II Corinthians 2:14

II Corinthians 2:8

“Confirm Your Love”

2 Corinthians 2:8-9 says, “Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.” How can two walk together except they be agreed?

When there is a confirmation of love there is agreement in the truth. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 deals with the sorrow of sexual immorality and the suffering of those who bring the truth of the Word of God to the church. When someone falls into sexual immorality and repents what you should do and what they should do is confirm their love in the Spirit towards one another.

The word confirm is a very important word to notice here in verse 8. The world is also found in Galatians 3:15 which says, “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.”

The word confirmed comes from the same root as the New Testament Word for Lord. In other words this word confirmation means something that is 100% guaranteed. The best example of a confirmation of love is the love of God through Christ, through the gospel of Christ. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Once you turn from your sins to Jesus you receive the righteousness of Christ. The love of God will be yours for all eternity. There is no confirmation of love like the promises of God. There is no confirmation of love like knowing the forgiveness of your sins. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To confirm your love means to do or say something that will always be a reminder and assurance of your love for the brethren.

There are Old Testament Words for confirm. One is found in the story of the redemption of Ruth by Boaz. Ruth chapter 4:7 says, “Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.” To confirm can mean to stand or to rise up. Isaiah 33:10 says, “Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.” Christ was lifed up on the Cross. Christ rose from the grave. Christ is going to rise up and His eye is going to twinkle at the end of the age of grace. This is a confirmation of love.

One of the benefits of a confirmation of love is that it results in obedience in all things. 2 Corinthians 2:9 says, “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.” A confirmation of love and obedience go together. This makes sense because we serve God out of love. We love God because He first loved us. A confirmation of love that is given both in word and deed is a confirmation of simplicity and godly sincerity.

A Christian who loves Jesus with all the heart mind and soul desires and strives to be obedient unto the will of God for his or her life each day. Sin, especially sexual immorality, quenches the Spirit of God inside you. If you quench the Spirit of God how will you be obedient? Repentance of sin to Christ, and Christians forgiving one another through a love in the Spirit is the beginning of obedience. A confirmation of love for those who are repentant of sin always begins with forgiveness. Forgiveness is the beginning of obedience. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel. Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears. Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

And this is why forgivness and loving the brethren is so important. If you forgive those who have wronged you, if the church forgives those that fall into sin when they repent, the forces of evil will never have advantage over you. This why the teaching of karma is evil. Karma teaches people to be unforgiving and vengeful. 69 means law and grace. There was darkness from the 6^th hour to the 9^th hour when Christ was on the cross. Forgiveness of sins and confirmations of love is how to help yourself and others be obedient to Jesus Christ in all things. Out of much affliction and anguish of heart sometimes is what it takes to give a confirmation of love. Ruth chapter 4:7 says, “Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.” Even the giving of a shoe can be both a cross and a confirmation of love. Confirmations of love are acts of redemption for the virgins of God.

2 Corinthians 2:12 says, “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the LORD, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.” And so in speaking about confirmations of love Paul reminded the Corinthians of how much he labored in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It may be that Paul talked about Titus as an example to the Corinthians of love in the Spirit and fellowship in the Spirit. True friendship is based upon a fellowship in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Those that fall into sexual immorality always have destructive relationships with one another. Paul had no rest in His spirit because when He went to Troas and preached the good news about Jesus Christ Titus was not there. He longed for him and missed him. He longed for a fellowship of truth where those that fear the LORD speak often one to another and make mention of His name. Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.”

One way of confirming your love for Christ and for others is through forgiving them. Another way is through your suffering for Christ. And another is through your fellowship in the Spirit with the church. This was a testimony in Israel, the forgiveness of sins, the forgiveness that Christ offers all. This was and is still a testimony in Israel, the cross of Jesus Christ. This was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing. It is still the manner today. 2 Corinthians 2:8 says, “Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.”

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