Calvary Road Baptist Church
“BEFORE CHRIST”
Second Corinthians 4.16-5.10
What really separates the men from the boys? What’s the difference between someone who plays the game and someone on the All-Star team? What really distinguishes the first-round draft pick from the fourth-round draft pick?
Have you ever tried to figure out the difference between a Michael Jordan, a Nolan Ryan, a Charles Barkley, a Marcus Allen, a Bill Russell, or a Larry Bird from all the other guys who never amount to quite as much?
Why was U. S. Grant so successful as the commanding general of the Union forces in our nation’s Civil War when so many other northern generals were failures? Why did Robert E. Lee stand head and shoulders above the other Confederate commanders?
What was it about Ray Kroc, the president of McDonalds, that resulted in McDonalds becoming the company it became that the president of A & W Root Beer never did have? I am convinced A & W Root Beer has a much better menu.
Friends, what separates the winners from the losers, can rarely be traced to any difference in talent or any appreciable difference in opportunity for success. Whether it be business or sports, art or music, academics or spiritual matters, the differences between great successes and notable failures can almost always be traced to differences in the mental aspect.
We know that the spiritual battle is won or lost in the Christian’s mind and the believer’s thought life. That prompted the Apostle Peter to warn you to gird up the loins of your mind.[1] And that’s why Paul urged you to take the helmet of your salvation.[2]
But what are some of the more practical aspects of winning the battle of the mind? Specifically, how does the child of God win the battle against discouragement and depression in the face of terrible suffering and persecution? Or in the face of ruthless opposition?
Is it rough for you? Are you fighting against discouragement? Then do what Paul did, and led Timothy to do. When struggling to retain control of his thought life so he would not become totally discouraged in the face of rough times he faced in the Roman prison, Paul concentrated on doing what he later instructed the Philippians to do in Philippians 4.8:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
In our text, we’re going to see what specific things fall into the category of being virtuous and praiseworthy. Stand with me for the reading of Second Corinthians 4.16-5.10:
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Four specific things Paul dwelt on in his thought life, and led Timothy to emulate, which helped them to maintain their peace of heart and mind in the face of tremendous affliction, worse than anything you or I have ever faced:
First, PAUL KEPT HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT OF RENEWAL
Please note that the renewal that I have in mind has nothing to do with the so-called charismatic renewal, which has been talked about so much on Christian radio and television for decades but is not discussed in God’s Word at all. You’ll see what I mean as we read verses 16-18 of chapter four again:
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Three comments.
First, as to behaving. How did Paul behave in the face of affliction and persecution? How did he react when even some Christians tried to trash his ministry? He, and Timothy as well, fainted not. That is, their behavior was both commendable and consistent. That’s how we want our behavior to be. Amen? Commendable and consistent. Why so? What was the cause of their behavior? “For which cause we faint not.” The last phrase of the previous verse reads, “The glory of God.” How does my behavior, my conduct, reflect on God’s glory, was Paul’s mindset. It should be your mindset, as well.
Next, as to beholding. Paul realized that he was gradually dying from the emotional, psychological, and physical beating he was taking in his ministry. It was more than his frail body could take. His “outward man,” by which he was referring to his body, was perishing. He knew enough about himself and his capacity to endure suffering to know that what he was going through was sapping his stamina. Slowly, to be sure, but killing him just the same. The same was occurring with Timothy, but the younger man could recover from the brutal experiences Paul would not have recovered from, even had he not been martyred.
Third, as to believing. Do you agree that right behavior is the result of right belief? Then, what we are about to see is what made it possible for Paul to behave like he did, fainting not, all the while beholding the fact that what he endured was killing him. Regarding their inner man, Paul and Timothy believed that though their outer man, their bodies, were perishing, the inner man, their spirit and soul, was renewed daily. They believed that God made them new every day. And they were. Regarding their afflictions, Paul and Timothy believed that they were only afflicted for a little while when set against the backdrop of eternity. And that, eternally, it would yield more for their benefit than it took out of them. That’s Romans 8.18 thinking:
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Then there is Romans 8.28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Regarding their actions, Paul and Timothy decided to pay more attention to eternal certainties than temporal experiences. Because of what they believed, they walked by the eyes of faith, trusting that things were the way God said they were instead of how things appeared. Are things rough, my friend? Then grab hold of the fact, by faith, that God is renewing you daily and that things are not as they appear to be but the way God says they are. Amen?
Next, PAUL KEPT HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT OF REMOVAL
He had his head screwed on right when it came to where he was going to be once he was no longer here.
