Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2)

Why does God choose to save our souls, but leave us here to deal with sin in our corrupt bodies?

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:6–18

‎6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

‎7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 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.

I. Mankind has been blinded by the Devil. (verses 3-5)

II. God sent Christ to illuminate our hearts.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900)

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Hebrews 1:1–4 (KJV 1900)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV 1900)

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

III. God has chosen to put this treasure in earthen vessels. (Verse 7-9)

A. Troubled on every side.

B. Perplexed, but not in dispair.

C. Persecuted but not forsaken.

D. Cast down but not destroyed.

IV. God has put this treasue in earthen vessels to show his power. Verse 7b)

A. God has chosen to use our weak bodies to show the life of

Christ. (Verses 10-12)

B. God has chose to reveal his abundant Grace by our weak

bodies. ( Verse 15)

V. This is our motivation to not faint. (Verse 16)

A. Our afflictions is light .

B. Our affliction is short.

C. Our affliction is outweighed by the reward.

D. Don't worry, when this body is finished, we have another one

waiting for us.

VI. God has given us the down payment of the Holy Sprit. (verse 5)