Sunday, 15 January 2012
II Corinthians 4 and 5: Treasure and Reconciliation.
Paul credits God's mercy for the success of the ministry, therefore he and his companions do not lose heart. Rather, states Paul, "we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God." Unlike the false teachers of the day, Paul communicates God's truth plainly. Paul explains that the unsaved may feel that the Gospel of Christ is veiled (concealed), but that is merely because the god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of Christ. For Christ is the image of God and Paul is a servant of Christ. Paul invokes a statement from Genesis chapter one, "Let light shine out of darkness." Likewise, God made the light of Christ shine in our hearts to provide us with the light of the glory of God via the face of Christ. Moses experienced the glory of God via the burning bush, we experience the glory of God via Christ. While Paul doesn't state the background of the 'false teachers' in Corinth, it is possible that some of them were Jewish and argued for a return to certain aspects of the law.
Beginning in verse seven Paul explains how the Gospel (treasure) is presented in jars of clay (the apostles) to show that the Power of the Gospel originates from God and not from themselves. The apostles (including Paul) are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not abandoned. Struck down, but not destroyed. "We carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." All Christ followers are images of Jesus and we all reveal His life in our lives. Paul makes an interesting statement in verse 12, "So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." Most commentators interpret Paul to be saying that they (the apostles) face constant persecution - eventually leading to their physical deaths - while the life-giving salvation of Jesus Christ is at work in the Corinthian (all) Christians.
Further evidence that Paul is referencing some Jewish arguments can be found in his quote of Psalm 116:10 in verse 13, "I believed, therefore I have spoken." Paul indicates that it is with that same spirit of faith that he believes and therefore speaks. Paul knows that God raised Christ from the dead, and he is compelled to communicate the Truth that all Believers will be raised (resurrected) as was Christ. Paul's message is for the benefit of the Corinthians, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. That is the reason Paul doesn't lose heart. Even though they (the apostles) may look weak physically, they are renewed day by day spiritually! Paul assures us that the short lived troubles that we endure are small when compared to the glory that outweighs them all. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Paul begins chapter five with a brief overview of our heavenly bodies. He compares our physical bodies to an earthly tent that is destroyed and is replaced by an eternal house in heaven. Meanwhile, Paul concedes, we groan, longing for our heavenly dwelling. We, as Christians, seek our complete and perfect Spiritual bodies, to be swallowed up in life. Even so, writes Paul, "Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. There we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight." Paul, like us at times, would prefer to e away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Christ. For concludes Paul, we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done (and the decisions made) while physically alive, whether good or bad.
The key theme of this passage can be summed up in verse 14, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." Since Christ died for all, we should no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who died and was raised again! This belief is what drives and motivates Paul. This is plain to Paul and Paul thinks it should be plain to us as well. So, concludes Paul, we will regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way (as simply a physical man), we do so no longer. Therefore, Paul writes in verse 17, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
All of this has transpired via God's plan. We, through the sin of Adam (and our own sin), were separated from God. We were helpless to repair this loss of relationship with God. (The purpose of the old testament law was to demonstrate our helplessness.) Yet even so, God reconciled us to Himself through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. Paul's message is a message of reconciliation. Paul considers himself an ambassador of God with a simply message from God: "We implore you on Christ's behalf. Be reconciled to God. God made Him (Jesus Christ) who had no sin, to be a sin offering for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." That is, through Christ we can re-establish a relationship with God!
Is is amazing to me God, that You would prepare a plan of salvation for me, even after I willfully sin against you. How incredible that you would send Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for my sin. And not only me, but a sacrifice for all he believe. God, I believe. I am grateful. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Take aways:
1) Christ died for all.
2) Through the sacrifice of Christ, we can be reconciled with God.
3) The ministry of Paul (and all the apostles) was to spread this plain, yet powerful plan.
