2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What is a “thorn”? It is a sharp organ that cuts and penetrates; that some insects or animals have in their extremities, such as the scorpion or the wasp.
The Lord had revealed many great things to Apostle Paul. But this thorn in the flesh is called sin. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle had already pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it from him, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. On other occasions the Apostle said, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” The thorn in the flesh is the sin which dwells within us.
Paul, as do we, has a thorn in the flesh, which is sin. Sin is evil, unrighteousness, and ignorance. We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. The guilt of sin rests on he who decides to disobey. Sin always deceives and never satisfies. It results in guilt and shame. Sin provokes fear and leads you to hide from God. The Apostle Paul said “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me”. Romans 7:18-20. The general consequences and devestations of sin can be summarized in one single word: death. A spiritual death; both physical and eternal.
The spiritual death: When Adam and Eve sinned, the spiritual death was instant; the state of spiritual separation from God. Romans 8: 7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The physical death followed. As a result of sin, all are born spiritually dead (except the Lord Jesus Christ). Ephesians 2:1“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”. Eternal death is for those who die physically as well as spiritually. They die in their unbelief. This is the second death which implicates eternal destruction. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement,”. Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of life was cast into the lake of fire”. But through grace there is salvation, forgiveness, and justification.
We have a hope in Christ. Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”. Lord, help us renounce all sin and worldly desires. To live a righteous life. In Christ Jesus. Amen.
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