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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) My Song Forever Shall Record (vss. 1-4, 9) Jesus Lives and So Shall I I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say It Is Well with My Soul Note for reading services: This sermon is posted in both the ESV and NIV translations. The NIV follows the ESV. |
“Struck Down, But Not Destroyed”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18, text: vss. 8, 9
Have you noticed that the Bible never sugar coats the Christian life? Jesus himself told us, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Moses also pointed out that life is filled with trouble. In his prayer from Psalm 90, he prayed: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).
And who among us would not agree with Job’s friend who observed, “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:6-7).
Both the Bible and human experience teach us that the spiritual journey we are on in our pilgrimage through this life, is a journey with many setbacks and trials. We see that clearly in verses 8 and 9 where the apostle Paul describes four types of trouble that he and other first-century Christians faced as they lived out their Christianity in a hostile world. He had already written in verse 7 that they were like jars of clay – a metaphor for human weakness – that like a clay jar we are easily broken. And now in verse 8 and 9 he writes: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”
Who among us has not been afflicted and hard pressed and at one time or another? Sometimes we are afflicted physically, sometimes we are pressured financially. Many times, we are troubled with problems that seem to have no solution. The troubles are, as verse 8 describes, on every side. It's not just as though we have one or two problems, but at times everywhere we look it seems as though we face another problem.
We all know the meaning of the phrase, “When it rains it pours”. And when we experience those times of trouble on every side – in every way – we are reminded of the truth of Scripture: “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart” Jesus said. “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty” Moses wrote, “yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).
Every trouble we face has its roots in the fall. Ever since the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, we have faced thorns and thistles of many types. But Jesus wore the crown of thorns we deserve; he took that burden of our sin upon himself and nailed it to the cross.
While the repercussions of our sin remain, the condemnation and judgment that we deserve for our sin was laid on Jesus. He became our substitute and bore the curse that we deserve for our sins, thus reconciling us with him, the Father and the Holy Spirit, whom we have grieved so many times.
We are reconciled to our triune God because Jesus bore the curse we deserve. And thus, even though we are afflicted because of our sin, as we face the repercussions of it, yet we are not crushed by it.
Isaiah 53:10 tells us that the will of the Father was to crush the Son. And Isaiah 53:5 tells us why: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. We are afflicted by our sin, but not crushed, all because of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us.
In verse 8 the apostle describes being perplexed. Perhaps Paul is speaking about being perplexed by the response of people to the gospel. There were many false teachers in Corinth and, for the most part, they were well received. Meanwhile, the truth of the gospel that Paul and other faithful servants of God proclaimed, was ridiculed and rejected.
Even though we understand that God knows his own people and brings his saving grace to them, and even though we know that the “god of this world,” in the words of verse 4, blinds the eyes of unbelievers to the gospel, it is nevertheless perplexing to see people who know the truth of the gospel, reject that truth.
We know who God is. His identity is written in every sunrise and sunset; his faithfulness is displayed in every changing season. His creative power is self-evident in the awesome and wonderful way in which he created the world. And his identity is clear even from the way he created us in “a fearful and wonderful way.” To those of us who have saving faith in Christ, it is more than obvious who God is.
Isaac Newton, who formulated the law of gravity and built the first reflecting telescope, was asked why he believed that God created the world. He replied that if he examined nothing more than the human thumb, he would believe in the Creator God revealed in Scripture. Newton observed how the thumb is placed in just the right position on the hand to work effectively with the fingers, how it is double jointed, and how it is protected by the thumbnail. - Even in something as common as the human thumb we see the identity and the creative genius of Almighty God!
Consequently, when we see that unbelievers are blind to what is obvious to us, especially if they have grown up in a Christian family and have been in a faithful church, it can be perplexing to see their unbelief. Some of those thoughts perhaps went through the apostle Paul's mind.
We know, for instance, that Paul was perplexed by the Galatians. Even though they had been taught the truth that we are justified by faith alone, they wanted to return to legalism – to justification by works of the law. Paul had to correct them bluntly; he had to admonish them strongly, and after doing so, he wrote, in Galatians 4:20, “I wish I could be present with you now” – he probably wrote from Ephesus – “and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.” We understand that he faced many perplexities, just as each one of us face a variety of perplexities.
