II Corinthians 4

• II Corinthians 4:1-2 – Thoughts continued from II Corinthians 3:17-18. Paul refused to use underhanded ways or tamper with the gospel. He just spoke the truth.
• II Corinthians 4:3-4 – See II Corinthians 3:16. Turning to the Lord removes this veil.
• II Corinthians 4:5-6 – God’s message was light meant to direct their paths. In verse 6, Paul is referencing creation. Compare II Corinthians 5:17.
• II Corinthians 4:7-10 – This “treasure” is the message of the gospel. The “jars of clay” are people. See I Corinthians 2:1-5; 4:9; 15:30.
• II Corinthians 4:11-12 – Paul was facing physical death, but spiritual life was happening in the Corinthians.
• II Corinthians 4:13-15 – See Psalms 116:10; Matthew 13:31-32. Knowing that we will be raised and need to stand before Jesus should be a sobering thought.
• II Corinthians 4:16-18 – What Paul experienced was certainly not a light affliction, but in comparison, it shows how great heaven will be!

Introduction

• Nehemiah 9:24-31 – Cycles of obedience and disobedience.
• Judges 2:10, 16

Adversity is good for us.

• Judges 2:20-3:9 – God left enemies in place to test Israel and teach them war.
• II Corinthians 12:7 – God left adversity for Paul.
• II Timothy 3:11
• II Timothy 4:14-18
• Can we face this adversity and still be faithful?
• James 1:2

Don’t surrender to Satan’s culture.

• Judges 17:7-18:31
• Judges 19:1-21:24 – War with the tribe of Benjamin.
• Joshua 24:14-15
• Romans 12:1
• Hebrews 11:32-34 – God saw faith in these men who put up a fight.
• Ephesians 4:11-12

Thankfully, God is full of grace.

• Judges 3:7-12 – The cycle continued!
• God took pity on them and saved again and again.
• I John 4:14
• I John 1:9

Forgiveness

• Psalms 130:3-4 – The idea of forgiveness is letting go.
• I Corinthians 7:11 – The same word is used here and translated “divorced.”

Aren’t we glad that God forgives us?!

• I John 1:9
• Acts 5:30; 13:28

I have to learn how to quit holding grudges.

• Matthew 6:12-15
• Colossians 3:12-13
• Ephesians 4:31-32 – We must forgive others in order for God to forgive us.
• Matthew 18:21-35

Does the Bible require me to forget?

• Hebrews 10:3
• II Samuel 12:13-14 – Just because we are forgiven does not mean there are no earthly consequences.
• Deuteronomy 8:1-6

Introduction

• Hebrews 1:1-4
• Hebrews 2:1-4 – Don’t drift away!
• Hebrews 3:6, 12; 4:1, 11
• Hebrews 5:11-14
• Hebrews 6:1-3
  • Hebrews 6:2 – Compare Hebrews 9:10 regarding “washings.”
• Hebrews 9:11-12

Christians can fall away (Hebrews 6:6)

• Hebrews 6:4-6
• Hebrews 10:26 – If you reject Jesus, there’s no other sacrifice for you!
• Hebrews 6:7-8 – God gives the gospel. We either accept or reject it.

Active Christians can fall away (Hebrews 6:10)

• Hebrews 6:9-10
• Hebrews 10:32
• Let us not take our brothers and sisters in Christ for granted.

Therefore, develop diligence, faith, and patience (Hebrews 6:11-12)

II Corinthians 3

• II Corinthians 3:1-3
  • We are not to boast, but when the situation demands, we can defend our work in Christ.
  • “tablets of stone” – Paul is setting up a comparison between the Old and New Covenant. Note that this is a “not-but” construction.
  • Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:31-33 – There was a new covenant coming, the glory of which far outshone the Old Covenant.
• II Corinthians 3:4-6
  • See Romans 4:15. The Old Covenant brought wrath.
  • See Hebrews 9:15.
• II Corinthians 3:7-8
  • See Exodus 20:18. The Old Covenant came with glory. Exodus 24:15-18; Hebrews 12:21. Moses’ face glowed after interacting with God.
  • In II Corinthians 3:7, the fading (or ineffective) glory might be due to the veil Moses put over his face (or maybe that the Old Covenant was being done away with).
• II Corinthians 3:12-13
  • The Israelites didn’t want to see Moses’ face shining, so he wore a veil. Perhaps they could not tolerate the righteousness of God shining light on their own sin.
• II Corinthians 3:14-16
  • The heart of the Israelites was darkened. They effectively had veiled their own faces before God.
• II Corinthians 3:17-18
  • When we are in a right relationship with God, we are spiritually free.

Takeaway

• Participants in the New Covenant must continually be transformed instead of being conformed to this world (Romans 12:2).