Untitled Sermon

Hear now, the words of the living and the true God:

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. 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.

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.

Read Passage and Pray (3:00)

Our text today begins saying “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” That leads us to the question: “What is the treasure that Paul is referring to? Well, as we look back at the first 6 verses of the chapter we see that Paul is discussing the Gospel ministry, given to him by God, namely “what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” This is the treasure of which Paul is speaking. It is the message that though God created a good and sinless world, man has rebelled against God, disobeying his commands. In this disobedience, humanity is now subject to difficulties in this life and to death, for Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” And there is an appointed day of judgment, and on that day, each one of us will receive the just penalty for our sins. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4). God did this in the person of Jesus, who, being eternally God, took on flesh, living the righteous life we could not and dying the death we deserve, bore the wrath of God for all our sin and was raised from the death so that we would be saved if we confess that we are sinners and believe in him as our only way of escape from the justice of God that we are due for our sin. Instead of receiving punishment, we will receive eternal life and rest with God. THAT IS THE GLORIOUS TREASURE OF WHICH PAUL SPEAKS!

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay.” It is in this phrase that we see the first of two contrasts: Treasure and clay. Treasure is valuable. It is desired. Clay is common. It is not considered valuable. It can be used for honorable or dishonorable uses, as Paul says in Romans 9, though he is using the analogy in a different context. It can be used to store treasure or filth. What is inside it can be unique and treasured, though the clay itself is common.

The second contrast is a bit more subtle, though it is derived from the same imagery. We see it in as we read the whole verse: “But we have this treasure in Jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The contrast is a comparison of God to humanity. God has surpassing power, and man, like jars of clay is fragile. By filling us, as brittle and common jars with his treasure, surpassing power, and eternal life, he highlights his power and mercy in contrast to our weakness.

And it seems that these contrasts are confirmed as we finish the paragraph, which says, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” It is in these pairs that Paul draws out the idea that Paul is getting at with his pottery imagery. If you were to drop a piece of pottery, say a mug or a vase, it would break into many pieces. If you put something in a vice or a press, it would be crushed, would it not? What Paul is saying, is that the treasure in us, which is the Gospel and life and death of Jesus prevents the expected result.

It seems to me that Paul has persecution for the sake of the faith in mind here, for two reasons

1) He mentions Persecution in the series of couplets.

2) Verse 11 says, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.”

Persecution was something which Paul was familiar with. The Story of Paul begins in Acts 6 and 7 as he presides over death of the first Christian martyr and began to lead a wave of persecution. He put people in prison for their message about Jesus, and Acts 9 tells us that he was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” But on his way to persecute Christians in Damascus he is converted and then becomes the victim of persecution himself. He details his suffering later on in 2 Corinthians 11, saying that he had been imprisoned, beaten countless times, whipped, and stoned, not to mention all the other dangers he faced.

But, this persecution, he says, is not without purpose, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.” It is in our suffering, in being persecuted, in some cases to the point of death that the contrast of the mortality of our flesh and the new spiritual life that we have is made evident. You see, when we believe in the Lord Jesus as our only hope to escape the wrath that we are due, the old person dies and we are made a new creation. This is what baptism symbolizes. Going down into the water symbolizes dying with Jesus, while being brought up out of the water symbolizes being born again and the resurrection that we will receive at the end of all things. It is in suffering that the one who is a new creature in Christ does not look like the world any longer. Turn with me to Galatians 5:19.

READ GALATIANS 5:19-24.

You see, what Paul is saying is that in suffering in particular, the new nature that we have been given is highlighted. The life that Christ has given us is made evident, such that when we are afflicted we are not crushed. When we are perplexed we are not driven to despair. When struck down we are not destroyed. Though this may seem strange, because he says “we who live are constantly being given over to death” and I really do think he means a literal death. Even though the Christian may be killed, we are not overcome. Though we die, we yet live, because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Though the forces of evil would seek to break your spirit, you rejoice in the Lord, because this mortal life and death are not the end. And therefore, his surpassing power is put on display in our suffering for the sake of righteousness.

