 Cor. 11:7,12-13).

Is it a problem to live from the ministry? 

1 Corinthians 9:11-18 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Paul models the voluntary relinquishing of this right to avoid hindering the gospel’s progress. Paul’s refusal to accept payment is presented not as a rejection of support but as a strategic choice to prevent any obstacles to the message of Christ.

There is a clear line between receiving support and selling a ministry. The first approach is considered a biblical practice grounded in generosity, whereas the second is regarded as commercializing the gospel, which contradicts Jesus' teachings.

This perspective is supported by Matthew 10:8, where Jesus commands, “Freely you have received; freely give.” 

Matthew 10:8 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.Bitterness is always a trap that can lead us to miss grace.

In this week’s message from 2 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul reveals the reconciling power of God’s forgiveness as we stand against Satan’s schemes.

God raises a generation of Christian leaders who flow not from appearance or eloquence but from humility and the heart of Christ. Forgiveness has become our church's prevalent culture and a spiritual weapon.

When one has a gospel-surrender attitude, love for the church outweighs opportunities for personal success. And as captives in Christ’s triumphal grace, we are led not in shame but in victory, spreading the fragrance of Christ everywhere. 

To those being saved, this gospel is the aroma of life; to others, it is the scent of judgment. 

Our sincere ministry contrasts with those who peddle God’s Word for gain. The gospel can’t be diluted or treated as a product. God commissions us in Christ not to seek profit or performance proof, but to stand firm in the truth, whether received or rejected, because the gospel remains the power of God to save whoever believes. And that is what it means to be always led in Christ’s victory.

Forgiveness must become the prevailing culture of our church and a spiritual weapon.