Pentecost 16 (4)

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NIV) 3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8  We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11  as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Do the opening words of our text sound familiar to you? They do to me. I have spoken them to mourners at funerals using the liturgy in Christian Worship for the past 30 years. Well over 100 times. Why did the editors of Christian Worship choose this particular passage for part of the funeral service?

Those in attendance were facing trouble — someone they knew and cared about had passed away.

They needed comfort — when faced with trouble we need someone to come to our side and provide us with reassurance and hope.

God is able to give us comfort even in the worst of times.

Arguably, the worst experience we can face is the death of someone. We would all agree that it creates a difficult situation and that we are emotionally invested in the event. The closer we were to that person the greater the effect on us.

But I don’t think that St. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians in response to a recent death in their congregation. He does not limit the comfort that God gives us to the most tragic of events. Instead he reassures us that in the midst of whatever sufferings we may have, we can look to God for comfort and strength.

We need this because we do face suffering in our lives.

It is a false notion that those who trust in God are immune from suffering. This is validated through numerous examples in the Bible.

Sometimes the suffering is the result of our sin.

Luke 13:1–5 NIV84

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3–6 NIV84

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.

Ephesians 5:5–7 NIV

5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

Sometimes it is an insidious assault by the devil — Job.

Satan accused God of protecting Job and that is why Job trusted in him. He sneered that if God would allow Job to suffer, Job would turn away from God. So God allowed Satan to bring suffering on Job. Satan still has limited reign to bring suffering to us.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Sometimes it is seemingly random (see Ecclesiastes?)

The New International Version (1984) A Common Destiny for All

have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift

or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned;

but time and chance happen to them all.

12 Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come:

As fish are caught in a cruel net,

or birds are taken in a snare,

so men are trapped by evil times

that fall unexpectedly

At other times it is at the hands of sinful men. This seems to be the type of suffering that Paul is addressing in this section. He summarizes the types of sufferings that he endured.

1 & 2 Corinthians We Pass on God’s Comfort to Others / 1:3–11

Although he had been a traveling evangelist for less than a decade, Paul had already experienced much hardship and suffering for the cause of Christ. He had been insulted (Acts 13:45); chased out of towns, villages, and cities by angry mobs (Acts 17:8–10); beaten and thrown into dank, dark prisons (Acts 16:22–23); stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19–20); and he was even the object of murderous plots (Acts 14:5).

It was clear to Paul that God doesn’t protect his people from suffering. Instead, he allows them to experience ridicule, rejection, and abuse. Today, people don’t expect suffering and don’t tolerate it when it occurs in their lives. People expect instant relief and instant cures. And in the case of unrelenting pain, some have suggested that people have the right to end their lives. According to this type of thinking, suffering must be stopped at any cost—even life itself.

Paul had a radically different view of suffering. According to Paul, suffering—especially trials and discomfort associated with the advancement of Christ’s kingdom—is God’s way of allowing Christians to become more like Jesus—to suffer for the gospel just as Jesus suffered for it (Philippians 1:29; 3:10). Peter agreed with Paul: Christians should rejoice when they suffer, for in their own suffering they will in some small way experience what it meant for Jesus to suffer for their sins (1 Peter 4:12–13).

In addition to drawing people closer to Christ, suffering can also help them grow in their faith. God uses suffering to improve his people and shape them into better Christians. In fact, suffering should be thought of as the necessary pain that accompanies spiritual growth. In Romans, Paul noted that suffering produces perseverance, which, in turn, produces Christian character (Romans 5:3–4; see also James 1:3–4; 2 Peter 1:6; Revelation 2:2, 19). This passage highlights another benefit to suffering: It teaches the sufferer how to encourage others who are also suffering (see 1:6–7).

Understanding these truths about suffering can help believers look beyond their difficult situations to the ultimate goal: moving closer to Christ. This doesn’t make the sufferings, trials, and difficulties any easier. But it does inspire God’s people to endure those difficult times. There is a God-given purpose for suffering—even though that purpose may be totally hidden at the time of the trial. In the midst of difficulties, Christians can be confident that God is present. He knows their pain (Christ experienced great agony and death on the cross; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2), but he also has all of eternity in view. God has a good purpose for pain and suffering; and he works out that good purpose in believers’ lives (Romans 8:28), giving them enough comfort in order to persevere through any hardship.