Verse 9 speaks about being persecuted. As Jesus pointed out, those who follow him will face persecution. The words of Jesus, in John 15:18-20, are well-known: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”
Paul knew better than any of us what persecution is all about. The book of Acts describes how Paul was run out of one town after another. There were many attempts to take his life. In the 11th chapter of this letter, he writes: “…I have…been in prison… been flogged…and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.” (2 Cor 11:23c-25)
The apostle Paul truly understood what it was like to be persecuted for the sake of Christ and to suffer for Christ. - In the United States we have not faced physical persecution yet, but we do see verbal persecution of Christians who are ridiculed and mocked by our culture.
The media makes it clear that every form of religion is acceptable except Christianity. False religions are often held in esteem by the Hollywood elite, but those who follow the teaching of Jesus Christ are considered dangerous. Christians are portrayed as hate-mongers who need to be silenced lest they bring more havoc and discrimination into our culture.
Unless there is spiritual revival in our land, we will undoubtedly face the type of persecution that our brothers and sisters in Christ face around the world in so many other nations. The writing is on the wall, and our Savior and Lord has assured us that those who believe in him will also suffer even as he did. As Philippians 1:29 points out, “…It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him…”
Verse 9 has a fourth challenge as it describes being struck down. This fourth problem implies being caught from behind – being caught unaware and suddenly being taken down. I’m sure that you know what that’s like. Things seem to be going smoothly and then suddenly, out of nowhere, trouble comes and strikes you down.
Yet I’m sure you noticed that after describing each type of trouble the Apostle points out that it could not keep them down. He writes: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”
How is that possible? How is it possible that someone who was as hard pressed and afflicted as the apostle was, could yet be resilient in the face of trouble on every side? In the same way, how can people like you and me, whose troubles are not near as severe as his, stand firm in the face of perplexity, trials and trouble on every side? How are we as Christians to persevere amid all the troubles and sorrows of life that we face?
Perseverance Through Faith in Christ
First, we persevere by faith in Christ. In verse 13 the apostle quotes from Psalm 116 describing the faith of the Psalm writer, “I believed, and so I spoke.”
Consider how often David, and the other authors of the Psalms, were hard pressed, afflicted in every way, and perplexed. Do you think David was perplexed when he was promised the kingship and yet was relentlessly pursued by Saul? Do you think he knew what it was like to be persecuted, to be struck down when he had to run for his life, hiding in caves from King Saul who made every effort to take his life?
David’s life is a record of affliction and trouble on every side. Yet his life is also a testimony to the strength of God graciously poured out into the weakness of a human life. – It is in our weakness that God’s power is revealed.
The apostle Paul points that out clearly in chapter 12 of this letter as he describes the “thorn in his flesh” and how he pleaded with the Lord to take the thorn away. In 2 Corinthians 12, verses 9 and 10 he writes: “But (God) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore,” Paul wrote, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The apostle’s life, and the life of David, and all other believers is, above all, a testimony to the grace of God. Not only does God grant us his grace in the troubles of life, but in the most supreme act of grace he redeems blatant sinners who deserve judgment.
As David observed in Psalm 40, “My iniquities have overtaken me…they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!” And the Lord answered that request. He has delivered us. Instead of eternal judgment, we receive forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. That was true for David, true for Paul, true for you, and true for me, if we do indeed have saving faith in Christ alone.
When we look at the life of David, for instance, we cannot help but see that he was sustained by faith in the “greater David” the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his faith, the many troubles and afflictions of his life did not overwhelm him – though they did agonize him as many of the Psalms record. Yet David found strength to deal with each problem – even his many grievous sin problems –through faith in the eternal Christ.
Now the same is true for you and for me. If you feel afflicted on every side, then look to the Lord through saving faith in Christ and ask, “Do I really believe that I am forgiven of my sin? Do I really believe that my God is bigger than my problems, even my sin problems? Do I really believe that he will work all things for my good? Do I really believe that he holds the whole world in his hands? Do I really believe that he who sees the sparrow fall to the ground, sees me, and knows my need and will meet my every need, according to his will, through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ?”
If you and I look to the Lord with saving faith, then we will not be crushed even when we are afflicted and hard pressed. We might be “perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…”
Perseverance Through Our Identity with Christ
A second way that God enables us to persevere is through the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection and our identity with Him in life and in death.
