Down But Not Out

                                                              Sunday School Lesson

Lesson: II Corinthians 4:2-15                                                                                                 
Golden Text: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 4:8-9).

I.  INTRODUCTION.  In this week’s lesson, we find that the gospel message is like a priceless gift that’s carried around in earthen vessels.  The power of the gospel message is not in human strength, but in God.  Human beings are by nature weak, and frail and merely earthen vessels.  Christians are like clay pots.  We have the privilege of carrying God’s powerful gospel message.  However, the glory, power and the recognition all belong to God.  Every Christian who ministers or shares the gospel has the joy of allowing God to work through them.

II. GOOD MINISTRY (II Corinthains 4:2-6).  According to II Corinthians 2:17, there were preachers in Paul’s day who were “peddling” God’s Word, preaching without understanding God’s message, or caring about what happened to their listeners.  They weren’t concerned about furthering God’s kingdom; they were only out for themselves.  As a result, some in the Corinthian church had questioned Paul’s apostolic authority.  But the fact that many Corinthians had been converted to Christ was evidence of the validity of Paul’s message.  God had made him a minister of the new covenant (see II Corinthians 3:1-6; Jeremiah 31:31-40; Hebrew 8:6-13).  After focusing on the new covenant (see II Corinthians 3:7-18), Paul returned to the theme of being an appointed minister of Christ (see II Corinthians 3:6).  Then in chapter 4 verse 1, Paul said “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.”  God through mercy had imparted the ministry of the new covenant (basically the gospel message of Jesus Christ) to Paul (see Acts 9:1-6, 15-16).  He wasn’t going to be hindered from this ministry by those who might question his reasons for preaching the gospel.  This is where our lesson begins.
A. Manifesting the truth (II Corinthians 4:2).  After stating in verse 1 that he and his fellow servants would not give up preaching, Paul said in this verse “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”  Some may have accused Paul and his associates of ministering in ways that were not honest.  In response Paul said “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully.”  The word “renounced” here means to disown.  Paul disowned anything in his life that was not completely honest and totally acceptable to God.  The word “dishonesty” means “shameful” or “disgraceful.”  It’s unfortunate that men and women of God are so affected by the world around them that they do shameful and disgraceful things disguised as ministry.  Paul said that he and his associates had disowned, or weren’t involved in this kind of behavior.  He also added that they were not “walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully.”   The term “craftiness” translates a word that means cleverness or cunning.  It’s usually used to refer to clever manipulation of words, people, or circumstances to accomplish one’s evil purpose.  Paul and his associates handled God’s Word truthfully and not deceitfully.  Instead of misusing God’s truth, they used it properly and declared it forcefully.  The last part of this verse says “but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”  In other words, since the Corinthians had trusted in Christ and were transformed by the gospel that Paul had spoken, their consciences bore witness to the truth of the message.  Their consciences would then recognize Paul as a true apostle of Christ.
B. Blinding the unbelievers (II Corinthians 4:3-4).
1. (vs. 3).  In this verse Paul says “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”  In Paul’s day as well as ours, the gospel message was “hid to them that are lost.”  In other words, the gospel is open or revealed to everyone except those who refuse to believe.  Since the lost refuse to believe the gospel, they have no way of understanding it.  The word “hid” means veiled or covered over. 
2. (vs. 4).  Paul goes on to say “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  The words “In whom” refer to the lost in verse 3 as well as to “them which believe not” in this verse.  The gospel is hidden to unbelievers because “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them.”  The god of this world is Satan.  Jesus called him “the prince of this world” (see John 12:31; 16:11).  Those who reject Christ have unknowingly made Satan their god.  Satan has blinded the unbeliever to prevent “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  The glorious gospel of Christ gives the light of salvation to the unsaved who are living in darkness.  Satan doesn’t want people to see the light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  He wants them to stay in spiritual darkness.
C. Preaching Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:5-6).
1. (vs. 5).  In this verse Paul says “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.”  Unlike some false preachers who were preaching to promote themselves (see II Corinthians 2:17), Paul declared “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.”  The focus of Paul’s preaching was Jesus Christ (see I Corinthians 1:17, 23).  He and his associates never tried to promote themselves in their preaching.  For them, everything was about Jesus.  Note:  When we witness, we should talk about what Christ has done, and not about our abilities or accomplishments.  People must be introduced to Christ, not to ourselves.  And if you hear someone preaching himself or his own ideas rather than Christ, beware---he or she is a false teacher.  So we witness, preach, and teach about Jesus, not our church, not our denomination, and certainly not our own spiritual attainments.  The apostle also said that he and his associates declared that they were the Corinthians’ “servants for Jesus' sake.”  Paul constantly presented himself as a servant of Jesus (see Romans 1:1) and therefore was a servant of all believers even those in Corinth.  As a servant, he served their interests and not his own.  Even though the believers in Corinth brought Paul many problems, he still served them as he served Christ.
