6:1-2 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
6:1-2 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
What Paul says here does not only apply to the Corinthian Christians of that era. It is a warning to every Christian in every age that Christians can forfeit their salvation if they abandon the faith and life of the gospel of grace whereby they were initially saved (CP He 6:4-6; 10:26-31; 2Pe 2:20-22).
What Paul says in 2Cor 6:1-2 follows upon his entreaty to the Corinthian Christians in 5:20 to be reconciled to God (CP 2Cor 5:20).
This does not mean that the Corinthian Christians had not yet responded to the gospel. They had accepted it, which he himself had taken to them. However, they had allowed themselves to wander out of the way, and Paul was trying to restore them to fellowship with God.
Both he and Peter knew, as scriptures clearly demonstrate, that Christians can receive the grace of God and experience salvation but lose it afterwards through Spiritual carelessness or deliberate sin (CP Ga 5:4; He 3:12; 4:1; 12:14-15).
Scriptures clearly teach that salvation can be lost - it is not an unforfeitable possession in this life. It only becomes an unforfeitable possession at the end of this life for those sowing to the Spirit (CP Dan 12:10; 2Ti 3:13; Rev 22:11-12). See also comments on 1Cor 10:1-5; He 3:7-11, 4:11-12, 6:4-6, 10:26-31 and 2Pe 2:20-22 and author's study Christian - Beware of Failing God's Grace and Forfeiting your Salvation in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).