2 Corinthians 4:7-18 | Resurrection Life

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Slides:

The resurrection is our present power, and our future hope.

Paul’s suffering proclaimed the death and resurrection life of Jesus. 

-Treasure -- The glory of God in the Gospel of Christ

-Earthen Vessels -- Priesthood of the believer (us)

-Why -- For the glory of the Lord

The Dying of Jesus           The Resurrection Life of Jesus

afflicted in every way     not crushed 

perplexed              not driven to despair 

persecuted             not forsaken

struck down             not destroyed

Our suffering is for the corporate benefit of the body of Christ - the Church, and more, for the glory of Jesus.

If we will not feast with Him, we will not suffer with Him. -Richard Sibbes

Resurrection life is normal life for the Christian. 

-Sanctification

-Generosity

-Hope

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Colossians 3:1 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 2:5-6 God . . . made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him.

Romans 6:5 

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 8:11  

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Our perseverance does not need to depend on our strength or endurance, it needs to be Jesus’s resurrection life in us. 

If we take our union with Jesus seriously, we should expect to share in His sufferings. 

-But we should also expect to share in His triumphs. 

Resurrection life will not be “normal”, but will be glorious!

-1 Cor 15:19  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Philippians 3:20-21 

…our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Romans 8:17-18 

…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.