09 Receiving Grace in Vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-12)

Wednesday in the Word

In 2 Corinthians 6:1–12, Paul urges his readers not to receive the grace of God in vain. Though many in Corinth claimed to believe the gospel, their rejection of Paul revealed a lack of faith. In this episode, Krisan Marotta explains why responding to grace involves more than religious affiliation or claims of belief.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Paul presents two urgent appeals: “Be reconciled to God” and “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.”
• How some in Corinth received the gospel message yet rejected the messenger.
• How Paul defends his ministry through suffering, sincerity, and spiritual fruit.
• What Isaiah 49 reveals about the present “day of salvation.”
• How worldly values can keep us from embracing true faith.

By listening, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what it means to respond rightly to God’s grace and how Paul’s words challenge both ancient and modern assumptions about faith, success, and spiritual integrity.

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Receiving Grace in Vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-12)

Have you ever wondered why Paul urges believers not to receive God’s grace in vain? And how do you know if you have truly embraced grace? If you have wondered how to tell real faith from empty ritual, or what it looks like to live as someone reconciled to God, today’s passage has answers.

Review

In the last podcast, we looked at the end of chapter 5. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to stop judging him by outward appearances.

The way Paul sees the world is defined by his understanding of the love of Christ. Out of love, Christ died so that his people could be reconciled to God and God could make us the sort of people who love and follow him. In that sense, God’s people are new creations.

Therefore, Paul argues, it makes no sense to evaluate us merely by what we are in the flesh, such as by our status, talents, weaknesses, material wealth, or achievements. God has started changing us. Paul no longer judges people by their fleshly status, and he does not want the Corinthians to judge him by that standard either.

Paul gave two reasons to abandon those external standards.

1. The gospel itself implies we should not be judging each other by outward appearance. Those worldly standards do not apply anymore because those who belong to Christ are new creations. The Spirit of God is at work in us, making us new and different.
2. Paul says they should see him as an ambassador for Christ. He has been sent to represent the king. God is reconciling his people to himself through Christ. Christ sent Paul as his ambassador. The Corinthians should see Paul as the one charged with proclaiming the king’s message: be reconciled to God.

Who cares if Paul is not impressive by worldly standards? He is the ambassador for the Savior of the world.

Two Entreaties

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. – 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:1

In 6:1 Paul describes himself as working together with him. The words “with him” are not in the Greek text. They are an interpretive decision by the ESV editors, and I agree with that call.

Paul has just described himself as an ambassador for Christ. He speaks for Christ. It is as though God is entreating them through Paul. He begs them on behalf of Christ. So when he further describes himself as working together with someone, it is clear he means he is not working alone. God, through Christ, is working together with Paul.

What is God’s message through Paul? God entreats them to do two things. It is the same Greek verb for appeal in both verses. There are two entreaties. In 5:20, be reconciled to God. In 6:1, do not receive the grace of God in vain.

Be Reconciled to God

We are alienated from God because of our sins. God in Christ is reconciling his people to himself. He is not counting their trespasses against them. We will not be condemned as we deserve.

But this does not happen automatically. People must turn back to God. We must choose to be reconciled to God through Christ. Christ is calling us, through Paul’s message, to make the choice. Turn to God and be reconciled. This call is fundamental to Christianity. It makes Christianity distinctive.

Broadly speaking, human beings fall into one of four camps:

• We can deny that there is a God at all.
• We can believe in God, but deny that we are guilty and in need of reconciliation.
• We can believe in God and believe we need reconciliation, but seek it through obedience to religious and moral rules.
• Or we can embrace the basics of biblical Christianity. We believe in God. We believe we are guilty before him. We believe reconciliation comes not through our own good works, but through God reconciling us to himself through Christ.

If you do not believe in God at all, you will not see any need to be reconciled, so the gospel will not seem important.

Many reject Christianity because they do not think guilt is an issue. They believe in a God of love, but not a God who judges. They look around and see everyone else doing wrong and think they are no different. This is human nature, so God must be okay with it.

But the Bible teaches we are called to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. The standard is incredibly high, and all of us have failed to meet it in many ways.

Our guilt is real. Our alienation from God is real. Our need for reconciliation with God is real. That is fundamental to the Christian message.

We do not become reconciled to God by cleaning up our act. We are not reconciled because we try harder and eliminate a few transgressions. We are reconciled because God acted to save us. He does not count our transgressions against us, and he forgives us through Christ.

