2 Corinthians Comfort and Thanksgiving in Affliction January 6, 2013

Transcription

1 2 Corinthians Comfort and Thanksgiving in Affliction January 6, 2013 Introduction Illustration: Charlie Brown Baseball never wins; Football never gets to kick it; Kite never flies, always in a tree; Red-headed girl never gets to meet Afflictions and weaknesses are a part of everyone s lives Open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 1 Inspiration: God has a blessing, a purpose and a partnership in our afflictions! Introduction to 2 Corinthians Author: Paul Date Written: A.D from Macedonia (Philippi) Subject: The provision of comfort and encouragement of joy in affliction and weakness as each believer becomes more and more like Jesus Christ Place in Scripture: 8th book of the New Testament; part of the Pauline Epistles Chapters: 13 Verses: 257 Average Reading Time: 38 minutes Main Chapters: 5 (Motives and Judgment Seat of Christ), 6 (Separation), 8-9 (Christian Giving), 12 (Thorn in the Flesh) Key Verse: 3:18, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Exegesis Salutation (1:1-2) o The salutation is a reminder that while this book is doctrinal and theological, it is a letter and therefore practical and personal (many feel it is the most personal of all of Paul s letters) o 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: 1

2 an apostle = Part of this letter is going to be a defense of Paul s ministry so he starts with an affirmation of his unique position in the church by the will of God = Paul s place in ministry is not by his decision, desire, education or experience church at Corinth = The church is the assembly of people this portion of the church is found in Corinth (about halfway between Athens and Sparta) Achaia = Peloponnese region of Greece {MAP} 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace peace = Paul s normal greeting (Greek/Hebrew) Comfort in Affliction (1:3-7) o 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. Blessing of comfort o 2 Corinthians 1:3, 5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, all comfort = God s comfort is able to meet every one of our afflictions because He is able 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. comfort is abundant = God s comfort is sufficient for every one of our sufferings because He is sufficient 2

3 o God s blessing of comfort is found in His comfort meeting every area of our suffering and being enough for every area of our suffering Purpose of affliction o 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. we will be able to comfort = meaningfully comfort others 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. sufferings of Christ = if we are to be like Christ, we need to strive to be like Him in all areas 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; for your comfort and salvation = our afflictions bring comfort to others they are not alone o God s purpose in affliction is that we would become like His Son, our Savior, and so be able to comfort others In order to see us transformed into the image of Jesus, God brings the blessing of comfort and the purpose of affliction into our lives Thanksgiving in Affliction (1:8-11) o 2 Corinthians 1: For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 3

4 Extent of affliction o 2 Corinthians 1: For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; burdened excessively = to be weighed down to an excessive degree cp. 2 Cor. 4:17 despaired even of life = utmost despair 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; sentence of death within = convinced that they were going to die 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, peril of death = their affliction was one able to lead them to death o Some afflictions may seem or be minor but God also brings His children into those afflictions that seem and are major even to the peril of death Deliverance from affliction o 2 Corinthians 1:10 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, delivered will deliver will yet deliver = God s deliverance may be past, future or present all of them or only one of them but it is sure o God s deliverance may be from or through our afflictions whatever will see us transformed into the image of Jesus Partnership in affliction o 2 Corinthians 1:11 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. joining in helping us = As already stated, our affliction, like our comfort, is intended to be a partnership believer 4

5 with believer, believer with Christ, believer with their Heavenly Father so that thanks = Thanksgiving comes by our partnership in prayer and affliction o No believer is ever alone in affliction and God never intended any believer to be alone We can give thanks In transforming us into the image of Jesus, God: never takes us into affliction beyond what is necessary, always provides deliverance as He knows we need, and has put us into a partnership for enduring our afflictions Response God has a blessing, a purpose and a partnership in our afflictions! As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to submit to the Master s work of comfort and thanksgiving in our lives even in affliction If you have never come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then this morning I would invite you Accept the blessing of God in your life Accept the purpose of His work in your life to see you become like His Son, Jesus As disciples of Jesus Christ Comfort others Pray for others deliverance AND transformation into the image of Jesus 5