Clay Jars, Great Glory Second Corinthians 4:7-18

7.Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8.We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9.we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10.We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11.For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12.So death works in us, but life in you. 13.And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak, 14.knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you.

15.For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory. 16.Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17.For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18.So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Earthen pots - implies something fragile, inferior, and expendable… an ordinary, everyday utensil conveying an invaluable treasure —New American Commentary We’re Just Clay Jars Vs. 7 “Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.”

Life as a Clay Jar Can Bring: PressurePressure –“We are pressured in every way” PerplexityPerplexity –“We are perplexed” PersecutionPersecution –“We are persecuted” Powerful BlowsPowerful Blows –“We are struck down” Verses 8-9

What Life as a Clay Jar Cannot Bring Vs. 8-9 “We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” William Barclay: “We are sore pressed at every point, but not hemmed in. We are at our wit's end, but never at our hope's end. We are persecuted by men, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not knocked out.”

Pots Are Made to Carry Contents Vs. 7 “Now we have this treasure in clay jars” Vs. 6 “He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”

We Bear Death & We Bear Life Vs. 10 “We always carry the death of Jesus in our body…” Vs. 11 “ For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus…” Vs. 12 “So death works in us…” The term “death” can refer either to the process of dying or the final condition of death Death: Suffering for Christ and Dying to Sin

We Bear Death & We Bear Life Vs. 10 “We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. Vs. 11 “For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.” Vs. 12 “So death works in us, but life in you.” We should remember “the infirmity is ours and the glory is God's, and recognize our own utter dependence on him.” —William Barclay The light cannot shine through without a crack in the pot

Future Resurrection & the Spirit of Faith Vs “And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak, Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you.”

Our Motives Vs. 15 “For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory.” The Spread of Grace The Glory of God

The Biggest Realities are Not the Obvious Ones The Contrasts of the Christian’s World Outer person / Inner person (4:16) Being destroyed / Being renewed (4:16) Slight affliction / Incomparable glory (4:17) Momentary affliction / Eternal glory (4:17, 18) What can be seen / What cannot be seen (4:18) Temporary / Eternal (4:18)

Outer Destruction & Inner Renewal Vs. 16 “…even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. “

Momentary Affliction & Eternal Glory Vs. 17 “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” An ongoing process: “Is producing” Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

Because of What We Know… We Do Not Give Up –Vs. 16 “Therefore we do not give up” We Focus on the Invisible –Vs. 18 “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”