2. (vs. 6).  Continuing, the apostle here said “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  The words “For God” are a reference to the source of the gospel message.  It’s as much God’s creation as the light He called into existence at the Creation.  As more proof of this, Paul said that just as God “commanded the light to shine out of darkness” at Creation (see Genesis 1:3), He also “shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  In other words, spiritual light comes from the knowledge of salvation that God has given to us.  Until that light shines in our hearts when we believe in Jesus Christ, we continue to live in spiritual darkness, separated from God.  The light of God’s knowledge and glory is revealed “in the face of Jesus Christ.”  This means that God and His glory is revealed to every believer in the Person of Jesus Christ (see John 14:9; I John 1:14, 48).
III. HARD TIMES (IICorinthians 4:7-12) 
A. We have treasure (II Corinthians 4:7).  Still speaking about God’s gospel, in this verse Paul said “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”  The apostle referred to the gospel message as a “treasure.”  A “treasure” is something of great value, worth lots of money.  This is what Paul had in mind.  As far as he was concerned, no price could be placed on the gospel of Jesus Christ, for when it’s received one’s eternal destiny is sure.  We normally keep our valuables in safe, secure places, but Paul declared that “this treasure,” the gospel, was kept in “earthen vessels” a metaphor used by Paul to refer to the human body.  The apostle likens our bodies to clay jars which were used to store all kinds of goods.  These clay jars were common in Paul’s day and were fragile, inexpensive and subject to be broken.  In the same sense, our bodies are weak and subject to breakage and death.  Even though we are weak, we are valuable to God, and in His sovereign will He chose to place His priceless treasure, the gospel, in inexpensive vessels, human beings.  He did this so that His gospel could be carried about and shared with others.  However, lest we become proud of our position as carriers of the gospel message, let’s not forget that carriers are all we are.  Paul declared that God uses frail human beings to share His message so that “the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”  In other words, our feeble human bodies continually show that the effective power that accompanies the preaching of the gospel comes totally from God and not us.  By using frail human servants, God demonstrates the greatness of His power.  The Greek word for “excellency” in this verse literally means “to throw beyond.”  It has the idea that God’s surpassing power is at work in and through weak human vessels as we share the gospel.  Our gospel message carries no power except as God provides.
B. We have suffering (II Corinthians 4:8-10). 
1. (vs. 8).  This verse says “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.”  Paul wrote about some of the things that he faced during his ministry and how God brought him through all of them victoriously. First, he said “We are troubled on every side.”  The term “we” refers to Paul and his companions.  The word “troubled” has the idea of being pressed in on all sides or being cornered.  Although “troubled,” Paul and his associates were “not distressed” meaning hemmed into a place so tight that he was unable to minister.  In spite of tensions that hindered his ministry, Paul was never reduced to the point that his ministry collapsed.  Second, the apostle said that they were “perplexed” which means bewildered or to be at a loss.  Some scholars interpret the word “perplexed” as being at a loss concerning what to do.  Others see it as at a loss concerning needed resources.  Paul may have been short of the supplies needed to do an adequate job in ministry.  Although they were “perplexed” or at a loss, they were “not in despair,” which means not utterly at a loss.  It’s interesting that the Greek words for “perplexed” and “despair” are from the same root word.  In essence Paul was saying he and his companions were “at a loss, but not a loss that couldn’t be overcome.”  There must have been many times when Paul thought that he wasn’t accomplishing much.  But as he thought about some of those trying times, he was glad he could say that he had never been in total despair.
2. (vs. 9).  Here Paul continued to say that they were also “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”  The word “Persecuted” translates a Greek word that means “to pursue.”  Paul was often pursued by his enemies hunted like a fugitive on more than one occasion (see Acts 14:5-6; 17:13).  But God had “not forsaken” him or abandoned him to his persecutors.  The apostle also said that they had been “cast down” or knocked down “but not destroyed” or ruined.  Each time Paul got up and kept going (see Acts 14:19-20).  He accepted his physical weakness because God’s strength was shown through his weaknesses (see II Corinthians 12:9-10).
