The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6)

Transcription

1 Bishop Youssef

2 Introduction St. Paul continues his defense of himself and his ministry With such a glorious ministry described in chapter three, he does not get discouraged Instead he has renounced the use of deceitful tactics and openly proclaims the truth (1-2) If the gospel seems veiled, it is only to those whom Satan has blinded so they might not see the light of the gospel (3-4)

3 Introduction St. Paul is simply preaching Christ Jesus as Lord and considers himself as a servant for their sakes He humbly realizes that it is God who has shone in his heart so he might share that light of the gospel with others (5-6) As magnificent this "treasure" is, he is simply an "earthen vessel"

4 Introduction He experiences great suffering, but he knows that God allows it so that the "life of Jesus" (the power of God) might be manifested in his mortal body, and that such grace from God might cause much thanksgiving g to the glory of God (7-15) He does not lose heart because his inward man is renewed daily knowing that affliction is light and temporary compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits him, and by keeping his focus on things which are unseen but eternal (16-18) 18)

5 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) This ministry: The ministry of the Spirit and of Life; of the new covenant Although St. Paul was a persecutor, Christ had mercy on him and called him to the ministry Hence, he will preach the gospel in boldness of speech and action, and patience in suffering, though meeting trouble and persecution This glorious ministry was under no veil and was not hidden

6 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) Its ministers must turn away from all dishonest practices or teachings St. Paul intends to rebuke the false and deceitful teachers who sought to bring the Corinthians under the old Jewish covenant Shame would lead to hiding (2 Cor 4:3); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" (2 Cor 3:12); "by manifestation of the truth."

7 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) His enemies not only resorted to slander, but perverted the word of the Lord by adulterating it with the elements of the law and false ideas Commending: recommending ourselves: recurring to 2 Cor 3:1, to the judgment of every man's conscience-(2 Cor 5:11) Not to men's carnal judgment; in the sight of God-(2 Cor 2:17; Gal 1:10)

8 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) He has shown that there is no veil in Christ (2 Cor 3:16), and declared that he preached not things hidden by a veil (2 Cor 3:2) But the Judaizing opponents replied that his gospel was as much veiled to them as he said that the law was veiled to the Jews He replies that it is only veiled to the lost, who are blinded by the god of this world The god of this world is Satan (John 12:31,40)

9 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) By his devices he blinds the eyes of men so they should not see the light of gospel He who would see God may see Him in the face of Christ (John 14:9) We have no self-seeking seeking sins in preaching, but only seek to preach Christ Jesus, the Lord We know that St. Paul's preaching was perverted by his detractors

10 The Light of Christ s Gospel (4:1-6) He called on the disciples to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1, 4:16, 7:6), and they asserted that he preached himself Instead he made himself the servant of all for Christ's sake (1 Cor 9:19) For God, who created light Gen 1:3, has shone in our hearts by bringing to us the light of the gospel Knowledge is light, the glory of God is revealed in His Son, who has shown to us the Father

11 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) We have the treasure of the knowledge of Christ and of the ministry of life, in earthen vessels Perhaps his enemies pointed to his sorrows as a proof that he was not favored as an apostle A splendid treasure was placed in a fragile, cheap earthen vessel Then it was manifest that the great work wrought was the power of God, and not from us, the apostles and evangelists

12 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) In verses 8 and 9 are four pairs of contrasts which show the frailty of the instruments and the greatness of the power Pressed on every side, but not hemmed in by the pressure Perplexed in the overwhelming difficulties, but never reduced to despair Persecuted by their enemies, but not forsaken and delivered over to them

13 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) Overthrown and cast to the earth, but even then rescued from the enemy, standing over them, so that they are not destroyed Always bearing sufferings and danger of death, as the Lord died, so that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body So that not only we will overcome the death but we may carry the life which the Lord gives to others

14 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) In constant suffering and peril of death, the apostle was the messenger of life The ministers of the gospel were always exposed to death to bear the precious charge of life to men Also St. Paul regards his preservation amidst so many exposures to death, as a standing miracle

15 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) The ever present threats of death, were the means of life to the believers The life whereof we witness in our bodily dying, extends beyond ourselves, and is brought, by our very dying, to you. Yet in spite of all the sufferings and peril described, we preach right on Like the psalmist we are moved by the power of faith (Ps 116:10)

16 Cast Down but Unconquered (4:7-15) Assured that we shall all be raised and stand together before the Lord, we preach This is our faith, if we die for Christ God will raise us The result of our suffering, our dying daily, and the glorious hope, is that the thanksgiving of multitudes of the believers should multiply to the glory of God

17 Seeing the Invisible (4:16-18) Moved by faith, hope, the love of souls, and desire for the glory of God, we do not for a moment lose hope and relax our efforts Though our body waste away under the trials, or is threatened with death, the immaterial nature in contrast with the material body, Rom 7:22 Eph 3:16, is renewed day by day His spiritual strength is constantly renewed by Christ

18 Seeing the Invisible (4:16-18) Great as his afflictions were, he calls them light in view of the glorious reward they will bring; continual as they were, he speaks of them as but for a moment in view of eternity They were the more easily borne for they bring a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Bearing the cross weaves an eternal crown Sorrows endured for Christ s sake prepare for eternal joys

19 Seeing the Invisible (4:16-18) Our eyes are fixed on the unseen things, the glory that the flesh cannot behold Hence, we turn away from present afflictions as momentary, as belonging to the seen and the transient, and only regard them as adding to the weight of our unseen, eternal joys All material things, and all that the world values, are perishing

20 Seeing the Invisible (4:16-18) All things of sense (the strength of man and the glory of Corinth, even the visible heavens and the earth) shall pass away But the things which the senses do not see, but which faith reveals: God, heaven, the unseen spirit, are eternal Let the eye be turned upon the unseen, rather than the things of sense

21 Conclusion In verse 3, to whom the gospel is veiled? In verse 7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels", what is meant by treasure and earthen vessels? In verse 11, "For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus", explain why. In verse 16, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Compare between the outwardly man and inwardly man. In verse 16, why we should not lose heart?