Four verses, 5.1-4:
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
In verse 1, Paul indicates our possession: Paul and Timothy knew that once their physical bodies were destroyed, in which case they would be physically dead, they would have a different dwelling place:
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
See the word “tabernacle?” Paul uses that word to describe his physical body as a tent. Notice where Paul describes his future abode as “an house not made with hands.” Quite a contrast. He likens our physical bodies to tents and our future abodes to buildings. As soon as believers are removed from this life, we take possession of a habitation not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Though not mentioned here, we also receive glorified bodies like the Savior’s.[3]
Next, Paul reveals their preference. If you went through what Paul and Timothy went through and knew what it would be like in heaven, which existence would you prefer? So, we can understand some of Paul and Timothy’s sentiments expressed in verse 2:
“For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:”
Third, as to the picture, verse 3: Understand Paul’s Jewish background and that some of his readers were Jewish Christians. So, put yourself into his shoes for a moment. What were the Greeks known for in Paul’s day? Wickedness, sexual sins, and especially nudity. They used any excuse in the world to take their clothes off. The Jewish people, on the other hand, were adamantly opposed to immodesty in any form. To make sure that Paul’s description of dying and going to heaven, along with his description of being disrobed from this physical body, did not strike the Jewish readers as immodest or unpleasant sounding, Paul specifically points out that all of this will be accomplished without nakedness:
“If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.”
Fourth, as to pressure, verse 4:
“For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”
No doubt, Paul and Timothy were being squeezed. No doubt, they were under a great deal of pressure. The result? They groaned under the weight of opposition and afflictions. Not that they groaned against their lot in life, but that the pressure they were under evoked a groan in favor of going to heaven. So, in addition to thinking about the fact that they were renewed every day, what helped Paul and Timothy get through it all was anticipating their removal and thinking about seeing the Savior face to face. Is this not the patience of hope Paul wrote about to the Thessalonian Christians?[4] It brings to mind the words of a lovely hymn, “Oh, that will be glory for me.” Such anticipation did Paul good. It did Timothy good. It will do you and me good, as well.
THE THIRD THING PAUL KEPT HIS THOUGHTS ON WAS REINFORCEMENT
Did it help soldiers in the old days to know that the cavalry was just over the hill and on their way to provide reinforcements? Sure, it did. How do you think the beleaguered soldiers felt once reinforcements had arrived? That’s how Paul felt because a reinforcement has arrived, my friends.
In verse 5, we read about our spiritual comfort:
“Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”
Paul was comforted by two things, according to this verse. First, he was comforted that all he was going through was part of God’s plan. God is good, isn’t He? God is wise, isn’t He? God is all-powerful, isn’t He? Then, I can be comforted by what He has allowed me to live through, knowing that it will accomplish His purpose.[5] Second, Paul was comforted by the Comforter. God gave both to Paul and to you and me His precious Holy Spirit, who is the earnest of our inheritance. We are the soldiers in the fight, and the Holy Spirit is the cavalry, and He has arrived. He is the reinforcement that we need to win this battle. Amen?
In verse 6, we read about spiritual confidence:
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:”
Wouldn’t you be confident knowing the Third Person of the Triune Godhead was fighting your battles with you? Well, He is if the battle you’re fighting is the one God wants you to fight and not some diversion thrown at you by Satan. And because the Holy Spirit is here, dwelling inside us, assuring ultimate victory, we have great confidence. Why? We know that He will ensure that while we are down here, still in our bodies and absent from the presence of our Savior, things will be all right.
In verse 7, we read about spiritual conduct:
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
Paul’s conduct and Timothy’s conduct were reflections of their conviction. Their behavior reflected their belief. So should ours. So does ours. If we walk by faith and not by sight, our behavior will be very similar to Paul and Timothy’s in times of distress and affliction. But if the pressure is on, and the afflictions are mounting against us, we are unraveled, it’s because there is a hole in our shield of faith, a breach in our wall of a fortification, a gap in the hedge that surrounds us.
In verse 8, we read about spiritual consolation:
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
When you are confident about your situation and willing to go through what the Lord has for you, wouldn’t you say you have been sufficiently consoled? I think so. Do not resist or grieve the Holy Spirit as He works to comfort and console you. Yield to the Reinforcer to perform His gracious ministry in your life. Embrace the confidence He imparts that God is in such control that your conduct can always be pleasing and honoring to Him. In short, when you find that difficulties have left you all alone, realize that you can’t possibly be all alone. The Holy Spirit is here. Your reinforcement has arrived. He is on the scene. Make use of Him to assure victory in the struggle. Rely on Him even if, especially if, reliance on Him results in your promotion to glory. Work it out. Pray it out. Study it out. Figure it out. Would you rather be here or there? Paul and Timothy, and right-thinking Christians throughout the ages, had rather be there than here, but only as a consequence of living for, loving, and serving the Savior. The immediate outcome is not your call or my call, just as it was not Paul’s call. The immediate result is God’s call; He always makes the right call.