1 & 2 Corinthians (We Pass on God’s Comfort to Others / 1:3–11)

PRESSURE, STRESS, AND DEPRESSIONPaul knew a great deal about trouble. Being a follower of Christ doesn’t exempt a person from pressure, stress, and depression. Many believers believe Christians should never be depressed. But here Paul—a champion of the early church—was dealing with that very problem. In the case of the apostle Paul, pressure came with the territory of discipleship. He candidly wrote that the pressure was so great that at times, he despaired of life itself (1:8). Evidently, he wondered if he would even escape the vise-grip of opposition. No doubt you have marks to prove that you’ve been there too. When you spend time in quiet conversation with the Lord today, honestly admit the pressure and anxiety currently consuming you from the inside out. Ask him to undergird you as you chip away at situations you feel are beyond your ability. Celebrate the promise Paul gave to his friends at the church in Philippi. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

1 & 2 Corinthians We Pass on God’s Comfort to Others / 1:3–11

SAFETY FIRST

Paul encouraged believers to pray for his safety (1:11). Prayer isn’t limited to church. It’s a vehicle God has given to get us (and those we love) safely through life’s hazards. Paul requested prayer for himself and his companions as they traveled to spread God’s Word. He knew from experience that the prayers of people in congregations he had served had moved God’s hands to bail him out when he was imprisoned literally and figuratively. He knew exactly what to say when people asked how they could be of assistance to him. Pray. Pray. Pray. If Paul and his associates needed prayer support, so do those who provide spiritual leadership in your life. Satan will challenge those who identify with Christ and his church. Pray for your pastors, Sunday school teachers, seminary professors, missionaries, and others you know who are extending the borders of Christ’s kingdom.

Our suffering can lead us to pray for others who suffer and to come to their side and give them comfort. The greatest comfort we can give is that our blessed Father in heaven and his Son, Jesus, can help us because Jesus suffered for us and it able to give us aid in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NIV84

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Since this is true, we can trust that God will work things out for us when we suffer.

Luther’s Spirituality (Editors’ Introduction > Sermon at Coburg on Cross and Suffering)

Second, every Christian should attend to the fact and certainly understand that this suffering will turn out for the best, because on account of his word, Christ will not only help to bear such suffering but also turn and transform it for the best. By this means, again, such a cross should become so much sweeter and more bearable, because our loving God wants to pour so many spices and saltwater into our hearts so that we can carry all our afflictions and burdens. As St. Paul says (1 Cor 10:13), “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” This is true when suffering and affliction are at their worst and stress and strain one to such a point that one thinks one can stand no more but must drown. If, however, at this point you can think on Christ, God, who is faithful, comes to help, just as God has helped God’s own from the very beginning of the world. For God has remained the same through all the ages, and the cause of our suffering and that of all the saints from the beginning has been the same.Of course, the whole world must bear witness that we are not suffering because of public scandal or vice, such as adultery, fornication, murder, etc. We suffer because we remain true to God’s word and preach, hear, learn, and practice it. Now since this is the cause of our suffering, so let it always be; we have the same promise and the same cause for suffering that all the saints then and now have had. Thus we might also comfort ourselves with the same promise and cling to the same in our suffering and trouble, as is most necessary.Therefore, we should always pay attention to the promises in relation to our suffering, namely, that our cross and affliction will turn out for the best in a way that we could not wish or imagine. This is exactly what is different between Christian suffering and all other human suffering and afflictions. Other people also have their crosses and tragedies, just as they also can sit in their rose gardens and employ their good fortune and their goods as they please. Nevertheless, when they experience suffering and affliction, they cannot comfort themselves, because they do not have the mighty promises and the trust in God that Christians have; therefore, they cannot console themselves that God will help them carry their afflictions. They can see far less that their afflictions and suffering will turn out for the very best.Thus, we can see that they cannot overcome even the small afflictions, and when they experience great and powerful afflictions, they despair altogether, commit suicide, or want to die because the world becomes claustrophobic for them. Likewise, they cannot keep a balance, whether in fortune or misfortune.…

St. Paul admits that in the face of suffering he despaired even of life. Did he have suicidal thoughts? Perhaps. Just as we are not immune to suffering, we are not immune to considering destructive behavior. But St. Paul found comfort and hope in God and reassures us that He can deliver us from even the greatest of sufferings. 2 Corinthians 1:8–11 (NIV84)

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.