How Can I Honor God in my Suffering?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Paul’s Suffering as an Apostle
Paul’s Suffering as an Apostle
Paul’s ministry was marked by weakness and suffering. Paul highlighted that element in his ministry in 4:7–12.
Verse 7 sets forth the basic concept: Paul bore about the treasure of the gospel in the fragile container of his human body.
Paul was all too aware of his human frailty. But God used him as a minister of the priceless gospel of Christ.
Precisely because of his own weakness, Paul was aware that whatever was accomplished through him was not of his own doing but wholly due to God’s grace.
Paul and Stoicism
Paul and Stoicism
Stoics considered the ability to undergo many trials as a human virtue, a sign of detachment from the ups and downs of life.
Paul saw such tribulations as a sign of the cross that he preached. Just as the sufferings of Christ led to resurrection and the promise of life for believers, so Paul saw his suffering as an apostle as an embodiment of the message of the cross, bringing life to those who responded.
His present difficulties were out of all proportion to the eternal glory that was yet to come (vv. 16–18).
His theology of the cross taught him that the cross must come before the crown.
Begin with
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
In what ways are we like “clay jars”?
Unlike bronze or other more expensive vessels, jars of clay were inexpensive and thus disposable if they were broken or incurred ceremonial impurity.
Paul instead contrasts humanity’s frailty with divine glory. Paul had in mind not only the physical body, but also the many trials and troubles that came upon him and those who ministered with him.
Paul insisted that the weakness of the jars of clay demonstrated that ministers of the gospel deserved no glory for their work.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
He still faced the weaknesses of physical trials and persecutions in this world.
Paul instead contrasts humanity’s frailty with divine glory.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
16 You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
that is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a shard is found
with which to take fire from the hearth,
or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
11 and shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth because there will be no place else to bury.
For divine treasure, cf., e.g., Ps 119:72, 127; Pr 2:4. power … not from us. Gentile sages often emphasized their strength of character in the face of hardship, but Paul depends on God’s power.
What is the treasure?
The treasure represents the the gospel and its ministry.
It was common for items of great value to be stored in inexpensive pots of clay in ancient Israel.
A priceless treasure was contained in common earthenware.
A Purposeful Design: Weakness brings Glory to God
A Purposeful Design: Weakness brings Glory to God
A Purposeful Design
What was the purpose of this design? The grand message of Christ was carried through the world by ordinary, weak human beings to show that this all-surpassing power was from God and not from the ministers.
Consider the Bible itself:
forty authors writing from three continents over nearly two thousand years, it maintains a perfect consistency of message.
God chose weak creatures to minister the gospel so that it would be all the more clear that he had accomplished the work through these ministers ().
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
God chose weak creatures to minister the gospel so that it would be all the more clear that he had accomplished the work through these ministers (2 Tim. 1:8).
The first member of each pair described the hardship they experienced as frail jars of clay. The second member indicated how God demonstrated his power (treasure) in them by sustaining them through the hardships. The following table of these pairs illustrates the apostle’s perspective.
The effectiveness of their ministry might have caused some people to attribute honor to the ministers themselves. But The power came through weak instruments to demonstrate that it was from God and not from the ministers.
4:8–10. To illustrate what he meant by treasure in jars of clay, Paul described some of the hardships he and other ministers of the gospel faced. He began with a series of examples and followed with a summary.
In a series of four pairs of terms, Paul described specific ways in which the lives of gospel ministers were like earthenware that contained treasures. The first member of each pair described the hardship they experienced as frail jars of clay. The second member indicated how God demonstrated his power (treasure) in them by sustaining them through the hardships. The following table of these pairs illustrates the apostle’s perspective.
Jars of Clay Treasure
hard pressed not crushed
perplexed not in despair
persecuted not abandoned
struck down not destroyed
Hard pressed … but not crushed. To be hard pressed (thlibo) or “afflicted” but they were not overcome by these afflictions because they had the treasure of the gospel of Christ.
Perplexed, but not in despair. In a state of confusion and discouragement because of afflictions and troubles, they never gave up because they had a great treasure.
Persecuted, but not abandoned. To be persecuted (dioko) is to be hunted down or chased about by others, but God never left them alone. He was with them in all of their persecutions (; ).
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Struck down, but not destroyed. All kinds of setbacks, but they would be victorious over their foes.