But as we get to verse 12, it seems to me that there is a turning point in the text. Paul says here, “so death is at work in us, but life in you.” We must be careful with this statement, because it does sound, in a way like the work that Jesus did: dying so that we might live. But this is not what is in view here. What he means by “death is at work in us” is found both in the verses just before. “The death at work in us” is best understood as the suffering for righteousness’ sake that Paul and his companions are enduring – even up to and including death. But then what is the life at work in the Corinthian church he is writing to? It seems that the answer lies in verses 13-15.

READ 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-15

This section contains 2 keys to understand the life that is at work in the Corinthian church.

1) The first key is the definition of what life Paul is talking about. This life is the Gospel of Jesus and the eternal life that he gives. They speak of what they believe – that the one justified by faith, though he dies, yet shall be raised up with Paul and with Christ on the last day.

2) The second key is to understanding this understanding why life is at work in them. This is found in verse 15 that we find the why: “For it is all for your sake.” But what is the “it?” By “it,” Paul means his suffering – his dying. His suffering, his dying, demonstrates that he is but a common and fragile jar of clay, but the life and the fruit of the Spirit which God has wrought in him puts on full display the surpassing power of God! In his suffering, the greatness of God is put on display so that Grace would extend to more and more people – namely the grace of Salvation. What a glorious purpose there is for the saints who suffer and die on account of the faith!

It is this that leads me into the thrust of this sermon: The reasons that we suffer.

The first purpose Paul gives is that we suffer so that others might find grace and life in Jesus Christ! Our dying leads to their living! Our enduring hope even in the suffering and the dying causes the world to scratch their heads and desire an answer for the hope that lies within us, as Peter says. It is often through persecution and martyrdom that those who once were tormenters find salvation in Jesus Christ. It was through the suffering and imprisonment of Paul that the whole imperial guard heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But I would argue that receiving salvation is not the only form of grace received through suffering. When we look at Philippians 1 we see that through the suffering and imprisonment that Paul endured, Christians were encouraged. They were emboldened to preach the gospel. In the books of Acts we see that the apostles and the church rejoiced that they suffered for the sake of Christ.

The second purpose that Paul gives for our suffering is found at the end of verse 15, “So that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” It is in our suffering and more and more people receiving grace that God gets glory. His surpassing power is put on display, so he receives glory. The fruit of the spirit is made evident in his people, so he receives glory for the change he brings about in us. His saving mercy is poured out on his people so he receives glory!

It is in light of grace being extended that Paul says, “So we do not lose heart.” In the suffering there is good that is coming out it. It is benefiting others and bringing glory to God. And it seems, drawing on the themes of jars of clay containing a treasure that is powerful, Paul says, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” What he is pointing out that a reason that we do not lose heart is because of the renewal God is bringing about each and every day in the hearts of his people. His mercy is new every morning. Every day is a new opportunity to rejoice in the Lord, no matter our circumstances. Every day we are upheld by the word of Jesus’ power. Every day God provides our physical needs. Every day, he gives us a way of escape. Every day he gives us grace to go through the troubles of the day. “Our inner self is being renewed day by day, so we do not lose heart.”

I think it is worth noting that Paul seems to broaden the kind of sufferings which we endure through the words “wasting away.” Though we are subjected to suffering and destruction for the sake of righteousness, we are also subjected to suffering of another sort: suffering resulting from living in a fallen world. This kind of suffering includes, sickness, death, natural disasters, and so much more.

