Walk by Faith

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

2 Corinthians 4:16–5:10 KJV 1900

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

INTRODUCTION – WHAT KIND OF WALK IS THIS?

Before Paul says,

“For we walk by faith, not by sight,”

He talks about:

Crushing pressure

Physical decay

Persecution

Mortality

This is not a comfort verse. This is a survival verse.

Paul is explaining how believers endure when life feels fragile.

Walking by faith is not mystical optimism. It is theological conviction shaping daily endurance.

And if we are going to have a worthy walk this year, it must be a walk by faith.

I. FAITH REFRAMES OUR SUFFERING - (Vs. 16-18)

“For which cause we faint not…”

Paul acknowledges something real:

“Though our outward man perish…”

Aging and decay can be disheartening… and especially so for those without hope of resurrection and transformation. The Greco-Roman culture of Paul’s day gave voice to remarkable expressions of despair. The Greek poet Aeschylus declared, “there is death once and for all and there is no resurrection.” The Roman Marcus Aurelius held that at death all that is left is “dust, ashes, bones and stench.

Paul just explained that his death-like trials made for more effective, life giving ministry for the Corinthian Christians. Knowing this made him not lose heart in the midst of trials and suffering.

Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day: Another reason why Paul does not lost heart is because though all his suffering takes a toll on the outward man, yet the inward man is being renewed and blessed.

Outward man has the same idea as earthen vessels in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and mortal flesh in 2 Corinthians 4:11. The message is the same: “On the outside, we are suffering and taking a beating, but on the inside, God is blessing and renewing us!”

He does not deny deterioration. He doesn’t sugarcoat affliction.

He just refuses to interpret it the way sight does… Faith starts by correcting our perspective.

A. Faith Distinguishes Between the Temporary and the Eternal - (Vs. 18a)

“For the things which are seen are temporal…”

The word temporal means “for a season.”

Pain has a season… Pressure has a season… Politics have a season… Even the body has a season.

But glory does not.

Paul calls affliction “light.” Not because it feels light — but because it is light compared to eternal glory.

Illustration: The Scale

Imagine a scale. On one side: your worst suffering. On the other side: eternal glory.

Paul says glory outweighs it beyond comparison.

Romans 8:18 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Faith puts suffering on the scale of eternity — and suddenly the weight shifts.

A worthy walk doesn’t deny pain. It downsizes it in light of forever.

“It’s not just that suffering is temporary. It’s that it’s productive.”

B . Faith Discerns Purpose in Pressure - (17a)

“Worketh for us…”

Affliction is productive.

The word carries the idea of manufacturing. Producing. Accomplishing something.

For Paul, “The affliction which once felt like a lethal weight around his neck now seems weightless in comparison to his eternal load of glory.

“Affliction for Jesus’ sake, however crushing it may seem, is in fact light, a weightless trifle, when weighed against the mass of that glory.” - Philip Hughes

When the apostle suffered affliction, he did not focus his thoughts on how heavy the affliction was but on how heavy the glory would be because of the affliction. If we, in the midst of our affliction, will see it as it is, we will find our voices again and sing songs in the night. The truth is that our momentary afflictions are “preparing” us for an eternal load of glory out of all proportion. Are you going through a tough time? The afflictions will pass. Believe it. Don’t lose heart. And more, embrace the fact that the fires are burning away the dross so that a load of glory will be yours.

What if what you’re walking through is working for you?

Joseph in Genesis 50:20

Genesis 50:20 KJV 1900

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Sight says: “This is against me.”

Faith says: “This is forming me.”

So faith reframes suffering.

Faith doesn’t just reinterpret our suffering — it anchors our security.

II. FAITH RESTS IN OUR SECURITY

(5:1–5)

(Vs. 1a) “If our earthly house… were dissolved…”

He calls the body a tent. Paul’s point is that like a temporary tent, humanity’s earthly existence is fragile, insecure, and lowly.

Paul has just contrasted our light affliction with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and things which are seen and temporary with things that are not seen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Now, Paul will write more about this contrast between the earthly and the eternal.

