The Christian Distinctive
As we work toward concluding our teaching series on Esther’s Call, this next session is about what I am calling the Christian Distinctive. That is, the characteristic that marks us as uniquely Christian. We find the qualifying list in 2 Corinthians 6. Part of what separates the Christian is our intentional effort to protect God’s reputation by not causing offense in any way (6:3). Apostle Paul explains how high the bar is set for us to prove we are God’s ministers.
We prove ourselves IN much patience, afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings, fastings…BY pureness, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, the Holy Ghost, sincere love, the word of truth, the power of God, the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, honor and dishonor, evil report and good report…AS deceivers and yet true, unknown yet well known, dying and behold we live, chastened and not killed, sorrowful yet always rejoicing, making many rich and having nothing and yet possessing all things (6:4-10)
From this list he gives a command and asks one question in a few ways (6:14-16): “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Where is their harmony or commonality or agreement?
Then, Paul reminds us of the wonderful promise of God to receive us if we:
- Come out
- Be separate
- Touch not the unclean thing
Now, let me tie this to our lesson focus. In the two days of battle where the Jews stood for their lives, there is a key truth that happened in the battle. Although they had the right to take spoil, they did not lay their hand to it. They did not touch the spoil. Instead they gave portions to one another. They experienced victory without the stain of spoil. They were a shadow of what Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 6.
Join us on the line tonight for Esther’s Call at 8PM Central. Our focus is the “Spoils of War”. Â Dial (218) 862-6400 and use access code 6360503.
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The Bereans' Commentary with Shaunta D. Scroggins, Ed.D. 
Amen!! I love this, thank you! I’m passing it on right now.