One of the things that has sustained God’s people in every age, is a focus on their risen Savior and Lord. In verses 13 and 14 the apostle points us to a scene that we do not focus on often enough; he points us to the scene of the open tomb. He writes, in 2 Corinthians 4:13–14, “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.”
The reason Paul did not lose heart when he faced all types of trouble is because he realized that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead would enable him to endure adversity and would gain his own resurrection.
Perhaps you noticed how, in verses 10 and 11, the apostle links his identity with Jesus, both in the death of Jesus and also in his life and resurrection. The power of the resurrection of Jesus is written about in Scripture time and again. Yet so often we only focus on his resurrection at Easter. By doing so we miss out on a tremendous source of biblical comfort and strength.
After all, the resurrection is God that Father’s stamp of approval on all the redeeming work of his Son. The resurrection proves that Christ is victorious over sin, Satan, and death in all its forms – physical, spiritual, and eternal death. And it was the apostle’s focus on the resurrection that gave him strength to face the innumerable afflictions and troubles of his life. It is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he did not lose heart. As he writes in verse 16, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Do you feel afflicted? Perplexed, persecuted, struck down? Then remember that one day you will be raised up just as Jesus was. When Jesus returns our physical bodies will be raised from the grave, joined with our souls, and we will be presented faultless before the presence of our triune God! As Colossians 3:4 puts it, “When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
The certainty of the resurrection gave the apostle strength to go on even when he faced a myriad of troubles in his life. And the same is true for you and for me. When we focus in faith on Christ – not only on his perfect life and sacrificial death, but also on the resurrection of our Savior and Lord from the dead – we find great encouragement and resurrection strength.
That was true even for that Old Testament believer who suffered so greatly. The man from the land of Uz, Job, suffered incredible sorrows. Yet he is best known for two quotes. After losing everything he had, even his dear children, he exclaimed “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Job’s other well-known quote is found in Job 19:25-27 where this man who suffered so much sorrow, trial, and hardship, writes: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
Focusing on Future Glory
A third way that God, by his grace, enables us to persevere through the troubles and afflictions of this life, is to focus on the glory yet to be revealed. That is what Job did. He looked beyond the incredible sorrows of his life to the joy of seeing his resurrected Redeemer – with his own eyes – in a resurrected body – free from sin, and free from pain and ailment – made perfect in every way.
And in verse 17 and 18 Paul does a similar thing. He looks beyond the sorrows of this life to the joy and blessedness of the life to come. Verses 17 and 18 bring everything into perspective: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
The problems and perplexities in your life and mine often loom before us as large and seemingly insurmountable troubles. You might also see the many problems of our nation and our world. You and I may experience being “afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down…” But these problems which seem so monumental, are light and momentary in comparison to the glory that is yet to be revealed throughout all eternity for those who have true saving faith in Christ alone.
If you feel “afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down”, persevere through saving faith in Christ. Focus on the reality of his redeeming love, his willingness to sacrifice himself for your sins and mine. Focus on his resurrection and how his resurrection gives comfort for this life and certainty of the life to come. Take comfort that what is seen – all the afflictions and problems of life – is temporary, is transient. But what is unseen – the eternal glory to be revealed to those who have saving faith in Christ – is eternal.
It is by focusing on our risen Savior and Lord that you and I will find the same strength that the apostle describes in verses 8 and 9. In those verses the apostle acknowledges the truth that in this world we will face tribulation, trouble, sorrow, and affliction. Yet through faith in Jesus Christ, we not only have salvation from sin, and the gift of eternal life in heaven. Through saving faith in Christ alone, we also have strength to overcome the adversities, sorrows, and perplexities of life.
____
Do you have saving faith in Christ alone? Do you know him as Savior and Lord? He is the one who says, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” By God’s grace, have you come to him in humble repentance and saving faith? Is he your risen Savior, the one whom you profess to others?
If so, you can echo the words of verses 8 and 9 with confidence and joy: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”
All because of Jesus Christ – his perfect life, his sacrificial death, and his glorious resurrection! Amen.
