INTRODUCTION

1. What is this “treasure?”

2. In the context of 2 Corinthians 3-4

a) Knowledge of the New Covenant

b) The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

c) The Word of the Gospel

d) The Ministry entrusted to us as servants of God

e) The glory and power of God

 

THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

1. Earthen vessels

a) This is a description of the human body

b) It is frail and fragile and thus described as “earthen”

2. Potter and Clay Imagery

a) God as the Potter and we are the clay Isaiah 64:4-8

b) Similar imagery Jeremiah 18:1-6

3. What does this earthen vessel contain?

a) The excellent power of God

b) Our life must reflect the power of God

 

TRIUMPH OVER THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

1. Hard pressed on every side

Yet not crushed

2. Perplexed

But not in despair

3. Persecuted

But not forsaken

4. Struck down

But not destroyed

 

CARRYING THE LORD IN OUR BODY

Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,

that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:10

1. We carry in our earthen vessels

a) The dying of the Lord Jesus

b) The life of the Lord Jesus

2. A significant text

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the

Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

1. Crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Christ the Lord lives in us

3. The earthly life

a) We live by faith in the Son of God

b) We are to be conscious of His love for us

c) We are to remember how He gave Himself for us

 

DELIVERED TO DEATH

11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake,

that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 2 Cor 4:11-12

1. We who live

a) We must be prepared to be delivered

b) We must even be prepared for death

c) This is what the Lord taught Matthew 5:10-12

2. For the sake of the Lord Jesus

a) He sacrificed His life for us

b) We must be prepared to suffer and even to die for His sake

This would require much faith

c) It would require much courage and strength too

3. The life of the Lord Jesus

a) His life would be manifested in us

b) Our weak mortal flesh would manifest the life of the Lord Jesus

4. A paradox

a) Death for the true servant of God

b) Life for those who turn to the Lord Jesus in faith

 

CONCLUSION

1. To be better identified with the Lord Jesus

2. To emulate the example of the Apostles

a) To live for the Lord

b) To suffer for our faith

c) To die for the Lord Jesus