Finally, AND THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL, IN MY OPINION, PAUL KEPT HIS THOUGHTS ON REWARDS
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Verse 9 focuses on the believer’s desire:
“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”
See the word “labour” in verse 9? It translates the Greek word for being ambitious or to be zealously devoted to a cause.[6] Paul’s main desire was not to either be here or there, to be afflicted or not afflicted. The only thing Paul was concerned about was doing those things which pleased his Lord Jesus. The word “accepted,” eὐάrestoV, has to do with pleasing and satisfying one’s master.[7] What kind of lives do people live whose desire is this and not something else? Amen? If you want to be like Paul, then desire what Paul desired, to please the Savior.
Finally, verse 10 focuses on the believer’s destiny:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Notice that I said “believer’s destiny,” for the unsaved individual will never stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The unsaved Christ-rejecter has quite another kind of judgment to look forward to. Consider with me the event of the Judgment Seat of Christ itself. Every Christian will someday be called to appear before the Lord Jesus Christ as He sits on a “bῆma” or judgment seat. A “bῆma” is a platform from which an official renders lawful decisions for those who stand before him. That is just what the Lord Jesus will do for every Christian who has ever lived. Now, for an explanation. What you and I are going to receive when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and His judgment seat in heaven is described in this way:
“that every one may receive the things done in his body.”
The verb “receive” refers to “receive back.”[8] This suggests that you and I will get what we’ve given. And the evaluation. “... whether it be good or bad.” What kind of treasures did you lay up in heaven in your Christian life? Were they good or bad? Was it faithfulness or unfaithfulness? Was it charity or sounding brass? Was it independence, doing your own thing, or compliance to God’s revealed will in the Bible? Was it faithfulness in worship or meaningless distraction? Was it ministry through your Church of Jesus Christ or freelance and therefore unaccountable Christianity? Was it the eagerness to forgive as you have been forgiven or the holding of grudges and clinging to slights that betray your false hope? What kept Paul and Timothy going through the hard times was the knowledge that someday, the Lord Jesus Christ would reward them according to their service to Him as Christians. Since they unreservedly loved and faithfully served Christ, they expected great rewards. Thus, they were motivated and encouraged.
What’s the difference between a believer who buckles under pressure and one who makes it? I’m convinced that it’s the mental aspect of Christianity. I believe the battleground where the victories and defeats of life in the main take place are in the individual believer’s mind and thought life. Paul realized this as well as Peter. And no one knew the truth of this better than the writer of Proverbs, who wrote, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”[9]
If that’s the case, are you a winner or loser of these battles we face daily? And when the great afflictions come, or the difficult trials of life occur, how will you stand up? Will you stand up at all? If you exercise, by the grace of God, control of your thought life, you will not only stand but also prevail.
Afflictions, persecutions, opposition, even to the point of slowly undermining and destroying your physical health. How do you maintain your testimony? How do you hold your winning edge? How do you keep on keeping on?
By fixing your mind on these four things:
Renewal—God renews you daily. Take that by faith, because you can’t see it.
Removal - Realize that things will be far, far better than they could ever hope to be here when you go to heaven. It’s the difference between living in a tent and a mansion.
Reinforcement - The Holy Spirit indwells you if you are a Christian. He backs you up. He comforts and consoles you. He empowers you. He guides you. You can’t lose with Him unless you ignore Him.
Reward - The Lord Jesus Christ will make it all worthwhile when you reach heaven. He will treat you, and the treat He will give you will be just what you have earned by your life as a Christian.
With your thoughts fixed in such a way as you look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, you cannot only make it, you can prevail. Amen? Will it be tough? Yes. But will it be worth it? You bet.
But what are you to do if you’re not saved? Not only can you not make it, you will not prevail, for your ultimate destiny will be Hellfire. No, if you’re not saved, your only hope is to turn to Christ. Turn to Jesus now!
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[1] 1 Peter 1.13
[2] Ephesians 6.17
[3] 1 Corinthians 15.35-54; Philippians 3.21; Colossians 3.4 ; 1 John 3.2
[4] 1 Thessalonians 1.3, 10; 4.13-5.24
[5] Romans 8.28-29
[6] Rogers, Jr., Cleon L. and Rogers III, Cleon L., The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key To The Greek New Testament, (Grand Rapids, MI: ZondervanPublishingHouse, 1998), page 402.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Proverbs 23.7
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