It is of these two categories of suffering that Paul speaks when he says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” This is the third purpose of suffering: God is preparing glory for you in suffering. Not only do other people benefit from your suffering. Not only does God get glory from your suffering. He has designed things in such a way that your suffering is actively preparing glory for you in eternity! And this benefit is so great that he is saying, though your affliction is real and is painful, in comparison to the glory awaiting us, the affliction is LIGHT and the Glory is HEAVY. This certainly is wonderful promise, though difficult to wrap our heads around, particularly when we are dealing with pain and grief. But Paul isn’t just saying nice and flowery words which don’t help the hurting person. No, this is a man who is acquainted with suffering. Paul is lived through great suffering. He endured beatings, imprisonment, stoning, slander, shipwrecks, and many other dangers. His friends endured sickness. Paul was martyred. And yet, he says, “Do you see this?! Do you see this pain, this suffering, being beaten nearly to death? It’s NOTHING compared to what God is doing! It is not without purpose, even though it might look like it!” And this message is not coming to you from someone who has not suffered. In fact, my wife and I recently came out of nearly 2 years of suffering and grief. We lost our first child through miscarriage. We each lost a grandparent. We both lost our jobs and could not get work for 6 months. But God. But God, even in our sorrow and despair helped us to endure. It was because of this we could minister to another friend that miscarried. It was through all this that friends came to us and were encouraged by our faith – even though we experienced periods of great confusion and despair. God was doing something in these things, and I was faced with living out what I knew this text said, even when it didn’t feel true.

So what will you do when suffering comes for you if it has not already? What will you do when your throat closes with pain and grief so you can’t even squeak out any words as we sing praises to God? Will you as Paul says, “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen?” Will you remember the transient nature of this life, but the eternal life we will inherit after this one, along with the sweet reunions and glory we will experience there? I know I look forward to that day, just as Paul did. I look forward to the day when there will be no more tears, nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have will have passed away.

Now I understand that this may feel like a merely theological purpose for our suffering, but what about right now? Is there any purpose for it? Yes, yes there is. When we look back at the story of Joseph found in Genesis, we read that his brothers sold him into slavery, and while in slavery his master’s wife falsely accused him of attempted rape, so he ended up in prison. He was there for years, and even when he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh’s cup bearer upon release, Joseph was forgotten. I can imagine that he was crying out to God asking “Why?!? Why am I here?!? Why did you let this happen.” Then the Pharaoh had a dream that needed interpreting and Joseph was brought out of prison, made second in command over the nation and prevented the nation of Egypt and many others from starving in a famine. And that included his family. When his brothers were afraid that he would seek revenge, he reassures them in Genesis 50, saying, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Joseph saw, though much later in life, God was accomplishing the practical purpose of saving people from starvation. He also was preserving the nation of Israel, from whom Jesus would be born. So, in time, you may be able to see some of the practical purposes God has in your suffering.

But sometimes, we don’t get to see them, like Job. He had everything stripped away from him and he had no idea why. He correctly maintained that he had not brought calamity on himself because of sin, and God should not be punishing him, as he frequently offered sacrifices to God to atone for any sin he knew of, and perhaps those he and his family might have committed. He despairs and questions God’s treatment of him. And when God finally answers, the crux of the message was, “Job, I am God, you are not. I am wise and powerful, but you are ignorant and weak.” He gets no other answer in the book for the reasons behind his suffering.

I cannot guarantee whether you will see the practical things that God is doing in your suffering, but you can be confident that he is. You can be confident that he will bring grace to others, that his name will be glorified, and you will receive glory for the suffering you endure through opposition for the sake of righteousness and from the natural sufferings of a fallen world which is awaiting the day of redemption.

I hope that you are encouraged today by this, but, I want to give you a few warnings:

First, the suffering which we are promised is bringing grace and glory is limited to that which we suffer on account of righteousness and that which is inherent to living in a fallen world. This does not include the suffering that you may endure as a consequence of your own sin. This is forbidden in 1 Peter 3:17 as we read, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” Hebrews 12 tells us that God reproves and disciplines us for our sin, which is for our good, but that kind of suffering is not what Paul has in view here.

The second warning that I would offer is that the promise of this passage is only for those whom have turned from their sin and put their trust in Jesus Christ to rescue them from sin. For we are told in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes. If you do not love God, if you have not turned to him for forgiveness, the sufferings you endure in this life are not working for your good, but I do not want this to remain true of you. Please, come talk to Kenny or myself and we will help you understand more about how to follow Jesus. We desire that everyone here would be among those who receive the grace and mercy of God.

Lets Pray.