Paul also knew who were reprobates among them according to their works.
2 Corinthians 13
King James Version
13 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have
sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again,
I will not spare:”
So Paul, depending on his audience could come in love and in the spirit of meekness, or with the rod.
1 Corinthians 4:21
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a
rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Would you rather I come unto with a rod…is a question. Like where Paul pointed out they prefer those over them that make merchandise of them, but I come to you as those who do not overcharge you(paraphrasing what it means to me) not as Lords over the heritage of God but as helpers with your faith. I get Paul became frustrated but even when those within the body were glorying over the man who had
his fathers wife, he said to put not only their glorying in it without the body; but also to put all the back biting and gossiping and slander outside with the adultery they are glorifying over …to put it without for satan to destroy the flesh. As God hands them over to a reprobate mind. Or those who blaspheme are handed over to satan that they may learn not to blaspheme God. To me that tells me when Paul said he wouldn’t use the Grace given unto him of God for their destruction, but Grace was given unto him for their edification . It seems important to Paul to remember this “not for your destruction but for your edification” saying he would not misuse the Grace of God to destroy. Instead …yes, “hand it over to satan”. Yet
the Hope (love, mercy, Patience, longsuffering) is for the destruction of the flesh, so the spirit may be saved. To me it’s what Jesus Christ said unto them in …go
make you friends with the unrighteousness mammon, so that when
it fails, They will receive you into everlasting (that which does not fail) habitations. Who are “they” receiving you after “it fails” unto what does not fail?
I see now why we have such different views on end times. I noticed you didn’t highlight “but you are of the day, you are of the light not to be caught unaware, of the thief in the night”
Strange…wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of Light.
Strange is God prepares unto battle a people not of the darkness but of the Light, preparing them against the day of evil …so they be not overcome by the thief. Yet we say the thief is Christ in preparing a people not to be overcome by the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Remember you are not of the night but of the day where the thief does not catch you unaware and overcomes you. Stand up …put on the whole armor of God against the night, against the thief for in Him is NO thief. Stand up, put you on the armor of Light that you may stand against the darkness that it not overtake you as “a thief in the night” …does Christ prepare a people not of the night but of the day to fight against Himself?
They asked him the same and knowing their thoughts He said unto them… every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; a house divided will not stand. (Stand,
Put on the armour of Light that you may stand in that evil day) …you are not of evil but of Light. Where not thief can approach.
Because you say I cast out devils by Beelzebub. If I cast out devils through Beelzebub. Whom do your sons cast them out? …if I with the finger of God cast out devils. No doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man armed (arm yourself with this same Mind that was in Christ) keeps his palace his goods are at peace. (That you be caught not unaware by the thief). BUT when one stronger than him, comes upon him and overcomes him..He takes his armor that he trusted in, and divides the spoil.
Proverbs: it’s better to be of a humble spirit, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
He that is NOT with me (a thief in the night) is against me, He that gathers not with Me scatters. …you are not of the Night to be caught
unaware by the thief, put you on the whole armor to stand against the night, being of the day and not of the darkness, not of the evil but having passed from darkness unto to Light. Why put on the whole armor of God that we stand against the thief?