The Power of the Gospel

2 Corinthians 4:1-17; 5:1-15

I started this sermon series on the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians with a question: Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ strong enough for this world we live in?  That’s a question that Paul himself had to grapple with.

Think of Paul’s time, the First Century, where right and left losses are mounting among Christians.  Christians are being arrested and killed; Nero, the cruel Emperor of Rome, is throwing Christians into the arena; and the power of Rome seems almost limitless.  Is it any wonder there are some people who wonder if the Christian Gospel is a match for the world – is it too weak to stand up to such powerful and evil forces? 

There are some people even at Corinth, the church Paul established, who are making that charge against Paul - that his message is too weak and the Gospel he preaches is not strong enough for the world we live in.  There are Gnostics saying that he needs a better message.  They’re saying that what Paul is preaching is too weak for a Roman world like they face, they need more spiritual power than what Paul’s offering, and they’ve got it. 

Furthermore, people are not only challenging Paul’s message; some are even challenging Paul himself – accusing him of not thinking very clearly anymore, of being beside himself.  How do you defend the Gospel when it’s accused of being too weak?  How do you defend yourself when you’re accused of not being in your right mind?

I love the way Paul responds to both these accusations.  First, in response to the charge that the Gospel is not strong enough for our turbulent world, Paul admits the challenge Christians are facing.  Notice 4:7-9:  “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.”

Paul’s saying that we have this treasure in weak vessels, in a less than ideal place.  Notice, we don’t just look like we’re afflicted, we are afflicted.  But also notice that the second half of each statement is the final word: afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.  The last word belongs to Christ, not to the affliction.  Affliction harms us, but it doesn’t crush us.

So Paul in 4:16-18 says: “So we do not lose heart.  Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”

Paul admits that Christians face real affliction – people are really suffering, they’re really dying in the arenas.  He’s been afflicted himself.  The suffering is real, but it’s not ultimate.  It’s not the last word.  In the grand scheme of things, it’s momentary.  The more substantial thing is the eternal weight of glory that God has preserved for us.  He does realize there is present affliction.  But he puts the affliction in context: the affliction is transient; the eternal weight of glory belongs to God. 

God has done two things for us.  First, God in Jesus Christ has suffered himself and has come alongside of us in the midst of the crisis we’re in.  We don’t get a theory about God – we get God himself, in person. 

Second, on the cross Christ has defeated the two greatest foes that we face in the midst of our turbulent world: evil and death.  Evil has lost its ultimate power – it can still do plenty of harm, but it’s lost its ability to do ultimate harm.  Evil and death don’t have the last word anymore.  The last word belongs to Jesus Christ.

OK, that’s how Paul responds to the charge that the Gospel is not strong enough.  How does Paul deal with the charge that he’s not in his right mind?  Paul starts out by admitting the possibility that the people saying this are right!  5:13-14:  “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.” 

Paul says that the love of Christ urges him on (that’s Christ’s love for us, not our love for Christ).  I’m grateful to Earl Palmer for pointing out the meaning of the word that’s translated “urges.”  The Greek word means literally “hold together.”  So what Paul is literally saying is that the love of Christ holds him together, sustains him, and integrates his life.

Paul tells the Corinthians that he should be turned over to God if he’s truly mentally ill.  If he’s in his right mind, though, it’s for their benefit.  The Corinthians should make their decision by looking at what motivates Paul’s life and seeing if it’s healthy, sane, and has a good effect.

What motivates Paul and holds him together is the love of Jesus Christ.  It’s a love that’s able to reconcile brokenness and offer forgiveness.  It’s the love of the one who died and rose again from the dead.  It’s the love that’s powerful enough to overcome evil.

What holds everything in your life together?  What motivates you?  What foundation have you built your life on?  Paul says that he’s built his whole life on two great foundations:  first, on the faithfulness of God – God is durable, he’s the eternal weight of glory, and he comes alongside of us.  And second, on God’s goodness and love – the love of Jesus Christ that holds him together.  God invites us to do the same, to put our trust in his trustworthiness.  Amen.