2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10 (Part 28) True Service for the Lord: Its Suffering

Comparison of 4:1 and 4:16

• “Do not lose heart”—do not be discouraged as to quit

• “Therefore” of 4:1—looks back to Chapter 3—the glory of the new age (church)

• “Therefore” (for) of 4:16—looks back to 4:7 (treasure in clay pots)—also looks forward to the wonderful future of the clay pot—5:1-10

Confidence in the face of death—4:16-5:10

• The principle of decay and renewal—4:16: 1) The outer man—4:16—reference to the physical body . . . Earthen vessel [4:7], Outward man [4:16], Earthly house [5:1], Mortality [5:4]; 2) The inner man—4:16b—counterbalance to the decay—the inner man is (the regenerated self) . . . 1) The part of us that joyfully concurs with the Word of God—Romans 7:22; 2) The part of us that is capable of growth (Ephesians 3:14-16); 3) Growth of the inner man is the subject of prayer for another believer (Ephesians 3:14-16); 4) The part of the believer upon which the Holy Spirit acts (Ephesians 3:14-16); 5) The part of us that can emulate God—Colossians 3:10

*We can grow into the image of God, but what comes out in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 is that very few really ever give any time to the development of the inner (new) man.