There was a purpose to all this suffering. The goal was that the life of Jesus might also be revealed in their body.
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Even so, there was a purpose to all this suffering. The goal was that the life of Jesus might also be revealed in their body. Paul taught throughout his epistles that the reward for those who suffered for Christ was a resurrection body for eternal life (Phil. 3:10–11). This resurrection in the future will result from our union with the resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:5). The troubles that believers experience in this world will result in the glory of the next world.
This resurrection in the future will result from our union with the resurrection of Christ (). The troubles that believers experience in this world will result in the glory of the next world.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
4:11. Paul explained why his statement of 4:10 was true. He spoke of we who are alive, meaning the apostles and those other ministers who had not died or been killed, especially those who ministered with him. Even though they are still alive, they are always being given over to death. The experience of Christian ministry is constantly to go through the process of dying. For what purpose did Paul and his company suffer? So that Christ’s life might be revealed in the mortal body. The corruptible, mortal human bodies of believers will enjoy the resurrection power that brought Jesus back to life. His life will be displayed in what God does with our mortal body.
Move to
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
What about Verse 12?
Paul did not want the Corinthians to forget that they benefited from the sufferings of the ministers of the gospel.
The pain and trials endured by Paul and others made it possible for the Corinthians to have eternal life in Christ.
The Corinthians should have realized that their new life in Christ came at the cost of suffering by those who ministered to them.
What obstacles keep us from viewing suffering as an opportunity to share the gospel?
10 I believed, even when I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
Paul did not want the Corinthians to forget that they benefited from the sufferings of the ministers of the gospel. The pain and trials endured by Paul and others made it possible for the Corinthians to have eternal life in Christ. Those who suffered brought the gospel to the church, teaching and leading the church. The Corinthians should have realized that their new life in Christ came at the cost of suffering by those who ministered to them.
The pain and trials endured by Paul and others made it possible for the Corinthians to have eternal life in Christ. Those who suffered brought the gospel to the church, teaching and leading the church. The Corinthians should have realized that their new life in Christ came at the cost of suffering by those who ministered to them.
Paul’s identity with the psalmist of
Psalm 116:15 proclaims, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Paul had just written that he had been persecuted and had despaired and that death worked in him. Still, his faith remained strong. Under these conditions, he identified with the psalmist. Thus, Paul quoted the psalmist’s assertion of faith, implying that he spoke with that same spirit of faith. Just like the psalmist, he and his company also believe[d] and therefore spoke laments over their suffering as well as praise for divine deliverance.
10 I believed, even when I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
The suffering of those who proclaim the gospel results in life for all believers.
Paul probably thought of this psalm because it coupled these ideas of faith with complaints of the suffering and death of God’s servants. For instance, Psalm 116:3 reads, “The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.” Similarly, Psalm 116:15 proclaims, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Paul had just written that he had been persecuted and had despaired and that death worked in him. Still, his faith remained strong. Under these conditions, he identified with the psalmist. Thus, Paul quoted the psalmist’s assertion of faith, implying that he spoke with that same spirit of faith. Just like the psalmist, he and his company also believe[d] and therefore spoke laments over their suffering as well as praise for divine deliverance.
4:14. Paul explained why he believed that even in the midst of great suffering God would deliver the ministers of the gospel. His reason began with the affirmation that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. Yet, this conviction about Jesus bore on the subject at hand only because Paul also believed that God would also raise him and his fellow ministers with Jesus, just as he would raise all believers.
Paul added another thought that expressed the greatness of his vision even further. Not only will God eventually raise ministers of the gospel with Christ; he will also present us (ministers of the gospel) with you (the Corinthians) in his presence. Paul hoped that God would reward him and other ministers for their suffering by resurrecting them in Christ, but he also believed they would share that resurrection life with all believers. In this way, the suffering of those who proclaim the gospel results in life for all believers.
Paul is ready to suffer for the sake of enlarging God’s people, bringing God honor. Compare this to
4:15 grace … may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Greeks and Romans praised benefactors; the response deemed appropriate to their generosity (often described as grace) was thanksgiving and the offering of honor (also called, as here, “glory”). Paul is ready to suffer for the sake of enlarging God’s people, bringing God honor (cf. 9:13–15).
