Not Seen

Faithful disciples of Christ often face persecution. We are capable of enduring these trials when we focus on that which is not seen and avoid any fixation on the temporal.

You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.

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2 Corinthians 4:7-18

If we believe in Christ, we preach Him, not ourselves
Because we are servants for His sake
And we preach at His command
Just as His glorious light has shined in our hearts
We want to reflect that light to others around us

Those are the thoughts in the context of our passage of the day
Which encourages us to consider what we are
And how “what we are” influences our ministry

It goes on to discuss our vision
How we should avoid a fixation on the temporal
And strive toward those things that are “Not Seen”
Which is our theme
From 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

It’s a longer passage than usual today
The text covers a lot of ground
From our status as earthen vessels
To our persecution for Jesus’ sake
To the resurrection power of Christ working in us
Concluding with our eyes being set on the eternal

The Apostle Paul speaks to the church at Corinth here
It’s his second letter addressed to their church in the New Testament
There’s a lot of theological detail in this letter
But we’ll also find it quite practical

Let’s take it section by section…

2 Corinthians 4:7

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Believers understand their place in God’s work reading this
The passage calls us jars of clay
Just earthen vessels
But God has chosen to place His great treasure within us
His Spirit, His word, and His gospel message

But having this treasure in jars of clay works to our benefit
In that, we see for ourselves, that anything eternally done is by His power
It cannot be of us

Certainly enduring hardship is not of us…

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 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.

This is a weighty, but encouraging three verses
Weighty, because they remind every disciple of Christ that persecution is near
Whether directly on our doorstep, like those in this text
Or on the horizon, like many who live in free countries such as our own

The encouragement is in knowing that this persecution does not destroy us
His power remains within these earthen vessels
And God remains in control
We may be troubled
We may be perplexed
We may be persecuted
We may be cast down
But God continues to use us
And we go on

The severity of these trials may be great
They certainly were for Paul
But remember, our Savior suffered a violent, unjust death
And it’s possible (often likely) that His followers will face similar

He displayed His power in the resurrection
And we have the hope of the resurrection as His children

There is more…

2 Corinthians 4:11-14

11 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.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 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;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Let’s read a restatement of this passage from the ESV…

“For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”

Believers in Christ were facing relentless persecution
Some were put to death for their faith in Jesus
Paul himself bore marks in his body that were not so unlike those that Christ bore
From stonings and beatings he endured

The constant threat Paul, and some others were under, resembled the threat Christ faced
Yet they continued speaking for Him
Because the power that raised Christ was also at work in them

In all these hardships, Paul and others reflected Christ
Glorified Him in how they lived and how they responded to the threat of death
The next two verses expand on this…

2 Corinthians 4:15-16

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

So much in this section is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural
How can men, in constant danger and under constant threat
Often facing the harshest punishments
Remain hopeful and undeterred?
Not fainting (that is, losing courage or becoming weary)
Instead, being renewed inwardly every day?

It must be because they knew the facts…

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 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.

Whatever the persecution, it was temporary
Whatever the hardship, it was nothing compared to the glory upcoming
Knowing the wonder of eternal salvation
Knowing the riches of heaven
To be with Jesus
And knowing the rewards that await the faithful
There was perspective to be gained

Believers must look ahead to that which is not seen with the eyes
To that which is beyond
That which can only be seen with eyes of faith
Eternal things that await us in heaven
That are a result of God’s grace
And God’s empowerment to endure, continuing to preach the gospel
No matter the earthly cost

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