4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy,
we
don't faint.
We Minister with a Clear Conscience
4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame,
not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves
to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
We Shine the Light in the Darkness
4:3 Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving,
that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God, should not dawn on them.
4:5 For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;
4:6 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness,"(Gen
1:3) who has shone in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ.
Our Dying Reveals Jesus' Life
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels,
that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from
ourselves.
4:8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not
to despair;
4:9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
4:10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
4:12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
Our Words Reveal Our Convictions
4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written,
"I believed, and therefore I spoke." (Ps 116:10) We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
4:14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with
Jesus, and will present us with you.
4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace,
being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound
to the glory of God.
Our Hope is Set Upon Eternal Glory
4:16 Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man
is decaying,
yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
4:17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment,
works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
4:18 while we don't look 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.
Discussion Questions
vs 1 How would you complete the phrase for yourself: "Since through
God's mercy we have this ministry, therefore ..."?
vs 2 What are examples of distortions of the Word of God?
Contrast the manner in which the world advertises it products with
the way in which Paul does.
vs 3-6 To what extent is it our fault if people do not understand
or receive the gospel message?
vs 7-12 In what ways do you feel limited in your circumstances
and resources hindering you from your ministry. And what sources of hostility
might you face? Now question the same of Jesus and his ministry. How might
you indentify with Jesus in these? In what way is the manner in which you
do ministry also part of its message?
vs 13-15 What kind of speaking resulted from you believing,
or what kind of speaking would you expect? What kind of speaking was Paul
talking about? (Just to other Christians, or also to unbelievers in evangelism?)
vs 16-18 What unseen thing in the future are you looking forward
to that encourages you to endure in the application of your faith?
Comments
vs 1 What is the application of the fact that God has entrusted
to us his ministry of the gospel of grace? As we saw in 3:12, BOLDNESS
was an application. And here in 4:1, not losing heart but enduring in the
ministry is another application. Attitude is an application.
vs 2 Not only attitude, but also the manner in which we carry
out the ministry is an application of our faith. What techniques do we
use to carry out the ministry? Do we do it in the same manner which the
world teaches us? The world promotes its products by making false claims
playing on people fleshly desires. Yes indeed, that is how the gospel is
often presented by many today. But Paul is not deceptive. He does not distort
the Word of God to make it sound more appealing. He talks straight and
frankly of the truth, with a clear conscience. "we do not write you
anything you cannot read or understand." 2Cor 1:13 (niv)
vs 3-6 However, even given the fact that he speaks plainly and
clearly, yet still there are many who don't get it. Understanding the significance
of the gospel with our mind is essential to receiving it. Those who are
blind to the gospel don't recognize Christ for who he is.
Light to shine out of darkness is probably reference to the creation
of Genesis 1:3 and John 1:5
"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The
light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
John
1:4,5
And notice the similarities Paul points out between Christ and Christian
ministry.
vs 7-12 Just as Christ came in human form to deliver the message,
so the message is delivered by ordinary men today. Just as Christ experienced
persecution and difficulties and reacted appropriately so also these should
be common experiences of the Christian minister. Yet we should endure through
these.
Heb 12:3"Consider him who endured such opposition
from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
What is the dying of our Lord Jesus that we carry around with us?
We are compressed in our circumstances to minister but not compressed in
our spirit.
Ps 118:5"I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD
answered me, and set me in a large place." (kjv)
2Ti 2:9for which I am suffering even to the point
of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
We are without many resources to minister yet having sufficient resources.
We are persecuted by many for ministering, yet not abandoned by all.
We are put down for ministering, but not put away
Ministering Christ is not alway comfortable or convenient. To minister
life we often experience death. You find that even finding circumstances
to minister Christ to be limited. You're limited in your circumstances.
You're limited in your resources. But then again it doesn't take many resources.
All you need is five loaves and two fish. You'll find that your unappreciated
and even persecuted for ministering Christ and that your main enemies are
often religious leaders and the religious "elite" even in Christendom.
You will be put down, humilated, but not put away. For in all these not
only do we experience the dying of Christ, but also his resurrection.
vs 13-15 Can we believe and not speak? Having heard the gospel,
can we remain silent? Or perhaps we speak to other Christians who believed,
but do we cower in the corner when it comes to speaking the gospel to non-Christians?
Indeed, evangelism is evidence of salvific faith. For there are many who
claim to believe, but then don't speak. Such faith is a dead faith, having
no fruitfulness. And I rebuke pastors who demand that preaching be limited
to themselves as the Westminister catecism proposes. Who demand that their
congregations not preach the gospel, but rather simply invite people to
church. For they discourage the application of true faith. "I believed
therefore I spoke" applies to all Christians and not an elite few.
But the application of "speaking" goes beyond just evangelism. For if
we go back into the context of Ps 116:10 from which Paul derived this phrase,
the psalmist was crying out to God in faith concerning his affliction that
God would deliver him. So also not only out of faith do we speak to men,
but also out of faith we speak to God to obtain deliverance. For everyone
who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. In particular Paul is
speaking here of our resurrection from the dead. It is for this reason
that he doesn't despair despite the trials and afflictions. For God is
gracious and by faith we have hope in the future God has for us. And so
we love God and appreciate Him by speaking of His grace.
vs 16-18 Hope in the future is the basis of Christian encouragement
and endurance. There is an eternal glory to be gained. And Paul is not
simply speaking of his own glory, but glory for God as he had said in verse
15. And though "We live by faith, not by sight."2Cor 5:7
Yet we do fix our eyes of faith on what is unseen. It is true that what
is seen is temporary. Everyone dies eventually. Yet most people live for
this life. Life is vain if it does not continue to eternity. Yet only Christians
can really look forward to the future.