AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1

A. "FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION WHICH IS FOR THE MOMENT, WORKETH FOR US MORE AND MORE EXCEEDINGLY AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY"
  1. Here we see the master of effective teaching:
    1. When speaking of "affliction" he minimizes it, speaking of it as "light" and "for the moment"
    2. Thus he attributes to affliction a very limited time, and minimizes its severity
  2. In contrast to affliction:
    1. He speaks of the weight of glory
    2. "An eternal weight of glory B. THE WEIGHT OF AFFLICTION
  3. Affliction never seems light:
    1. Human nature shrinks even at the thought of affliction
    2. To be exposed to affliction is at best an unpleasant experience to contemplate by anyone
  4. Affliction, what is it?
    1. Affliction is adversity, trouble, or distress - Job 5:3; Jonah 2:2
    2. Affliction is outward oppression - Ex. 3:7; 14:31; Mark 4:17
    3. Affliction is correction from the Lord - Heb. 12:6-11; I Cor. 11:32; Rev. 3:19
  5. How can affliction be regarded as light?
    1. Paul, himself, had his afflictions. He did not find the Christian life easy - note how he writes about his trials, "We are troubled on every side" - 2 Cor. 4:8; "perplexed" "persecuted", "cast down", "always delivered unto death" - 2 Cor. 4:8-11
    2. In chapter eleven he enumerates his trials, "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one", "Thrice was I stoned; thrice I suffered shipwreck"
    3. There can be but one way of thinking of our afflictions as being light - that we fix our thoughts upon things eternal - that will put all temporary suffering into total insignificance
    4. It is when we realize that when we suffer for the cause of truth, that such suffering is an honor and will bring an eternal weight of glory
    5. This is one of the great secrets of the rejoicing of the saints C. THE END OF AFFLICTION
  6. Affliction is the precursor of glory:
    1. It cannot be said that trials and affliction in themselves have power to make a person holy; upon many they have the opposite effect
    2. And yet we know, that God often chooses trials to ennoble our lives - "For He is life a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver" - Mal. 3:2-3
  7. Let us note, therefore:
    1. That our God does not send trials and afflictions to His children to torment them, to exact vengeance on us because of our sins
    2. But because He has a holy and saving end in view - the removal of the dross of sin out of our lives
    3. To restore the image of the Divine character in us
    4. To keep us from being destroyed by evil habits which endanger our salvation
  8. Let us take a closer look at the eternal weight of glory Paul writes about:
    1. Weight comes by measurement and comparison; we do that in the commercial world; we weigh things to ascertain their true value
    2. This we must do with the glory of things eternal so that we may see why Paul makes the comparison
  9. Sevenfold weight of glory:
    1. Salvation from sin out-weighs all that one may endure during the process of being saved; Paul writes of "so great salvation" - Heb. 2:1-4
    2. Eternal life or having a part in the first resurrection is of so great a weight that some have forfeited their present life to obtain unto the resurrection of the just - Heb. 11:35
    3. To know that we endure affliction for Jesus Christ and the message of the cross, outweighs all temporary trials - Ga. 6:14-17; Luke 6:23
    4. To think that we suffer for a good cause far out-weighs any suffering that we may endure think of John Huss before he was burned at the stake


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