Although the church in Corinth was immature, dysfunctional, confused and unstable, it was still a church (2 Corinthians 1:1-2). People had heard the gospel and started to follow Jesus. Although Paul doubted the sincerity of some (2 Corinthians 13:5-6), he chose to call them ‘fellow workers’ or more literally 'as we are working together with Him'. What is the work? Paul was referring to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). He widened the scope of his own ministry to include all believers. He expected that, in his absence, the Corinthian church would be announcing the gospel to Corinth as a routine part of church and personal life.

But how could they be gospel communicators if they were not personally passionate about Jesus, grateful for His sacrifice and convinced that they have a responsibility to share the gospel with those outside of Christ. It seems that at least some were glad to be saved, but treated their membership of the church only as an eternal insurance policy and so slid backwards into a worldly lifestyle. Focussing on themselves, they could neither receive from God nor work with Him to give out to others. They had received grace, but had not grown in grace (2 Peter 3:18). From a ministry point of view, their salvation was unproductive. It may have been a personal comfort but they had no motivation to do whatever was necessary to bring the gospel to the lost, as Paul had (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).

So, although they should have been working with Paul, they were not. Hence Paul's rebuke and exhortation to let God's grace work in their lives and let the gospel flow out of their mouths. Quoting from Isaiah 49:8, which speaks of Israel coming back from captivity to serve the Lord and announce His salvation to the world, Paul urged the Corinthians to live as transformed people and announce Jesus – with all their heart and with urgency.

Pastors will identify with Paul's concern when those who should be fellow workers, lose their passion for Jesus and the gospel. They either become focussed on their own needs and feelings, or divert their energy into a host of 'good causes or projects' – because they have lost their 'first love' for Jesus (Revelation 2:4-5). Those who once ran a good race lose sight of their calling (Galatians 5:7). Some have sought a more pleasant lifestyle and, while apparently still part of the church, have wandered from the truth for money (1 Timothy 6:9-10) or a different ideology (1 Timothy 6:20-21). Pastors must prayerfully urge their wanderers to return, teaching them how to grow in God's grace. Wanderers – you must not continue to receive God's grace in vain: come back to the cross: repent and take up your calling again, today.