Welcome
Prayer
Song
Silence
Okay, before we get to chapter five of II Corinthians we read through but did not cover verses 17 and 18 of chapter four from last week where he said:
The C.A.M.P.U.S. Chapter in Scripture
II Corinthians 5 General Review
October 28th 2018
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.
Over the course of this chapter, and in the chapters before, Paul has described the suffering and difficulty he and the other apostles have suffered and last week he explained that their suffering was all for the believers of that day who in believing, would bring glory to God the Father in and through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here Paul continues but compares his suffering to the eternal rewards that await him, and says:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
I wonder what the ratio is between the suffering and the reward? When speaking with Godless humanists, they have a really hard time accepting the suffering that God allows people in this world and speak as if no amount glory or joy in the hereafter could or would be worth the pain and sorrow so many people face in their mortal lives.
And while Paul did not experience the most suffering in life, he was exposed, according to the record, to some suffering willingly and on behalf of the Lord Jesus which included ultimate martyrdom, being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, bitten by vipers and a number of other difficulties.
Taking all of these issues he faced in his life, Paul now says:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
In his words, the sufferings, compared to the exceeding and eternal weight of glory, made them “light afflictions.”
I tend to believe and trust that this perspective is reliable and that after this life waits glories or joys or whatever you want to call them than make all an individual experiences in life but a bee sting in the eons of ultimate bliss and joy. I believe this. I trust it.
This passage is rife with intensive and emphatic expressions and it seems to show that Paul was working very hard to convey ideas which language make it difficult to effectively express.
In the face of what were some hefty trials, Paul speaks of them as comparatively “light” in contrast to the weight of glory.
The word translated “light,” here (elafron) means something that is easy to bear and it typically refers to some sort of burden.
Paul says they are but for a moment, and the Greek term used best means “immediately” as in instantaneously – that all of his trials were like an instantaneous moment of pain, relatively speaking.
Hard to understand when we are suffering, but in the face of his word encouraging to consider this view.
And what we are really talking about here folks is the Long View of existence verses the Short immediate view.
Every Christian has to examine themselves relative to what view they maintain.
In any case Paul says that the afflictions were for “but for a moment.”
Paul appears to express two ideas in as emphatic a manner as possible; first, that the affliction was light, and, secondly, that it was transient, momentary, and soon passing away – again, in contrast with the glory that awaited him, as being “heavy and as being also eternal.”
To examine this we imagine our pains and suffering as a small ring box strapped to our backs and being filled with feathers and the weight of the eternal glory having the footprint of Canada and as tall as Everest.
We also notice that Paul says that this light affliction “worketh for us” a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
In other words, the overall purpose and effect of these light afflictions, by comparison, is to produce eternal weight of glory.
How?
I cannot help but think of the oyster and that irritating grain of sand that in time produces a pearl in this example.
In fact, in that very beautiful natural fact I see the handiwork of God speaking to humanity.
How might we suggest that burdens are able to produce an eternal weight of Glory in us?
One, our burdens have a tendency to keep us looking to God. We wonder about Him and His hand and place in our lives and like David speak to Him, questioning.
In good times of constant pleasure many people have no thought of him.
Then in the suffering, we are simultaneously allowed to choose to whom or what we will look – to God or to the things of this world.
I have a tendency to turn to the peace this world provides us (sex, drugs and rock in roll) as a means to comfort myself in difficulties. Paul says be not drunk with wine but with the Spirit – in suffering, the opportunities to choose are more frequent that in times of total comfort.
Additionally, suffering, in the believer, has an ability to wean us from the world and its ways.
Too much sugar and its associated tooth decay can lead us to cut back on the one to avoid the other.
So afflictions can also serve to help purify the heart, by enabling us to break off from practices or sins that remove us from his light.
Affliction can also move us to reflect on what awaits instead of what is – in other words it helps us yearn for a heavenly home of light over an earthly home where darkness may have a hold.
Afflictions also lend to increasing our faith and hope in the promises God presents to all who look to Him.
Isaiah 48:10 says:
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Notice the language where God says:
I have CHOOSEN you in the FURNACE of AFFLICTION.
We also cannot move on unless we note that in comparison to the light affliction, Paul describes what awaits as:
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory . . .
That phrase, “a far more exceeding”
is derived from the Greek term where we get Hyperbole – and as mentioned it means “throwing way beyond” like a pro quarterback throwing a ball eighty yards over the head of a receiver.
In the New Testament hyperbole takes on an even more excessive meaning, and is seen as describing “exceedingly, super-eminently (as described in Romans 7:13; 1st Corinthinas 12:31; 2nd Corinthians 1:8; and Galatians 1:13).
But this term is not enough to make the comparison so Paul adds a superlative that means superior unto superiority, excess unto excess, hyperbole unto hyperbole.
“Infinately exceedingly eternal weight,” which as mentioned, stands in opposition to a short lived lightness.
And so, at verse 18, Paul adds an important insight to the idea of light suffering in the face of eternal weight of glory, saying:
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.
In the suffering of these afflictions Paul adds that he “looks” – places his focus – “NOT AT the things which are seen but AT the things which are not seen.”
