“Becoming: The Gospel Over Everything”
II Corinthians 6:3-18, {3} We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. {4} Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; {5} in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; {6} in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; {7} in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; {8} through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; {9} known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; {10} sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. {11} We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. {12} We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. {13} As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. {14} Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? {15} What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? {16} What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” {17} Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” {18} And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”