Eternal Glory
Notes
Transcript
Today’s Reading from God’s Word:
Today’s Reading from God’s Word:
16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
1 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.
2 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Introduction
Introduction
I love this passage, don’t you?
Paul was afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, in a few minutes we’ll look at v. 8-12, written just before this.
This was his life as an apostle. I don’t know if we can even imagine what it was like.
But look at 4.16 again.
Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
Despite the physical difficulty he’s experiencing.
Constant beatings had made it difficult for him to see or hear.
His body is not recovering like it used to.
His strength is no longer as sustaining
Having to work harder to keep things in memory.
Every am when he wakes up, everything hurts.
His physical infirmities are just one example of how his joy, faith, and courage could be drained.
But again, therefore, we do not give up.
This type of mindset is so essential.
At times, life becomes so hard that it would be easier to give up than keep going.
Many of us are continually beaten down by.
physical problems
financial problems
family problems
emotional problems
the flesh with its addictions, bad habits, and recurring temptations.
Some days the enemy fills our minds with thoughts like:
What’s the use?
Why even try?
Who cares?
I think Paul struggled with this too. But now please go back a few verses and look at how he framed his circumstances:
2 Corinthians 4:8 (CSB)
8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
2 Corinthians 4:9 (CSB)
9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (CSB)
16 Therefore we do not give up.
2 Corinthians 5:6 (CSB)
6 So we are always confident…
2 Corinthians 5:8 (CSB)
8 In fact, we are confident,
I think this just just so amazing. So inspirational. So encouraging.
How did Paul do it? And what does this have to do with Hope Ahead? This is what we’ll be talking about together this morning.
We want to be talking about how we can look ahead to eternal glory.
Look at verse 17:
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
What is the eternal weight of glory?
How can Paul frame the heavy things he faced as something that was momentary, light affliction?
We’ll examine:
What fueled Paul’s endurance.
The application for our daily life.
The glory to which Paul looked ahead.
Whether our life is in step with these priorities
What Fueled Paul’s Endurance?
What Fueled Paul’s Endurance?
What enabled Paul to have such faith? What motivated him to keep his attitude where it needed to be?
2 Corinthians 4:16 (CSB)
16 Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
4.18b - he focused on what is unseen and eternal.
18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
What does this look like?
2 Corinthians 5:7 (CSB)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Christians operate from the perspective that our treasures are found far beyond this earth.
The things that really matter aren’t here. It is our reliance upon this fact that gets us through.
Think of what we’ve been discussing in this year’s vision plan.
In Ephesians 1.18-23 Paul prays that the eyes of our hearts be opened. This is a prayer for spiritual insight. Insight into what?
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:19 (CSB)
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
In 1.20-23a, Paul expounds on the strength you’ve been given.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in you.
20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—
21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
The same power that seated Christ at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven is in you.
22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
You have been filled with that power … you have been filled with Jesus … in every way.
Look at Ephesians 2.6 - will we remember our location?
Ephesians 2:6 (CSB)
6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
This passage fits in with Colossians 1.13 - we’ve been transferred into the kingdom.
And not just any ordinary place. Not a backwater location. Where are we spiritually? We have been seated …with Him in the heavens in Christ Jesus.
Now, look at Ephesians 3.17-20. Paul prays again that we understand or comprehend:
17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
our being rooted firmly in love.
God’s love in every way possible.
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,
19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
To know Christ’s love - experientially.
How we’ve been filled with the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
How we operate from the perspective of power - not weakness.
How This Fits into Everyday Life
How This Fits into Everyday Life
2 Corinthians 4:17 (CSB)
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
The problems, stressors, and difficulties of life are not without meaning and purpose.
Those things are not happening in vain.
They are not just random acts of nature in a godless, purposeless world.
God’s son or daughter understands those things are happening in order to produce
2 Corinthians 4:17 (CSB)
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
We see them as momentary and light afflictions.
This is amazing, when you consider how Paul’s pain went on for decades and was on a scale that could, without the assistance of divine strength, break a person.
4.18 - His focus was on the unseen.
18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
This is the inward renewal of v.16.
This kept him going because he knew this incomparable glory awaited.
When he is down, when he is hurting, … he makes the decision not to focus on how hard things are… how unbearable the pain is … but rather focus on how heavy the weight of glory he’ll experience because he held out. He pushed through.
What are we looking forward to? What is the hope ahead?
What Glory?
What Glory?
5.1-5 - We Get a New Resurrected Body.
5.1-5 - We Get a New Resurrected Body.
2 Corinthians 5:1 (CSB)
1 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.
5.1 - tent vs. building. (resurrected body was durable and permanent)
2 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,
5.2 - while we’re in the flesh we groan - earnestly desiring our heavenly dwelling.
2 Corinthians 5:3–4 (CSB)
3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5.3-4 - Paul’s first preference was to be alive when Christ returns. He wanted his fleshly body to be swallowed up by life.
Instead of dying … he wanted Christ to return so he could be further clothed in the new, spiritual, immortal body that we are promised to get on that occasion.
But this is not his call. He doesn’t get to tell Jesus when to return, so his second preference is...
5.6-8: We Get To Be With Jesus
5.6-8: We Get To Be With Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:8 (CSB)
8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
This another aspect of the weight of glory we’ll experience. Upon our death we are with the Lord.
Connect Philippians 1.21...
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Paul is saying that if God determines to delay Jesus’ return, the he’d rather go and be with Him, even if he must be stripped of his body.
But this is not his call either. He doesn’t get to choose the day of his death. So...
5.6-7 - Paul was willing to remain on earth and walk by faith and not by sight.
6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Philippians 1.25 - no matter what happened - Paul was going to use his time on earth to advance the kingdom and find joy in others.
25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
5.9-10: We Get Through to the Other Side of Judgment
5.9-10: We Get Through to the Other Side of Judgment
Don’t read these verses out of context. They’re not written in fear.
9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
They are written in the strongest of confidence.
Because Paul knew there was no condemnation for those in Christ, he made it his aim to be well pleasing to God.
Is Your Life in Step With these Priorities?
Is Your Life in Step With these Priorities?
Let’s make application from these three passages:
Have you set your mind on what is above?
Have you set your mind on what is above?
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Do you live like a citizen of the kingdom?
Do you live like a citizen of the kingdom?
Philippians 1:27 (CSB)
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Do you view death more as a gain than a loss?
Do you view death more as a gain than a loss?
Philippians 1:21 (CSB)
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Have you become so entangled in this world that leaving here is no longer desirable?
We must keep our heart heavenward.
We must keep our heart heavenward.
How will you respond to what may be ahead this year?
Think of all the things I mentioned at the beginning of last week’s lesson.
The possibility of a failed election.
Terrorist attack caused by the illegal immigration problem.
Another pandemic
World War
EMP Bomb
Cultural / social crisis from racism, mass shooting, whatever?
We already talked about how we didn’t handle things well in 2020.
We already talked about how we didn’t handle things well in 2020.
As individual Christians
As a church.
So what will be your response?
Will you be able to say with Paul?
8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
As We Close
As We Close
If you haven’t yet given yourself to Christ, now is the time.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know what the only thing that gets you from here to the next life is Jesus.
I do know that only those who have died with Christ have hope.
They trust in His power to literally raise us up into the heavenlies after we die.
Will you respond today?