This is such an important principle that cannot be overlooked in the walk of the Christian.
In the Garden of Eden Eve was fooled by her eyes – what she saw over what she could not see.
God told Adam to not eat of the fruit of the tree because in the day that he would surely die.
She couldn’t see that. It was invisible to her – it was the promise of something that she could not look upon.
But the fruit forbidden was tangible – she could see it, look at it, perhaps even rely upon it over the tangible.
Moses says that she SAW it was good for food, it was pleasant to her eyes, and she, through her senses, knew it would make one wise – she chose it over what she could not see – God, and the promises made to them.
John, of course backs this whole principle up when He says:
“All that is in the world – the visible, tangible, temporal world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life – is NOT of the Father but is of this world.”
In this we learn, and see with spiritual eyes (or with what Tolstoy called “the special character of religious knowledge”) that what Paul says next is key to the Christian walk, as he says
“for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
And we are all left to choose which kingdom is our home – the one we can see, which is temporal, earthly, tangible, and therefore temporary – or one that is eternal.
GO TO BOARD
In these two verses Paul gives us five piences of informational imagery to consider to live our lives by:
THIS WORLD THE INVISIBLE KINGDOM
Light /Afflictions Weight (of) Glory
But for a moment Eternal
Look NOT to what is seen But Look to things NOT Seen
Seen things are TEMPORAL Things NOT seen are ETERNAL
It is so intriguing that when Paul says:
“for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
That this includes church buildings, empires, books, clothing, and all religious cultural appeals that people so readily focus upon and look to as a means to receive and embrace the eternal.
I suggest the temporal does nothing but get in the way of the eternal.
Okay, at this point we embark on chapter 5 of Second Corinthians – which is really just a superb chapter and in my heart speaks so readily to what the purpose and point of CAMPUS and being a Christian is all about.
Of course the Bible must be understood by the Spirit AND by the whole of the Bible content so we have to be careful in taking a single chapter and making it the everything, but if there was ever a single chapter of from the Bible that would best describe the overall perspective I think believers ought to seek and maintain as Christians, it would be II Corinthians chapter 5.
Let me read to you from my haphazard journal of thoughts:
It is Saturday, May 26th 2018 and for the past week I have attempted II Corinthians. Again, the same results – and I have put the book down when reading the 1st and 2nd chapters. In fact, I never finished either – something I rarely do in my personal studies. Then yesterday I read chapter three (which I found more satisfying) and then chapter 4 this morning – which I enjoyed and found some great spiritual insights. One of these verses served to help set in my mind the tone for what we seek to accomplish at CAMPUS –
2nd Corinthians 4:2 which says
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.
Having been inspired I continued to eread and just finished chapter five which affirmed many unique things that I personally teach as a pastor/teacher at CAMPUS.
I am now going to work through them verse by verse and highlight the truths we support therein.”
End quote.
So why don’t we do something sort of unique in our verse by verse – let’s read the contents of chapter five, and then we will come back and run through the text far more quickly then we typically do as a means to glean the most pressing points.
Verse 1
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Alright, let’s go back to verse 1 where Paul, having said in chapter four that he looks not to the things that can be seen (which are temporal) but to the things that are invisible (which are eternal), now adds:
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
THE PRINCIPLE – a spiritual resurrection with a heavenly residence.
This is important because it helps support our view of the ongoing nature of the resurrection which started when Jesus returned in 70AD and will continue on forever more (or until the human race obliterates itself).
The verses that follow continue to add support to this scriptural truth saying
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
We note that the body we desire to be clothed with is not from the ground – it is from heaven! And whatever is heavenly constructed is spiritual, not material. What can be seen is temporal, what is eternal is invisible and cannot be seen. Now Paul here adds a unique line:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
This is one of the goals of CAMPUS on earth – to help followers of Christ to get “dressed for heaven.” With what? With the spiritual body they will receive from God as a result of their Christian walk of faith and love. That’s it.
We get together to study the Word by the Spirit so as to equip and prepare our heavenly futures by the Spirit.
Jesus speaks of being improperly dressed at the wedding – it is the last thing a follower would want – therefore we focus on preparing this eternal spiritual gown for every interested believer. Got that? Now, listen to how Paul continues –
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
That line, “that MORTALITY might be swallowed up of life,” is key to our understanding of what can begin to happen here as well as the hope of what will happen there. What is key to this occurring? Knowing God and His Son, which is life eternal. We know them by the Spirit and through the examination of the Word, which leads to more and more of “our mortality being swallowed up of life.” (then he says at verse 5)
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
In other words, God has given us a “down payment” on what will be in our eternal future – called the “earnest of the Spirit.” This down-payment, understood by the Spirit, ensures us (gives us a spiritual confidence) that while we are here we are absent from God, which reminds us that we “walk by faith and not by sight.”
Because we possess this confidence (in or by the Spirit) that we have been given this down-payment while we are in these bodies we are, in fact, aware that we are not fully in the presence of God.
