Skip to content Hope Springs Eternal: A Journey Through Second Corinthians Oct 14 · 17 min ...more
Hope Springs Eternal: A Journey Through Second Corinthians
October 14, 2025 · 17 min
Explore Second Corinthians' message of resilience and faith as we unfold the gospel's mystery.
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The Glory of the New Covenant 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning while the sun is up and the word is open. As we're looking at at, second Corinthians chapters 3 and 5 verses 8 and 9 of chapter 4, we are0:22 hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We're perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down, but not destroyed. Why? Because hope springs eternal.0:34 It comes from within. Alright. Let me just stop here for a minute. Reading and I'm so glad you're on this journey with us. And I think you if you've been on the journey for any amount of time, and we're coming close to0:45 the end of this, the end of this year will be our 2 year journey, which, is it's amazing how quickly this time has gone by. But reading the word of God in a systematic way provides a more0:57 vibrant picture of God's unfolding plan. I mean, when you're reading just a a, a couple of verses or a passage within a chapter, within a book, it's kinda like reading a quote about some great1:09 sporting event as opposed to actually being there and see the whole story unfolding. You get the context and the meaning. You get the bigger picture. And and when we I quoted that1:20 verse. When we see the life of Paul and all that he dealt with and what he was doing, it just provides so much more understanding of our call to be disciples1:32 of Christ. Alright. Here we go. In chapter 3, we see Paul doing what he had to do in the churches in Galatia and elsewhere, refuting the challenges of the Judaizer over his authority as an apostle.1:45 In chapter 4, Paul goes into the character of the ministry as well as the challenges to the ministry, and there's a contrast between the old and the new covenants. And I tell you, this, as we as we read these 2 chapters,1:56 it gives us a little more insight into battles that Paul was fighting both inside and outside the church. So let's begin verse 1, chapter 3. Do we begin again to commend ourselves, Or do we2:08 need or some other epistle of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.2:20 Clearly, you are an epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but by the spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.2:32 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Now the Judaizers were were carrying letters of introduction from Jerusalem coming in behind Paul to undermine his work of preaching the2:44 gospel message of salvation through faith alone. Now the Judaizers wanted to impose, as we've looked at before, elements of the old covenant. And Paul responds saying, I don't2:56 need letters affirming or recommending me. The work done in your lives is all that is needed to validate our ministry. You know, the word of God transforms lives. And when we're3:08 preaching and teaching the word of God, that's all the evidence that's needed of our calling from God. Now he goes on to say, this is not of ourselves. Alright? It's not like because I'm some kind3:19 of a great person, although Paul was really a good teacher. He was he he had studied the word as a as a Jew, but then when he came to know Jesus Christ,3:31 he spent that time in the desert learning and and, and and being taught by the Holy Spirit. Verse 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of3:43 anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. It comes from God. Alright. In verses 6 through 11, Paul contrast the law with grace, comparing the new3:54 covenant with the old. Verse 6, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit4:06 gives life. But if the ministry of death written and engraved on stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was4:18 passing away, how will the ministry of the spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For4:30 even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much4:42 more glorious. Now I love this next verse. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech. So the law of God was great. It built a nation.4:53 Alright? That that's what they built the nation upon, but it pales in the in comparison to the glorious, powerful, life changing nature of the gospel that is not5:05 building a nation, but a kingdom. Therefore, we should be bold in proclaiming. That's what Paul is saying. Verse 13. Unlike Moses who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look5:17 steadily at the end of what was passing away, but their minds were blinded. For until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament because the veil is taken away in5:29 Christ. In Christ, the mystery of the gospel is revealed, and it's been running throughout human history, but we couldn't see it until the veil was lifted in Christ. And that's the only5:41 way. Once we're made alive in Christ, we can see it. It makes sense. And and we're gonna look at this in chapter 4 about the blindness of the those that are blinded by the god of this age. Verse 15, but even5:53 to this day, when Moses is red, a veil lies on their hearts. Nevertheless, when 1 turns to the lord, that veil is taken away. You can see. Bringing the contrast between the law and the new covenant to6:05 a crescendo, here is a verse that has gotten some attention a few years back in presidential politics. It's the theme verse of Liberty University, where I attended, or graduated. Verse 17, chapter6:16 3. Now the law lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the lord is, there is liberty. Alright. Chapter 3 flows right into chapter 4. Therefore, since we6:28 have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. You know, having the ministry of liberty through the Spirit is encouraging, keeping us from losing hope and despairing underLiving with Eternal Perspective 6:40 challenging circumstances. I mean, look at this look what Paul had to deal with. But yet, he was being encouraged from within through the Holy Spirit. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not6:52 walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel7:04 is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age is blinded. We who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ, who is the image of7:16 God, should shine on them. Satan has blinded the minds of people. You know, it it's very evident here in our nation's capital when people ask, how can they not see this?7:28 I mean, when you're you see policies being debated about, you know, children being able to to to declare, the the gender that is opposite of7:40 how they were created. And and then the government wanting to fund cutting off healthy body parts or abort you take any any number of issues. How in the world can you not see this?7:52 Satan has blinded the minds of people, but God sent the light Jesus to shine into the hearts of man. And that's the message we take, the light of truth to the others. And so8:04 when you look at the the political debates that are taking place in our country and and and and people engage in debates and I think we should have conversations. I miss the day when there actually were debates because8:14 we don't debate anymore. We just there's just ranting for the most part. But if we really wanna change the way people see these fundamental issues, whether it's the8:25 sanctity of human life, of marriage, of human sexuality, it begins inside with the light of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ coming in and and8:37 and lifting the blindness. And so that's why 1 of the reasons we're doing the stand on the word, number 1, we want people to come to know Jesus Christ as their lord and savior because8:50 once a life a heart is transformed and the spirit made alive in Christ, well, then the veil's lifted. Then the the blindness is taken away, and then we can begin to9:02 educate and and and equip people to make good decisions as it pertains to public policy and the culture and raising their children, but it begins inside. And and9:14 so that's why, as a public policy organization here in our nation's capital, we're challenging believers to be people to be in the word believers because they need to know as believers, we need to know what we believe9:26 and why, but we also need to be challenged to take the gospel and share the light of Christ with others. Verse 5, for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and9:37 ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face9:49 of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. In, 19 92,10:01 long time ago, my father and I attended the first, big Promise Keepers Stadium event in Boulder, Colorado. And at the end of this 2 day event, it was it was really great. It was it was a really great10:13 time for me and my dad to be together and, and just to to to witness what God was doing with men over 30 years ago. And at the end of that 2 day event, there were 50000 men in that stadium. In10:25 fact, the Guinness World Book of Records, there's a the largest cookout, I think, still, took place there. They cooked steak. It was really pretty good. But on the, the final10:37 night, Saturday night, 50000 men stood and they sang Amazing Grace. It was pretty it was it was moving. But what took place, coach McCartney,10:49 lit a candle on the stage. And from that 1 candle, the light was passed from man to man until 50000 candles were lighting that stage. And they turned out all the lights, and it was these it11:01 was lit by these 50000 candles. That is how the light of the gospel is spread, 1 by 1, and then it's amazing what happens when it spreads from11:13 man to man, from person to person. But it's not easy. Alright? It's not gonna come without opposition. Look at at how Paul describes these challenges. Verse 8, for we are hard pressed on every11:25 side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed, always caring about in the body the dying of the lord Jesus, that the life of11:37 Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be11:49 manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. Like Jesus, Paul is saying, we're laying down our lives for you. We're we're enduring this for you.12:01 And it reminds me, greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends. The life of a disciple of Jesus is 1 of denying ourselves and living.12:12 Right? Dying to ourselves, but living to Christ so that others might find the freedom from the bondage of sin and death as we did. Verse 13. And since we have the same spirit of faith according to what is12:24 written, I believed and therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise up raise us up with Jesus and12:36 will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.12:48 But great stuff. And and here's why we don't get discouraged. Even in the midst of great difficulty, and believe me, I I can relate to this. Verse 16. Therefore, we do not lose heart even though our outward man is13:00 perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. Now that has to be a choice that we make by being in the word of God, by praying, and by13:12 meditating upon the things of God. Turn off the television, open the word, and and and discover that renewal that comes by walking with God and being filled with13:24 the spirit. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Now hold on. We're gonna see the13:36 key here. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Alright.13:48 Here it is. The physical man might be getting worn down, but the spiritual man is being built up. Our affliction, the challenges we face, they're real.14:00 Alright? I'm not minimizing them in any way, but they're only for a moment. But the glory of eternity is without end. The things which the things we see, we14:11 don't focus on. Why? Because they're temporary. Don't focus on these temporary things. It is the unseen that we should focus on. Why? Because they're they are eternal.14:24 Live with eternity in mind, and the things of this world begin to fade away very quickly. Father, we thank you. We thank you for your word14:38 and the power of the Holy Spirit, making that word alive for us. And I pray, Lord, even I I pray for those that are on this journey, Lord, that are facing so many things.14:51 And I've heard from many of them facing family relationships, children that have, have strayed and and, marital relationships and and, lord,15:02 physical challenges, financial challenges, career challenges. Lord, the challenges are on every front. But, lord, while we're being worn down on the outside, may we be renewed on the15:14 inside as we walk with you, filled with the spirit with our eyes faced upon eternity, lord, experiencing the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus. So I15:26 pray, father, for any that might be on this journey or who have may just stumbled upon this video that are not walking in freedom. Or maybe the may today be the day they're set free. For freedom comes15:38 from Jesus Christ. And and I pray, Lord, that they would discover that he is the way, the truth, and the life, that no man comes to the father except by him. And so, father, I pray that they would just15:49 cry out to you and and ask Jesus to be their savior. They would believe in the heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is the lord, that you raised him from the dead, and that he is the lord of all. And so, father,16:01 continue to guide us on this journey and, use each of us to take the light of the gospel into the places of darkness, lord, that we have the opportunity to go. Lord, we're16:13 not in the world we're in the world, but not of the world. And so may we take that light into the world that others might see. For we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this16:25 morning, and until next time, keep standing16:28 on the word. Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan, available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following16:40 along in just a few minutes a day, you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash16:52 bible.In this video 0:00 The Glory of the New Covenant6:33 Living with Eternal Perspective
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