Continued Discussion on Trials

Review

2 Corinthians 4 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone 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 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.

Last week we discussed Paul’s perspective on trials. One of the challenges that he was dealing with was an attack on his character and motivations for ministry. If we can place ourselves in his shoes we can relate to the pain he must have felt. He had invested his life into starting churches and spreading the gospel only to see his labors seemingly undone by those who disagreed with him.

As we worked our way through 2 Cor 4 we noticed that Paul made a statement about continuing in the face of opposition by maintaining a proper perspective. At the beginning of the chapter and again at the end he said “we do not lose heart”. In other words, Paul was reminding his readers that in order to stay in the fight there are some important truths that we must internalize.

We looked at.....

I. The Task

Paul has been given a ministry by the mercy of God to proclaim the gospel in a way that is above reproach. Methods of man have not been employed in order to more effectively achieve the desired results.

Renounced disgraceful and underhanded ways

Refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word

Proclaiming the truth and letting the results belong to God -

2 Corinthians 4:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

II. The Treasure

The treasure was the glorious gospel that shined into our hearts. Like what God did in creation, he took the initiative and revealed his Son vs 6... “let light shine out of darkness...to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”

2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV 1900

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.

what an amazing thought and what an amazing treasure

God goes right to our hearts - Satan blinds the mind

There is a difference....

Philippians 4:7 ESV

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Mind - the word has the sense of thinking or more specifically how we think - it is our intellect

Heart - This goes deeper - somewhere at the core - May be where we get the phrase ...“the heart of the matter”

Have we lost sight of God’s revelation - have we lost sight of the importance of this treasure that we have?

Why do you think Paul would be reminding them of this treasure?

III. The Tabernacle

2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Another amazing truth is that the highly prized treasure is placed into a rather valueless earthen vessel.

So that God’s power can be revealed and no glory can be traced to any human source

Psalm 103:14 (KJV 1900)

For he knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.

IV. The Trials

2 Corinthians 4:8–13 ESV

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,

Affliction and trials abound in the christian life - afflicted, perplexed, persecuted

Death in us for life in others - Paul takes the perspective that his suffering if for the good of those he is ministering to

Paul speaks about this in another letter...

Philippians 1:12–30 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 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. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

V. The Target

After describing the challenge Paul now turns to the solution. This section of his writing takes on more of an application tone as he provides instruction.

2 Corinthians 4:14–18 NKJV

14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

notice how he starts....

A. The reality of our resurrection (vs14)

Paul’s focus was on the eventual final transformation that will release us from the weight of trials “will raise us up with Jesus”

He reminds us that God is faithful and trustworthy and has demonstrated this by raising Christ from the dead

B. The reality of our reduction

Paul, speaking of our flesh describes it as “our outward man is perishing”

The curse of sin has affected all aspects of our world and that is true of our own flesh as well!

We must keep this reality in mind as we wrestle with our Christian identity

Romans 7:24 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

C. The reality of our renewal

“renewed day by day”

“working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

Isaiah 40:30–31 ESV

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Paul describes what we should be looking at….

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 ESV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.