Bulletin outline:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but
not destroyed… – 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
“Struck Down, But Not Destroyed”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
I. The Bible warns us that there are many troubles in life (Job 5:6-7;
Psalm 90:10; John 16:33). These troubles include:
1) Being afflicted (8a)
2) Being perplexed (8b)
3) Being persecuted (9a)
4) Being struck down (9b)
II. How we are to persevere amid troubles:
1) By saving faith in Christ (13)
2) By the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection (14) and our identity with
Him in life and in death (10-11)
3) By considering that our troubles are light and momentary compared
to the eternal glory for all who, by God’s grace, have saving faith in
Jesus Christ alone (17-18)
______
NIV
“Struck Down, But Not Destroyed”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18, text: vss. 8, 9
Have you noticed that the Bible never sugar coats the Christian life? Jesus himself told us, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Moses also pointed out that life is filled with trouble. In his prayer from Psalm 90, he prayed: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).
And who among us would not agree with Job’s friend who observed, “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:6-7).
Both the Bible and human experience teach us that the spiritual journey we are on in our pilgrimage through this life, is a journey with many setbacks and trials. We see that clearly in verses 8 and 9 where the apostle Paul describes four types of trouble that he and other first-century Christians faced as they lived out their Christianity in a hostile world. He had already written in verse 7 that they were like jars of clay – a metaphor for human weakness – that like a clay jar we are easily broken. And now in verse 8 and 9 he writes: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Who among us has not been “hard pressed” and afflicted at one time or another? Sometimes we are afflicted physically, sometimes we are pressured financially. Many times, we are troubled with problems that seem to have no solution. The troubles are, as verse 8 describes, on every side. It's not just as though we have one or two problems, but at times everywhere we look it seems as though we face another problem.
We all know the meaning of the phrase, “When it rains it pours”. And when we experience those times of trouble on every side we are reminded of the truth of Scripture: “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart” Jesus said. “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty” Moses wrote, “yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).
Every trouble we face has its roots in the fall. Ever since the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, we have faced thorns and thistles of many types. But Jesus wore the crown of thorns we deserve; he took that burden of our sin upon himself and nailed it to the cross.
While the repercussions of our sin remain, the condemnation and judgment that we deserve for our sin was laid on Jesus. He became our substitute and bore the curse that we deserve for our sins, thus reconciling us with him, the Father and the Holy Spirit, whom we have grieved so many times. We are reconciled to our triune God because Jesus bore the curse we deserve. And thus, even though we are afflicted because of our sin, as we face the repercussions of it, yet we are not crushed by it.
Isaiah 53:10 tells us that the will of the Father was to crush the Son. And Isaiah 53:5 tells us why: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. We are afflicted by our sin, but not crushed, all because of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us.
In verse 8 the apostle describes being perplexed. Perhaps Paul is speaking about being perplexed by the response of people to the gospel. There were many false teachers in Corinth and, for the most part, they were well received. Meanwhile, the truth of the gospel that Paul and other faithful servants of God proclaimed, was ridiculed and rejected.
Even though we understand that God knows his own people and brings his saving grace to them, and even though we know that the “god of this age,” (verse 4), blinds the eyes of unbelievers to the gospel, it is nevertheless perplexing to see people who know the truth of the gospel, reject that truth.
We know who God is. His identity is written in every sunrise and sunset; his faithfulness is displayed in every changing season. His creative power is also self-evident in the awesome and wonderful way in which we are created in his image. To those of us who have saving faith in Christ, it is more than obvious who God is.
Isaac Newton, who formulated the law of gravity and built the first reflecting telescope, was asked why he believed that God created the world. He replied that if he examined nothing more than the human thumb he would believe in the Creator. Newton observed how the thumb is placed in just the right position on the hand to work effectively with the fingers, how it is protected by the thumbnail, how even in something as common as the human thumb we see the creative genius of Almighty God!
Consequently, when we see that unbelievers are blind to what is obvious to us, especially if they have grown up in a Christian family and have been in a faithful church, it can be perplexing to see their unbelief. Some of those thoughts perhaps went through the apostle Paul's mind.
We know, for instance, that Paul was perplexed by the Galatians. Even though they had been taught the truth that we are justified by faith alone, they wanted to return to legalism – to justification by works of the law. Paul had to correct them bluntly; he had to admonish them strongly, and after doing so, he wrote, in Galatians 4:20, “I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.” We understand that he faced many perplexities, just as each one of us face a variety of perplexities.
