God's comfort is referred to 29 times in the apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. This is not sappy sentimentalism, Paul graphically describes the reality of suffering but describes the comfort of God in equally powerful terms. And the comfort of God increases as our suffering for Christ increases. We can learn to suffer victoriously by giving thanks, trusting in key Biblical promises, and persevering in faith.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, which had become cynical. What are the dangers of cynicism in the Christian life? It distorts our view of truth, it leads to pride, and it ultimately suggests that we know better than God does. A historical look at cynicism and modern day examples are reviewed to understand the damage it can cause.

Paul outlines for the Corinthian church what it means to live under the New Covenant, as opposed to the Old Covenant. While the Old Covenant law still serves an important purpose for believers today, we are no longer bound by it; instead, under the New Covenant, every believer can have direct access to God and has no reason to fear.

Paul addresses the timeless issue of Christian suffering and how we should respond. Although we often wish that God would bless us by removing suffering, the truth is, often we are blessed through suffering, which enables us to grow spiritually and experience God's closeness in a unique way. As we persevere through suffering in faith, our "outer man" becomes broken, allowing God's light to shine forth from within.

Paul writes to the Corinthians about hope for the afterlife. Unlike other religions, the Bible describes Heaven as a physical, earthly place, where we will have physical, resurrected bodies and meaningful experiences and relationships. This hope for the afterlife has several implications for how Christians live in this life.

Paul explains to the Corinthians that God has given Christians the privilege of being His ambassadors. Although our relativistic culture often rejects the idea of absolute truth in regards to spirituality, nonetheless we are compelled by the love of Christ to work to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel.

Paul writes to the Corinthian believers in the midst of his strained relationship with them. He points to his character and past conduct to refute false accusations, and encourages them to use wisdom when choosing with whom to begin close relationships.

Paul anxiously awaits word on the Corinthian's response to his previous rebuke. Paul is relieved to hear that they chose to repent and rejoices to hear of their love and concern for him. Just as it did for the Corinthian believers, true repentance (as opposed to religious repentance) brings freedom, life, and healing to Christians.

Paul urges the Corinthians to be gracious givers in response to the overwhelming generosity of Christ towards us. Giving is an essential part of any Christian's faith, and from this passage, we can draw out principles for what giving should look like, why we should give, and how we should give.

Paul writes to the Corinthians about being wary of false teachers who distort the gospel. He defends the true gospel he preached by comparing his integrity and love for the Corinthians to others who want to get rich off them. False teaching is every bit as prevalent today as it was then and Christians should be prepared to refute it and evaluate a message by its content and the character of the messenger.

Paul continues his defense against false teachers, reluctantly citing his credentials and history of faithful service to Christ, which often involved severe suffering. Paul's response to his "thorn in the flesh" is instructive for believers today, as he draws near to God in his suffering and allows it to develop greater humility in his heart.

Paul continues his defense against slander going around the Corinthian church and challenges them to examine themselves as to whether they are really believers in Christ--because if they are, then Paul's ministry must be legitimate. Christians today should not be bogged down by worry as to whether they are truly saved, but it is worth examining whether we have personally received Christ and if we see evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives. If we have trusted in Christ, we can rest assured that we are sealed with the Spirit and our salvation is secure.