3. (vs. 10).  In this verse Paul said “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.”  With the phrase “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” Paul was emphasizing the repeated sufferings which were directed against him in order to kill him.  All of the apostles were daily exposed to danger and death for Christ’s sake (see Romans 8:35-36; I Corinthians 15:31).  As representatives for Christ, the hatred that men had for Him was directed at them (see Acts 16:22-24).  Paul and his associates had suffered so that “the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”  As they preached the gospel, Paul and his fellow workers  not only shared  with Christ in their sufferings, but also demonstrated His life in their bodies (see Galatians 2:20).
B. We have life (II Corinthians 4:11-12).          
1. (vs. 11).  In this verse, Paul basically repeated the truth he gave in verse 10.  Here he said “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”  Again, with the phrase “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake” Paul was saying that he and his associates were subjected daily to the possibility of death for Jesus’ sake.  He also said that the purpose for this was that “the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”  In other words, God allowed them to experience this suffering in order that Jesus’ life might be manifested through their bodies.
2. (vs. 12).  Here the apostle comes to a conclusion as he said “So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”  What Paul was saying here is that their physical sufferings were for the benefit of the Corinthian believers as well as all God’s people (see II Timothy 2:10).  The word “us” refers to Paul and his associates who confronted death in order to minister to the Corinthians so that they might have life through receiving the gospel message.
IV. SOLID FAITH (II CORINTHIANS 4:13-15)            
A. Belief leads to speaking (II Corinthians 4:13-14).       
1. (vs. 13).  Now Paul says “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.”   Paul stated that he and his associates had the “same spirit of faith” meaning that they had the same great faith as the writer of Psalms 116 who also experienced great adversity.  In that Psalm, the psalmist who is unknown, had prayed for deliverance (see Psalms 116:4).  When his faith was validated by God’s deliverance (see Psalms 116:8), he had to express his thanksgiving (see Psalms 116:17).  However, with the phrase “according as it is written” Paul quoted the first part of Psalms 116:10: “I believed, and therefore have I spoken.”  The psalmist had been hounded by death too, but he persevered because he believed God.  Paul, just like the psalmist believed in God’s Word.  The psalmist had to speak after God delivered him, likewise Paul and his associates couldn’t remain silent about the gospel they believed so he said “we also believe, and therefore speak.”  He had to speak about what he believed in spite of his trials (see I Corinthians 9:16).                 
2. (vs. 14).  In this verse Paul continued to say “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.”  The word “Knowing” indicates that Paul was confident that God “which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus.”  Paul was willing to risk death in order to carry out his ministry because he believed that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, he would also raise him, his associates and the Corinthian believers from the dead.  This is also true of all believers.  It appears that Paul believed that Christ would return during his lifetime (see I Thessalonians 4:15), but if He didn’t, Paul was still confident of a future resurrection.  In addition, the apostle told the Corinthian believers that God also “shall present us with you.”  Paul was convinced that God would present him, all the apostles, the Corinthian believers and all other believers to Himself in the future.  This presentation will occur when the body of Christ, the church (see Ephesians 1:22-23) is given to Jesus Christ as His bride (see Ephesians 5:25-32) at the marriage of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:7-8).  Note:  The marriage of the Lamb also called the marriage supper of the Lamb, is the consummation of the marriage of Christ and the Church as His bride.  It follows the oriental pattern of marriage that covers three stages: (1) the betrothal which is legally binding when the individual members of the body of Christ are saved, (2) the coming of the Bridegroom for His bride at the rapture of the Church (see I Thessalonians 4:13-17), and (3) the marriage supper of the Lamb, occurring in connection with the second coming of Christ to set up His millennial kingdom (see Matthew 24:16-30; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6). 
B. Grace causes thanksgiving (II Corinthians 4:15).  In our final verse Paul says “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”  The words “all things” refers to all the things Paul and his companions had suffered.  He told the Corinthian believers that they endured all those things “for your sakes” meaning for their benefit as well as others.  Paul’s reference to “the abundant grace” is how he described the gospel here.  The apostle knew that everything he had experienced was for the spiritual benefit of the Corinthians, which in turn led to the spread of the gospel to many others.  Paul indicated that as people were saved by God’s abundant grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9), “thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”  The word “redound” means “to overflow.”  Paul was saying that as the gospel was preached many would be saved and many would give thanks leading to an overflow of glory to God (see I Corinthians 10:31).
                              
V. Conclusion.  God has chosen to reveal the glorious message of the gospel through humble vessels---humans.  As believers, we must understand that we have been given the greatest treasure in the world, the spiritual light in the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yes, we owe it to others to share the light of the gospel with them, but it’s also a great honor and privilege to do so.