We all want to know how to make that choice, and how to know whether we have made it. There is a lot to that question. I am not going to get into a discussion of God’s sovereignty and human free will. That would be too much for one podcast. Paul’s second entreaty helps.

What Does It Mean to Receive Grace in Vain?

Many commentaries argue that Paul is not talking about salvation here because the Corinthians are believers. He calls them brothers several times. He commends their faith. Since Paul did not believe you could lose your salvation, how could he tell Christians they could receive grace in vain? So, they say, it must refer to something else, like failing to bear fruit, or hindering the gospel by bad-mouthing Paul.

As you might guess, I disagree.

Let’s examine their argument.

A Mixed Audience in Corinth

First, these commentators appeal to the times Paul speaks positively to the Corinthians. He calls them brothers. He commends their faith. That would mean Paul believes he is talking to genuine believers.

But Paul is talking to a church split into factions. Some follow and trust Paul. Others reject him. At times he speaks warmly, generously attributing to the whole group the qualities he sees in some. At other times he speaks as if they may not be believers, or as if he is unsure where they stand (e.g 2 Corinthians 13:2-5)

This is how teachers teach. Every pastor speaks to his flock as if all are believers, while knowing some probably are not. He may speak about a problem as if everyone has it, while knowing it applies only to some.

Teachers do not usually stop and say, “This only applies if you are actually a believer.” I know not everyone listening to this podcast is a believer, but I talk to you as if all of you are.

So it does not surprise me that Paul would commend them at one point and then evangelize them at another.

Perseverance of the Saints and False Professions

The second step in the commentators’ reasoning is that Paul believes we cannot lose our salvation. If the readers are believers, then they cannot jeopardize their salvation, therefore Paul must be talking about something other than salvation.

I believe you cannot lose your salvation. I think Scripture teaches that if God has begun his work in me, he will finish it. Having given us his Spirit, God will not take him back. I know not everyone shares that conviction, but that is where I am coming from.

But is everyone who claims to believe in Jesus really a believer? The New Testament is clear the answer is no. Many will claim to follow Jesus, but for one reason or another, they do not really have saving faith.

Church history shows this, going back to the Pharisees.

Religion can be attractive for many reasons. Organized religion can be a great environment for self-righteousness and worldliness to flourish. We can do all manner of selfish and legalistic things in the name of Jesus, claiming we are following him when we are not.

That is why the theme of God testing our faith is so central in the New Testament. I have a whole chapter on this in my upcoming book, Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity, which will be out next year.

Genuine faith arises from a heart being transformed by the Spirit of God, such that we recognize four core convictions:

• We know we are sinful.
• We long to be freed from our sin and be made holy like God.
• We recognize God is not required to forgive or save us.
• We trust that God will forgive and save us because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Those four convictions change the way we live. We start to flee sin and value what God values. We grieve over our selfishness and turn to God in prayer for mercy.

That is what the testing of our faith is about. Life forces us to make choices, and genuine faith chooses to follow Jesus and regrets it when we fail. Those situations force us to confront this question: What do I believe so deeply that I will let it change my life?

Paul never implies that everyone who claims to believe in Jesus is necessarily saved. When he expresses confidence in someone, it is because their faith has been tested in the crucible of life. He has seen events that encourage him about what is going on inside. When he expresses reservations, it is because their lifestyles do not match what they say they believe.

When you put all that together, the commentators’ argument does not hold water. There is no necessary progression from “you are believers” to “this cannot be about salvation.” Step one is false. Paul speaks to them as if they are believers, but he knows some may not be.

Back to Paul’s Appeal

So we return to Paul’s statement: We entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Paul is talking about their reception of his gospel message. He has been defending his life and ministry because some in Corinth question whether they should listen to him.

They have received this message of grace in the sense that they have heard it. Paul has explained it, and they have called themselves Christians. But some live in a way that contradicts their claims of faith. In this context, Paul focuses on the way they respond to him.

If you listened to my series on the gospel of Matthew, we talked about this issue at the end of Matthew 10 and in Matthew 25. The way you respond to a prophet of God reveals where you stand with Christ.

Some in Corinth claim to believe in Jesus, yet they reject Paul, the apostle of Jesus. This raises serious questions in Paul’s mind. Why do they reject Paul?

In verse 3, Paul maintains that he is careful to give no offense in anything, so that the ministry might not be discredited. He has done nothing to deserve their rejection, yet many reject him or call him into question.

