Ephesians overview – 3:14-19, part 48: Inner man; the good heart revealed by the Lord.

Tuesday June 9, 2020

 

2CO 4:6-7

For God, who said [He spoke], "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

 

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;

 

Earthen vessel - it’s not a great vessel compared with the spiritual one to come, but it is used for God’s glory. God chose to leave us in it for a time. 

 

All believers are righteous and holy in the eyes of God, being made brand new within, but still limited in a weak earthen vessel.

 

Children of God who cry out Abba Father, citizens of heaven, raised with Christ, seated with Christ in heaven, and yet dwelling in earthen vessels.

 

It was revealed to Paul why. “That the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.” When we learn to stop trying to live like Christ in our own effort and power, which we learn through failure, and trust in His power alone, we witness the power of God in operation from within our very own selves, even these fragile earthen vessels.

 

Humanity is weak. When humanity flexes its pride and attempts to be strong, it is trying to be something that it is not. It’s a lie. God tells us that power is in Christ and not in humanity. Humanity was always meant to completely depend upon his Creator. Humanity is not strong, or smart, or wealthy. Individuals think they are, but that is only in comparison to others, which means nothing. It is weakness comparing itself with weakness. It is pride, which is comparative weakness.

 

Jesus Christ, being the one true Man of all, depended upon His Father for everything, experiencing human weakness, frailty, and limitation. He was strong in this human limitation because He depended upon the Father; obedient (strength) to the point of death (weakness made strong by the Father). He had a perfectly strong spiritual life.

 

God has chosen the foolish, the weak, and the base things of the world, which is what the whole world is. Yet, faith in the gospel lets the believer know that he is.

 

Remember, this human weakness has nothing to do with sin. Some use it as an excuse to justify sin. We are not to be lazy, stupid, silly, lustful, or anything other than divinely virtuous.

 

We are weak humans who are strong in Christ by faith and not by works.

 

2CO 4:6-11

For God, who said [He spoke], "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

 

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus [death to self], that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body [raised up with Him]. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake [we suffer], that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

 

The suffering of the world shows us over and over that we are not of it, and that our only life is in Christ.

 

2CO 4:12-18

So death works in us [we don’t live for self or the world], but life in you [and all others we serve as Christ would]. 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," [In suffering we had to believe God’s words; PSA 116:10] we also believe, therefore also we speak; 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.