That is a future state we look to with great anticipation and desire. At verse 8 Paul reiterates and adds the following:
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
In other words, we do not fear death and in respect to our future homes on high, we would rather be “absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” Then at this point Paul says something Christians often miss – he says
9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
Huh? Wherefore, in light of all of this we LABOR, that whether we are present OR absent, we MAY be accepted of Him.
“Wherefore we are ambitious and/or zealous, whether we are here or there, that we are accepted of Him.”
Notice that this is an aim, it is a desire, it’s a heartfelt, inner-drive of those who have been given the “earnest of the Spirit.” Why is this on Paul’s heart to share? Listen to verse 10:
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
I am of the opinion that even in the age of fulfillment, that this description found in verse 10 remains applicable.
I do not believe that there is punishment that results from this judgement seat visit, as the price has been paid, but I am convinced that it is a time of more or less rewards bestowed at that time.
In any case, here we are given a connection between the actions of what we do in the body that we have and the future heavenly state, whether the things are good or bad.
In other words, there will be a judgment at the Bayma seat of Jesus of all people – as He is Lord over-all and has received all that His Father has. This is something Paul clearly teaches.
At this point Paul brings something up that is a tad bit frightening and therefore cannot be ignored as he says:
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
In other words, Paul says that being aware of the power and reign of the Lord he (and those like him – meaning apostles) seek to persuade men of the truths that they (the apostles) have. Then he adds: “But we are made manifest unto God,” meaning, “but our motives are known by God, and hopefully to your consciences.” Then he adds:
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
Verse 12-13 seem to be saying (in more words or less):
“We are not commending ourselves to you but are merely trying to give you some reason to boast in us so that you can respond to those who are all about outward appearances toward God but do not worship him from the heart. For whether we are rejoicing or we are sad, it is all for your cause.” At this point he moves deeper into his message that he was hitting on in verses 1-11 and says something radical. Ready? He says:
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
For it is the love of Christ that moves and motivates us, because we judge things this way: READY?
“That if one died for all, then we’re all dead.”
What exactly does this mean? I would strongly suggest that since Jesus died for us all, we – the followers of Jesus – have all died! Died to what?
To our flesh.
To our will.
To our minds.
To our emotions.
To our means and ways.
To the desires of the body in this world.
To everything that made up our former lives.
How can “WE” “live” IF we have all died with Christ? We cannot? That is the point! – “that since Jesus died for us all, we have all died!!!”
Herein is our focus at CAMPUS – to reiterate that we are DEAD to the former self. He or she is not alive. As believers and followers and disciples of Him Paul says that we have all died with HIM. But more importantly having died with Him we ALSO (herein lies the importance of His material resurrection) we now also (in our flesh) LIVE IN HIM and IN HIS RESURRECTION!
He was physically resurrected to complete and fulfill this model for all of us living in the flesh. Our resurrection is NOT physical. It is heavenly, spiritual and therefore eternal – for the things which are seen are temporal – and there is no reason to have a mortally-related resurrection.
His resurrection in His flesh was tied and typed to our dying with Him and then rising to NEW life while we are still in the FLESH! So what is the picture of His death and resurrection to each mortal Christian life? (let’s read verse 15)
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Let me read that passage again. Ready?
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
There’s the model. He died for all and we died with Him as converts. He rose again so that we “no longer live unto ourselves in the flesh on earth as Christians!”
This is why Jesus was resurrected in His flesh – He modeled in and through His very death and resurrection what Christians are to experience in their earthly lives as His followers. Spiritual life in and through His death and His resurrection.
His resurrection was not to typify an actual flesh from the ground picture for all! To prove this Paul in the next verse adds something even more radical, saying:
16 Wherefore, (as a result of all I have said) henceforth (from this point forward) know we no man after the flesh: (after the ways of the world, the ways of human views, the ways of the flesh, after what we can see) yea, (“In fact,” he adds.) “In fact, though we have known Christ after the flesh” (I believe this means a number of things – in fact I think it refers to all things relative to the Messiah in the flesh!
His being flesh and blood.
His being thought as a worldly messiah.
His physical death . . . whatever relates to His flesh and earthly existence) and resurrection . . .
“In fact, though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
To me this not only speaks to growing to the point in our walk that we don’t relate to the carnal things of Christ but I suggest this is a way of telling us we should stop referring to His corporal nature; that His resurrected person is not to be known “after the flesh.” Why? Because Paul says:
“though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him (in this way or view or manner) no more!”
How radical is this?
At this point Paul ties this together with those who are His. He has told us that we no longer “know Christ” in the manner of the flesh. And now he says:
17 Therefore (THEREFORE, in the application of this information to us Christians) “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Where we were once fleshly-led we are now led of the Spirit. Where we saw life through a lens of mind, will, emotion and flesh, we know see existence through the Spirit. What did Jesus say?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (If this is true why do we believe that there will be a fleshly resurrection? It profits NOTHING!)
17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
And then listen to how he wraps these things up beginning at verse 18:
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
There is the first run through on chapter five – and that is what it was – to plant the seeds. We will return to a slower paced verse by verse next week.
Questions/Answers
Venessa