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
But Paul knew that benefiting all believers was not the ultimate basis of his confidence in the future. Instead, he aligned his thoughts with the psalms of thanksgiving, like Psalm 116 from which he had quoted. The ultimate purpose of the apostolic ministry was that the gospel might reach more and more people throughout the world. These people would then cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Paul used this principle to explain the suffering he and his company experienced and the future resurrection for which they and the Corinthians hoped. Paul’s confidence flowed from his understanding that God purposed everything in his ministry to contribute to the glory of God.
Finish with
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
How is your body doing these days?
We can eat right and exercise all we want, but the fact remains every moment of every day our body is deteriorating.
On a physical level, we are all moving toward death. Yet, Paul had in mind not only physical suffering but hardships of every kind.
What does it mean to be renewed day by day? (look )
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
This is why Paul spoke of himself as decaying and being renewed at the same time: As he waited for his physical existence to be renewed at the resurrection, he took comfort and joy in the renewal of his inward person by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
4:16. In summary, Paul reaffirmed that he did not lose heart. As he had already illustrated so clearly, the apostle could draw a sharp distinction between what was happening to him outwardly and inwardly. In terms of his physical existence—what he called “jars of clay”—the suffering and hardship he faced as an apostle caused him to say that he was wasting away. This assessment of the human condition is true in a general sense for everyone. On a physical level, we are all moving toward death. Yet, Paul had in mind not only physical suffering but hardships of every kind. In terms of the externals of his life, Paul was wasting away.
Daily Renewal (a.k.a. Sanctification)
Daily Renewal (a.k.a. Sanctification)
By contrast, inwardly Paul found the opposite to be true. He was being renewed day by day. This distinction between the outward and inward dimensions of human existence does not indicate that Paul hated his body or that he wished to escape physical existence. On the contrary, to be without one’s body was to be in a state of nakedness that could be remedied only by the physical resurrection when Christ returns.
What is Sanctification?
What is Sanctification?
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
At the present time, though, a paradoxical situation exists for followers of Christ. On the one hand, they have believed the gospel and have been granted salvation. The Holy Spirit lives within believers as the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14), bringing many spiritual blessings into their lives. On the other hand, they have yet to be granted full salvation, including the resurrection of their bodies at the end of the age. This is why Paul spoke of himself as decaying and being renewed at the same time. As he waited for his physical existence to be renewed at the resurrection, he took comfort and joy in the renewal of his inward person by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
What is Sanctification?
What is Sanctification?
Sanctification is a progressive work of both God and man that makes Christians more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in their actual lives.
God and his children cooperate in this work, both playing distinct roles. Sanctification Is a Process.
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Whose Role is it in Sanctification? Don’t answer yet - listen to these verses:
Whose Role is it in Sanctification? Don’t answer yet - listen to these verses:
Look at and
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Sanctification is primarily the work of God. God equips his children through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who works within us to change and sanctify us, giving us greater holiness in life.
But what about and ?
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Sanctification is the work of God and Us
Sanctification is the work of God and Us
How Do We Grow in Sanctification (Renewal)?
How Do We Grow in Sanctification (Renewal)?
As we grow in grace, we are gradually – but steadily – changing to be more like Jesus (). This occurs in a process of daily spiritual renewal ().
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This process matches what Paul describes in verse 18
This process matches what Paul describes in verse 18
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
If our focus is on above, we will glorify Him in all things we do below.
If our focus is on above, we will glorify Him in all things we do below.
2cor
By fixing his attention on the future salvation in Christ, Paul found strength in the disappointments and hardships of this life.
4:18a. Even so, this theological fact was of little help to Paul until he went beyond just knowing its truth. He resolved to fix his eyes on the future glory. Paul determined to focus his attention and center his hopes and priorities away from this life to the next. He insisted that he looked away from what is seen to what is unseen. We have to be careful not to confuse seen and unseen with physical and spiritual realities. The contrast is actually between the current reality of suffering and the future reality of full salvation at Christ’s return. Future salvation will be physical as well as spiritual, but it is unseen because it has not yet come. By fixing his attention on the future salvation in Christ, Paul found strength in the disappointments and hardships of this life.
What can be seen now is temporary; it will pass away at death and at the return of Christ. But the unseen, the future salvation to come at Christ’s return, is eternal.
Once Christ returns in glory and brings the fullness of salvation to his people, that state of blessing will never end.
Question for Self-Reflection
Question for Self-Reflection
Application
How often have you decided against doing something that would further God’s kingdom simply because it would be inconvenient?