Verse 9 speaks about being persecuted. As Jesus pointed out, those who follow him will face persecution. The words of Jesus, in John 15:18-20, are well-known: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”
Paul knew better than any of us what persecution is all about. The book of Acts describes how Paul was run out of one town after another. There were many attempts to take his life. In the 11th chapter of this letter, he writes: “…I have…been in prison… been flogged…and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.” (2 Cor 11:23c-25)
The apostle Paul truly understood what it was like to be persecuted for the sake of Christ and to suffer for Christ. In the United States we have not faced physical persecution yet, but we do see verbal persecution of Christians who are ridiculed and mocked by our culture.
The media makes it clear that every form of religion is acceptable except Christianity. False religions are often held in esteem by the Hollywood elite, but those who follow the teaching of Jesus Christ are considered dangerous. Christians are portrayed as hate-mongers who need to be silenced lest they bring more havoc and discrimination into our culture.
Unless there is spiritual revival in our land, we will undoubtedly face the type of persecution that our brothers and sisters in Christ face around the world in so many other nations. The writing is on the wall, and our Savior and Lord has assured us that those who believe in him will also suffer even as he did. As Philippians 1:29 points out, “…It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him…”
Verse 9 has a fourth challenge as it describes being struck down. This fourth problem implies being caught from behind – being caught unaware and suddenly being taken down. I’m sure that you know what that’s like. Things seem to be going smoothly and then suddenly, out of nowhere, trouble comes and strikes you down.
Yet I’m sure you noticed that after describing each type of trouble the Apostle points out that it could not keep them down. He writes: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
How is that possible? How is it possible that someone who was as hard pressed as the apostle was, could yet be resilient in the face of trouble on every side? In the same way, how can people like you and me, whose troubles are not near as severe as his, yet stand firm in the face of perplexity, trials and trouble on every side? How are we as Christians to persevere amid all the troubles and sorrows of life that we face?
Perseverance Through Faith in Christ
First, we persevere by faith in Christ. In verse 13 the apostle quotes from Psalm 116 describing the faith of the Psalm writer, “I believed, therefore I have spoken.”
Consider how often David, and the other authors of the Psalms, were hard pressed on every side and perplexed. Do you think David was perplexed when he was promised the kingship and yet was relentlessly pursued by Saul? Do you think he knew what it was like to be persecuted, to be struck down when he had to run for his life, hiding in caves from King Saul who made every effort to take his life?
David’s life is a record of affliction and trouble on every side. Yet his life is also a testimony to the strength of God graciously poured out into the weakness of a human life. It is in our weakness that God’s power is revealed.
The apostle Paul points that out clearly in chapter 12 of this letter as he describes the “thorn in his flesh” and how he pleaded with the Lord to take the thorn away. In 2 Corinthians 12, verses 9 and 10 he writes: “But he (God) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The apostle’s life, and the life of David, and all other believers is, above all, a testimony to the grace of God. Not only does God grant us his grace in the troubles of life, but in the most supreme act of grace he redeems blatant sinners who deserve judgment. As David observed in Psalm 40, “My iniquities have overtaken me…they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!”
And the Lord answered that request. He has delivered us. Instead of eternal judgment we receive forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. That was true for David, true for Paul, true for you, and true for me, if we do indeed have saving faith in Christ alone.
When we look at the life of David, for instance, we cannot help but see that he was sustained by faith in the “greater David” the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his faith, the many troubles and afflictions of his life did not overwhelm him, though they did agonize him as many of the Psalms reveal. Yet David found strength to deal with each problem – even his many grievous sin problems –through faith in the eternal Christ.
Now the same is true for you and for me. If you feel hard pressed on every side, then look to the Lord through saving faith in Christ and ask, “Do I really believe that I am forgiven of my sin? Do I really believe that my God is bigger than my problems, even my sin problems? Do I really believe that he will work all things for my good? Do I really believe that he holds the whole world in his hands? Do I really believe that he who sees the sparrow fall to the ground, sees me, and knows my need and will meet my every need, according to his will, through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ?”
If you and I look to the Lord with saving faith, then we will not be crushed even when we are hard pressed. We might be perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Perseverance Through Our Identity with Christ
A second way that God enables us to persevere is through the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection and our identity with Him in life and in death.
One of the things that has sustained God’s people in every age, is a focus on their risen Savior and Lord. In verses 13 and 14 the apostle points us to a scene that we do not focus on often enough; he points us to the scene of the open tomb. He writes: “Since we have that same spirit of faith, (the faith of the Psalm writer) we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”
The reason Paul did not lose heart when he faced all types of trouble is because he realized that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead would enable him to endure adversity and would gain his own resurrection.
