How does 2 Corinthians 6:2 emphasize the urgency of accepting God's salvation today? The Scriptural Setting “For He says: ‘In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is the time of favor; behold, now is the day of salvation!” Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8, announcing that the prophesied “day of salvation” has arrived through Christ. The declaration is not abstract or future—it is immediate. Paul’s Twin “Behold” and the Weight of “Now” • Two urgent signals—“Behold… behold”—grab the hearer’s attention. • “Now” translates the Greek nun, an emphatic word that points to the present instant, not a vague season. • “Time” renders kairos, a decisive, God-appointed moment; “day” underscores a limited window. Together, Paul shouts: God’s favorable window is wide open, but it will not remain open indefinitely. Why Delay Is Dangerous • Life’s brevity—James 4:14; Psalm 39:5: we are a mist, a breath. • Tomorrow is uncertain—Proverbs 27:1 warns against boasting about it. • Hardened hearts—Hebrews 3:7-8; 4:7 repeatedly plead, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Continued postponement calcifies unbelief. The Broad Scriptural Chorus • Romans 13:11-12: “Now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” • Acts 17:30: “God now commands all people everywhere to repent.” • John 3:18: unbelief already places a person under condemnation; neutrality is impossible. • Luke 12:20: the rich fool discovers that “this very night” his soul is required—illustrating sudden finality. Practical Takeaways • Salvation is not merely offered; it is pressing. God’s gracious invitation stands, yet the clock moves. • Every gospel hearing heightens responsibility; repeated rejection dulls spiritual hearing. • Responding “now” aligns the believer with God’s proclaimed calendar of mercy and ensures participation in His promised favor. |
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