In this discussion, Paul is bold enough to say, "We know." Christians can know what the world beyond this one is like because we know what God's eternal word says.

"Not we think, or hope only; this is the top-gallant of faith, the triumph of trust; this is, as Latimer calls it, the sweet-meats of the feast of a good conscience. There are other dainty dishes in this feast, but this is the banquet." - John Trapp

You don’t build your identity around a tent. Here in verse 1 Paul moves from tents to temples.

A . Faith Relies on a Permanent Promise - (Vs. 1-4)

“We have a building of God…”

Present tense. Faith speaks of future realities as present certainties.

John 14:2 KJV 1900

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Faith keeps perspective…

“Many people are in a great fright about the future, yet here Paul is viewing the worst thing that could happen to him (death) with such complacency that he likens it to nothing worse than the pulling down of tent in which he was making shift to reside for a little season.” - C.H. Spurgeon

J I Packer asks the question we all do well to answer..."How many Christians live their lives packed up and ready to go?"

"Life is a bridge. Cross over it, but build no house on it." - Indian Proverb

God doesn’t just promise eternity — He proves it.

B. Faith Rests in a Present Guarantee - (Vs. 5)

“Given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”

Earnest = down payment.

Legal term. Contract language. Binding guarantee.

God did not just promise eternity. He placed His Spirit inside you as collateral.

"So the Holy Spirit is a part of heaven itself. The work of the Holy Spirit in the soul is the bud of heaven. Grace is not a thing which will be taken away from us when we enter glory, but will develop into glory. Grace will not be withdrawn as though it had answered its purpose, but will be matured into glory." - C.H. Spurgeon

You can walk by faith because eternity is secured.

Now Paul brings eternity back to everyday living.

III. FAITH REORIENTS OUR AIM

(5:6–10)

“We are always confident…”

Confidence doesn’t come from clarity. It comes from certainty.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

This is the hinge. Faith changes what we pursue.

A. Faith Replaces Comfort with Courage - (Vs. 7)

Sight lives for comfort. Faith lives for calling.

Peter walked on water in Matthew 14 as long as his focus stayed on Christ.

The storm didn’t sink him. Misplaced focus did.

A worthy walk fixes its eyes correctly.

Hebrews 12:2 KJV 1900

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. Faith Redirects the Goal of Life - (Vs. 9)

“That… we may be accepted of him.”

Accepted means pleasing.

The Christian life is not about public applause. It is about private approval from Christ.

Faith shifts the target.

Sight asks: “How does this benefit me now? What do others think.”

Faith asks: “How will this stand at the judgment seat?”

Since what we do right now has eternal consequences, our goal must persistently be to please God.

Colossians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

"You report to headquarters. Never mind what anybody else thinks of you. Your business is to please Christ, and the less you trouble yourselves about pleasing men the more you will succeed in doing it." - Alexander Maclaren

Here’s the reality that sharpens everything.

C. Faith Remembers the Coming Review - (Vs. 10)

“For we must all appear…”

Not condemnation. Evaluation.

A worthy walk is lived with eternity in view.

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last," - C.T. Studd

You don’t live differently because people are watching. You live differently because Christ will evaluate.

Canadian Missionary J. Goforth gives a beautiful illustration of what every believer wants to hear someday: When he was fifteen years of age his father put him in charge of their second farm, which was twenty miles from the home farm. "Work hard," said his father. "At harvest I'll return and inspect." In later years Goforth stirred many an audience as he told of his arduous labors that summer, of his father's return in the fall and of how his heart thrilled when his father, after inspecting the fields of beautiful waving grain, turned to him and smiled. "That smile," he would say, "was all the reward I wanted. I knew my father was pleased. So will it be, dear Christians, if we are faithful to the trust our Heavenly Father has given us. His smile of approval will be our blessed reward."

Conclusion:

Faith does not walk by focusing on the natural circumstances (what is seen) but by focusing on the supernatural Word of God, in this case the sure promise of future presence in glory with Christ.