Perhaps you noticed how, in verses 10 and 11, the apostle links his identity with Jesus, both in the death of Jesus and also in his life and resurrection. The power of the resurrection of Jesus is written about in Scripture time and again. Yet so often we only focus on his resurrection at Easter. By doing so we miss out on a tremendous source of biblical comfort and strength. After all, the resurrection is God that Father’s stamp of approval on all the redeeming work of his Son. The resurrection proves that Christ is victorious over sin, Satan, and death in all its forms – physical, spiritual, and eternal death.
And it was the apostle’s focus on the resurrection that gave him strength to face the innumerable afflictions and troubles of his life. It is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he did not lose heart. As he writes in verse 16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
Do you feel hard-pressed? Perplexed, persecuted, struck down? Then remember that one day you will be raised up just as Jesus was. When Jesus returns our physical bodies will be raised from the grave, joined with our souls, and we will be presented faultless before the presence of our heavenly Father! As Colossians 3:4 puts it, “When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
The certainty of the resurrection gave the apostle strength to go on even when he faced a myriad of troubles in his life. And the same is true for you and for me. When we focus in faith on Christ – not only on his perfect life and sacrificial death, but also on the resurrection of our Savior and Lord from the dead – we find great encouragement and resurrection strength.
That was true even for that Old Testament believer who suffered so greatly. The man from the land of Uz, Job, suffered incredible sorrows. Yet he is best known for two quotes. After losing everything he had, even his dear children, he exclaimed “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Job’s other well-known quote is found in Job 19:25-27 where this man who suffered so much sorrow, trial, and hardship, writes: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
Focusing on Future Glory
A third way that God, by his grace, enables us to persevere through the troubles and afflictions of this life, is to focus on the glory yet to be revealed. That is what Job did. He looked beyond the incredible sorrows of his life to the joy of seeing his resurrected Redeemer – with his own eyes – in a resurrected body – free from sin, and free from pain and ailment – made perfect in every way.
And in verse 17 and 18 Paul does a similar thing. He looks beyond the sorrows of this life to the joy and blessedness of the life to come. Verses 17 and 18 bring everything into perspective: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The problems and perplexities in your life and mine often loom before us as large and seemingly insurmountable troubles. You might also see the many problems of our nation and our world. You and I may experience being hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But these problems which seem so monumental are light and momentary in comparison to the glory that is yet to be revealed throughout all eternity for those who have saving faith in Christ alone.
If you feel hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down persevere through saving faith in Christ. Focus on the reality of his redeeming love, his willingness to sacrifice himself for your sins and mine. Focus on his resurrection and how his resurrection gives comfort for this life and certainty of the life to come. Take comfort that what is seen – all the afflictions and problems of life – is temporary. But what is unseen – the eternal glory to be revealed to those who have saving faith in Christ – is eternal.
It is by focusing on our risen Savior and Lord that you and I will find the same strength that the apostle describes in verses 8 and 9. In those verses the apostle acknowledges the truth that in this world we will face tribulation, trouble, sorrow, and affliction. Yet through faith in Jesus Christ, we not only have salvation from sin, and the gift of eternal life in heaven. Through saving in Christ alone we also have strength to overcome the adversities, sorrows, and perplexities of life.
Do you have saving faith in Christ alone? Do you know him as Savior and Lord? He is the one who says, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” By God’s grace, have you come to him in humble repentance and saving faith? Is he your risen Savior, the one whom you profess to others?
If so, you can echo the words of verses 8 and 9 with confidence and joy: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” All because of Jesus Christ – his perfect life, his sacrificial death, and his glorious resurrection! Amen.
Bulletin outline:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“Struck Down, But Not Destroyed”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
I. The Bible warns us that there are many troubles in life (Job 5:6-7;
Psalm 90:10; John 16:33). These troubles include:
1) Being hard pressed – afflicted (8a)
2) Being perplexed (8b)
3) Being persecuted (9a)
4) Being struck down (9b)
II. How we are to persevere amid troubles:
1) By saving faith in Christ (13)
2) By the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection (14) and our identity with
Him in life and in death (10, 11)
3) By considering that our troubles are light and momentary compared
to the eternal glory for all who, by God’s grace, have saving faith in
Jesus Christ alone (17-18)
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Ted Gray, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright, Rev. Ted Gray
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