2 Corinthians 4:1-18

(2 Corinthians 4:1-18)

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 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. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  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.  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. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 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; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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.  

 

Chapter 4 explains that the glory of God is not in the law or in man, but in Jesus Christ. Those who opposed the Corinthian Church with misunderstandings of Paul's teaching and ministry were those who insisted that the law be kept according to the Jewish tradition. They were still guilty of incest in the open culture of Corinth, without a proper understanding of Christian norms (food, sex, marriage, and legal proceedings), bound to the law.

In fact, Paul made a second visit to the Corinthian church because of these complex problems. No one recorded it in Acts, but by referring to the third visit in 2 Corinthians (12:14; 13:1-2), we can infer that there was a heartbreaking visit. In particular, because it was Paul's heartbreaking visit, he even decided not to go again. As a result, the apostle Paul sent Titus to the church to learn more about what was happening and try to solve the problem c. Paul, who wrote 1 Corinthians at Ephesus, went to Troas and waited to hear Titus' news.

When Titus' arrival was delayed, due to a prostrate, Paul moved to Macedonia and waited. Eventually, Paul met Titus in Macedonia and heard the news of the solution to the problems in the Corinthian church, the conversion and repentance of those who opposed Paul.
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in Macedonia during his third outreach.

In this context, the Apostle Paul, through Chapter 4, helped to re-establish grace and mission for the members of the Corinthian church, despite the numerous conspiracy and wounds he received during his second visit. we have received mercy, we faint not; 』Here, the job is to be a worker of the new covenant. Office means to serve or serve.

Hence, office is a mission given to those who are favored by God's mercy. When one becomes the master of grace and office, it is false, obscures the gospel, and blinds the heart so that the splendor of the gospel of Christ's glory cannot be seen. Hence, Paul firmly defines the purpose of the office. 『For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. Through this, Paul makes it clear that the master of grace and office is God, not man.

Second, Paul used two pictorial languages for the purpose of this clear office. 『But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Two words to pay attention to are jewelry and earthenware. The light of knowing glory is the gem. Glory means the eternal light that reveals God, and that light is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, who is the jewel, lives with the saints who are weak and worthless, like earthenware. Moreover, it is okay if the saints are frustrated and persecuted because of Jesus Christ as jewel, Paul says. At the same time, it is mentioned that the privilege of the earthenware containing the jewel is the mission.

『 "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." To carry Jesus' death on the body means to sacrifice. It is because the life of Jesus, which will come after the death of the sacrifice, is intended to appear to the saints who are like earthenware in charge. Just as it was because of the victory of resurrection that the cross of Jesus Christ broke the power of sin and death, when we participate in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, we also participate in the glory of the resurrection.

Finally, the Apostle Paul gave his final exhortation, 『For which cause we faint not』. Those who have been given offices through grace live with jewels in earthenware. For them, the outer man keeps getting old, but the inner man is renewed every day, and those in charge of offices do not tremble in the tribulations they receive for a while and think of the importance of eternal glory. What Christians in office pay attention to is not things that disappear in a moment, but eternal.

The apostle Paul said, "We preach that we preach that Christ Jesus is Lord." People cry out to be Jesus Christ, but has Christ become their Lord? People say they believe in Christ Jesus. It is accepted because on the cross, people's sins were redeemed. It means that all merits were accomplished on the cross.

By the way, it means that Jesus becomes Lord only to those who repent. Man cannot add anything that Christ has accomplished on the cross. Actions such as human good works and any effort cannot be added. But when Jesus is the Lord, acts of faith come out as fruit. It is not an action that adds to the faith, but an action that comes from the Lord Jesus. This makes us experience.

Many people say they believe in Christ Jesus, but how many people will be the Lord? Jesus said, "Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, does not go to heaven." The reason why they cannot confidently say, "Christ is my Lord" in front of people, is probably because there is something they are reluctant to do. More realistically, it may be "I don't want Christ Jesus to be my Lord." We always stand at the crossroads between the minds of the Spirit and the minds of the flesh. Humans think, and thoughts constantly spring up. Thought comes up through some experiential memory or suddenly someone instills it, but when Satan instills it, if you don't stand in the thoughts of the Holy Spirit like Eve, you fall.

If we can't discern our thoughts, we all fall. Thought must have its source. The thoughts of the soul constantly rise, but the thoughts of the Holy Spirit from the Lord are not. However, when the thought of the Lord comes to mind as the source, the Lord works in that thought. To do so, Christ Jesus must be Lord. Otherwise, it is not a place where the Holy Spirit is present, but merely a human body. The same goes for the church. It is clearly revealed like light and darkness.

When we share our thoughts through the Lord's words, the Lord gives us wisdom, but when we are immersed in Satan's thoughts, we become involved in Satan's strategy. No matter what circumstances come, we must judge whether this is a thought from the Lord or a thought that is pleasing to the Lord. But when we try to answer Satan's questions, we become like Eve. So we have to react sensitively.

What we preach is that Christ is Lord. This leads to salvation. Peter believed in Christ Jesus for three years. Peter confessed, "You are the Christ and the Son of the living God." But he couldn't say that Jesus was "Lord." Because he did not know the meaning of repentance. Repentance is a change of identity. Repentance is the transition from one's own master to Christ's servant. Peter experienced all kinds of miracles and wonderful sights, but Christ did not become Lord. Because Peter didn't know what it meant for Christ Jesus to die on the cross. Christ Jesus cannot be Lord to us until we repent. Jesus said after three years, "Tonight you will all abandon me." Since Christ Jesus was not the Lord, the master of the flesh himself believed in Jesus according to the heart given by the flesh.