Cast Down But Not Conquered
December 15, 2021
Commentary
God has made us the way we are so that we can do the work He wants us to do (v. 7). As a Christian we should never complain because of a lack of gifts or abilities. Each of us is a special vessel made by God for His use. The important thing about a vessel is that it is clean, empty, and available. This section is one of three sections in II Corinthians devoted to a listing of Paul’s sufferings (vv. 8-13). Paul was not afraid of suffering because he knew that God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory. The natural mind cannot understand this kind of spiritual truth and as a result cannot understand why Christians are victorious in suffering. Furthermore, God never abandons His own. For every trial there is a corresponding encouragement. After Paul lists some of the trials that were a part of his life and ministry, he shares how God gave him victory over all of them:
1. He was sure of Victory because of Christ’s resurrection (v. 14).
2. He was sure that God would be glorified as all things work together for good (v. 15).
3. He was sure that his trials were working for him, not against him (vv. 16-17).
4. He was sure that the invisible world was real (v. 18).
It is not wrong to care for the outward person, if you recognize that it is perishing. Concentrate on the inner person. It is the invisible that is imperishable.
Application
How does this chapter make me feel about hard times? How should I act differently because of what I have learned here?
2 Corinthians 4:7– 18 (NET)
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. 11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. 12 As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak. 14 We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. 15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.