Throughout the Corinthian letters we see why. They do not like how Paul speaks. He does not have the powerful rhetoric that appeals to the elites and sophisticates of Corinth. They say he lacks the charisma a respected teacher ought to have. His ministry looks like a failure. He is always getting beaten up and run out of town.

Even though they claim to believe the gospel, their rejection of Paul shows they value other things more than the message he proclaims.

Isaiah 49 and the Day of Salvation

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. – 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Paul quotes from one of the famous Servant Songs in Isaiah

Isaiah’s Servant Songs

Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” – Isaiah 49:1-3

At first it sounds like the servant is the nation of Israel. But watch how it develops.

But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.” – Isaiah 49:4 -8

When you put this Servant Song together, the servant is not the nation of Israel. The servant is the one who will bring back Jacob and restore Israel, and be a light to the nations. This song is messianic. It describes the Messiah whom God will raise up to save Israel and the world. We know that Messiah to be Jesus.

That makes verse 8, the verse Paul quotes, very significant. The servant feels he has toiled in vain. He is abhorred by the nation and trusts in God. This is what happened to Jesus. He was rejected by men.

But in verse 8, God says: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people.”

A “favorable time” here means a time characterized by God’s favor. It is parallel to “a day of salvation.” At a time when God shows favor, he answers. On the day when he brings salvation, he helps.

Isaiah makes it clear this is not just favor and salvation for the servant. It is the time when the servant is given as a covenant for the people.

Isaiah is saying a time is coming when God will raise up the servant, the Messiah, from his lowly, rejected place. That day will be a day of favor and salvation for him and for his people.

So Paul says to the Corinthians: Do not receive the grace of God in vain. Isaiah foretold a day when God would raise up the Messiah. That would be a day of acceptance and favor. A day of salvation. A day of grace.

That day is here. The time of acceptance and favor is now. I have proclaimed salvation to you. You need to respond.

Cash the Check

Imagine someone sent you a certified check for a million dollars and you stuck it on your refrigerator with a magnet. Days and weeks pass. You never take it to the bank. You might even brag, “I am a millionaire.”

But the power company cuts the lights because the bill is unpaid.

You call customer service and explain that help has arrived. You have the money to cover your bills. You may even read the amount off the check. But the agent is not moved.

Banks do not credit intentions. They credit deposits.

Failing to cash the check is receiving it in vain. Until you cash it, you are not wealthy. You are just a person with a piece of paper on a refrigerator.

The Corinthians are in that boat. They received the gospel, but some were letting it sit uncashed. That is receiving the gospel in vain.

Paul is saying, there is nothing else to wait for. The Messiah came. The day is here. The message of grace has been proclaimed. Now is the time to decide what you will do with it.

No Obstacles From Paul

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way. -2 Corinthians 6:3-4

Negatively, Paul tries hard not to do anything that would cause offense. He does not want to do anything that would lead someone to stumble. They may stumble anyway, but he does not want to be the cause.

Positively, Paul wants them to see him as a servant of God. He asks them to look at how he has lived and conducted his ministry.

Endurance Through Hardship

Paul’s list is not what his critics want to hear. His list describes what a servant of God is like, not what his critics want him to be like. Some items on the list are the very things they hold against him.

by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; -2 Corinthians 6:4-5

He has persevered through hardship. His critics do not like that he lacks the air of success. He does not have hordes of followers and cheering crowds. He does not arrive with an entourage, to public fanfare, and stay in the best inns. Often the people he preaches to try to kill him.

Many think the person who is right with God ought to lead a cushy life. God shows he likes you by making things easy, right?Yet Paul is constantly beaten and suffering. He looks like a worldly failure.

Paul says this is how the gospel is received. Some will reject it. Some will accept it. They tried to kill Jesus. They will try to kill his followers. The servant of God must persevere through hardship.

God’s Work in Paul

by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; -2 Corinthians 6:6-7

In addition to perseverance, they should see positive qualities. The Spirit of God is at work bringing these moral qualities about. Real change is happening, and God is doing it.

He speaks of the Holy Spirit, genuine love, the word of truth, the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left. The picture is that you have something in both hands so you are ready for the battle. A shield and a sword, for example.

The Contrasts

through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:8-10

Look at the negatives and you have an accurate description of Paul’s life from a worldly perspective: dishonor, slander, impostors, unknown, dying, punished, sorrowful, poor, having nothing. That list describes a loser. He is not respected or successful. He does not have a stellar reputation.

Now look at the positives. Each answers the negative: honor, praise, true, known, alive, rejoicing, making many rich, possessing all things. This is the ultimate reality of Paul’s life and ministry. He is saying, this is what you ought to see when you look at my life.

You are looking at external appearances. Look instead at eternal realities.

One contrast needs clarifying: unknown yet well known. He’s speaking of reputation, not fame. Paul’s critics want him to have a solid reputation, to be the kind of person everybody knows because he is so impressive. He does not have that. He gets beaten and run out of town.

Yet he is well known where it matters. God knows him. Those among the Corinthians who judge rightly know him. They see that he has acted with love, integrity, and wisdom. Among them, his reputation is great.

Sorrowful yet always rejoicing. Many of his sorrows involve the response of people he cares about, and watching churches fall into heresy or division. He rejoices over the work God is doing in believers’ lives, and he rejoices most of all in his hope for the future in the kingdom of God.

Having nothing yet possessing all things. Paul was not rich by worldly standards. But God destined him for an eternal life of glory. He has riches that cannot be taken. In the end, he will have everything worth having.

Paul’s life demonstrates he is a true servant of God. He perseveres under suffering and rejection. His life is characterized by purity and understanding. The power of God is at work through him. Although he looks like an unknown, rejected loser, his life is one of triumph.

An Open-Hearted Appeal

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. – 2 Corinthians 6:11-12

Paraphrase: Look, Corinthians, I have told you the straight, unvarnished truth. I have made my heart known to you, my love for you, my longing that you might find life. You have every reason to understand the truth of what I am saying and how I care for you by teaching you the gospel. If there is a problem, it is not on my side.

If something is holding you back from trusting me, it is on your side. You know the message I preach. You know the sincerity of my conduct. You know the power of God at work in my ministry. You know the depths of my genuine love for you. Those of you who reject me are doing so for all the wrong reasons.

Application: Cash the Gospel, Not the Hype

Paul’s two entreaties confront us with fundamental choices.

We are used to hearing that we must be reconciled to God, but that is the heart of the choice Paul presses. Be reconciled to God. There is a God. We have sinned against him. God has reached out to offer forgiveness and reconciliation. We must decide what to do with it.

Do not receive the grace of God in vain. Having heard the message of grace, do not let foolish and worldly values keep you from embracing it. Do not let this message come to nothing because you are chasing false gods.

Paul’s primary concern is their spiritual well-being, not whether he was personally hurt by their rejection. They wanted teachers the world saw as successful and impressive. Were they going to let those desires keep them from taking Paul’s gospel seriously?

We face the same question. Many look at organized church and find fault. They want a church that is more impressive to the world. More inclusive and entertaining. One that does not require lifestyle change or commitment.

But finding fault with organized religion or a particular church is no excuse for rejecting the gospel.

Christianity is not attractive to the world. It does not dazzle the elites. It can feel embarrassing. Those who are humble and sincere in their commitment to Christ are not usually celebrated by our culture. Our culture tends to mock them.

A lot of scholars today mock and ridicule Paul. You may have met people who say, “Jesus was a great teacher, but I do not like Paul.”

The Lifeboat, Not the Yacht

Imagine you are on a party boat with friends when a big storm hits. The storm pushes your boat toward the rocks. Two other ships appear in the spray.

One is a glossy yacht with a party going on. The music thumps. Lights flash. It looks impressive, but it never comes close enough to rescue anyone. It just circles, selling the party lifestyle.

The other is a battered orange lifeboat with a crew in rain gear. It is solid but could use a new coat of paint. It is clearly well used. That crew circles in close and yells over a bullhorn: “Grab the rope. Step in now.”

You can stare at the yacht, hoping it will notice you and come to your rescue. Or you can step into the plain lifeboat and live.

Corinth loved the yacht. Paul brought the lifeboat. We can be deceived by an attractive lie. Or we can embrace the plain truth of the gospel.

Like the Corinthians, we can judge by external appearances and miss the gospel. Or we can embrace the plain truth and find life.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 10 Unequally Yoked: Understanding Paul’s Warning (2 Corinthians 6:13-7:2)

Previous: 08 New Creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Resources to help you study: 2 Corinthians

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Podcast season 26, episode 9