Treasure in Jars of Clay 宝貝放在瓦器裡 林後 2 Cor 4:7-18

I. Introduction: 簡介:

林後 2 Cor 4:7-9 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV) 7 我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裡，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於神，不是出於我們‧ 8 我們四面受敵，卻不被困住‧心裡作難，卻不至失望‧ 9 遭逼迫，卻不被丟棄‧打倒了，卻不至死亡‧

林後 2 Cor 4:10–15 (NIV) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 10身上常帶著耶穌的死，使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上‧11因為我們這活著的人，是常為耶穌被交於死地，使耶穌的生，在我們這必死的身上顯明出來，12這樣看來，死是在我們身上發動，生卻在你們身上發動‧13但我們既有信心，正如經上記著說，『我因信，所以如此說話‧』我們也信，所以也說話‧14自己知道，那叫主耶穌復活的，也必叫我們與耶穌一同復活，並且叫我們與你們一同站在他面前‧15凡事都是為你們，好叫恩惠因人多越發加增，感謝格外顯多，以致榮耀歸與神‧

林後 2 Cor 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 16 所以我們不喪膽‧外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天‧17 我們這至暫至輕的苦楚，要為我們成就極重無比永遠的榮耀‧18 原來我們不是顧念所見的，乃是顧念所不見的‧因為所見的是暫時的，所不見的是永遠的‧

II. State of life without God 沒有神的人(自然人)的生命現狀 (弗 Eph 2:1-3; 羅 Rom 8:20-23; 6:23; 約 John 15:4-6; 傳 Ecc 3:2-3) 弗 Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. 你們死在過犯罪惡之中

我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裡，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於神，不是出於我們‧ We are all cracked jars of clay. Question is what’s in it? 我們都是破瓦器. 問題是裡面有什么? 林後 2 Cor 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裡，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於神，不是出於我們‧

The outer man and the inner man (Outwardly and inwardly) 外在人与內在人 (外体与內心)

III. State of life with God 有神(属灵人)的生命現狀 (林後 2 Cor 4:7-9, 16-18; 5:17; 約 John 3:16; 5:24; 弗 Eph 2:4-10; 西 Col 3:2-3) Treasure in jars of clay (有宝貝在內的瓦器) Abiding branches (住在樹上的枝子) Outwardly: Wasting away (外体:漸漸毀壞) Inwardly: Renewed daily (內心:一天新似一天)

IV. What is this treasure. “這宝貝”是什么 IV. What is this treasure? “這宝貝”是什么? (林後 2 Cor 4:3-6; 5:17; 罗 Rom 1:16-17; 約 John 3:16; 林前 1 Cor 15:19-20) The gospel and its effects (福音与它的果效) Indwelling Spirit (聖灵內住) Salvation (救恩) Rebirth-Born again (重生) Power of the Spirit (聖灵的能力) Righteousness: Forgiveness of sin (赦罪与称義) New life / Resurrection (新生命/復活的生命) Renewal (更新) Growth-Fruit of the Spirit (成長-結果) Victory (得勝)

Treasure: The Gospel & its effects (宝貝:福音及其果效) (約 John 3:16; 5:24; 路 Luke 19:10; 罗 Rom 1:16-17) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (約 John 3:16) 神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生‧

罗 Romans 1:16–17 (NIV) 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” 16我不以福音為恥‧這福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希利尼人‧17因為 神的義，正在這福音上顯明出來‧這義是本於信以致於信‧如經上所記，『義人必因信得生‧』

林前 1 Cor 15:19–20 (NIV) 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 19 我們若靠基督，只在今生有指望，就算比眾人更可憐‧ 20 但基督已經從死裡復活，成為睡了之人初熟的果子‧

林後 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人‧舊事已過，都變成新的了‧

V. What are the effects of this treasure. “這宝貝”有什么果效 V. What are the effects of this treasure? “這宝貝”有什么果效? (林後 2 Cor 4:8-10, 16-18; 5:17; 弗 Eph 2:4-10; 約 John 5:24; 15:1-8; 弗 Eph 2:1) Rebirth (約 John 3:16; 5:24; 弗 Eph 2:1) (重生/復活) Victory over adversity (4:8-10) (勝过困境) New power: Do not lose heart (4:16a) (新能力) Daily renewal (4:16b) (每天更新) New hope (4:17) (新盼望) New focus and goal (4:18) (新方向与目标) New identity (5:17; 罗 Rom 8:16-17) (新身份)

A. Transformation, growth and Renewal 蛻变,成長与更新 (4:16; 罗Rom 12:2) 林後 2 Cor 4:16 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 所以我們不喪膽‧外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天‧

Your inner person is renewed and getting younger every day! 你的內在人每天被更新, 越來越年輕, 越來越有活力!

B. Victory: in this life 今生:得勝 (林後 2 Cor 4:8-9) Hard pressed on every side (四面受敵) Perplexed  (心裡作難) Persecuted (遭逼迫) Struck down (打倒了) But not crushed (卻不被困住) But not in despair (卻不至失望) But not abandoned (卻不被丟棄) But not destroyed (卻不至死亡)

C. Eternal glory: in life to come 來生:得榮耀 (林後 2 Cor 4:17; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-4; 腓 Phil 3:14) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 我們這至暫至輕的苦楚，要為我們成就極重無比永遠的榮耀‧

VI. How can we get this treasure VI. How can we get this treasure? 我們如何能得到“這宝貝” ？ （約 John 3:16, 5:24；路 Luke 19:10）

VII. Personal Response 個人回应

A. New Attitude 新的態度 (林後 2 Co 4:16a, 17; 罗 Rom 8:28) We do not lose heart. (4:16a) 我們不喪膽‧ It is for our benefits. (4:17; 罗 Rom 8:28) 我們這至暫至輕的苦楚，要為我們成就極重無比永遠的榮耀‧ (有把握; 確知)

B. New Confidence 新的把握 (羅 Rom 8:28-29; 林後 2 Cor 5:9-10; 雅 Jam 1:12; 太 Mat 5:1-12) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人‧

C. New Direction 新的方向 (林後 2 Co 4:18) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 原來我們不是顧念所見的，乃是顧念所不見的‧因為所見的是暫時的，所不見的是永遠的‧

D. New Goal 新的目標 (腓 Phil 3:14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 我向著標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞‧

E. New Value 新的价值 (西 Col 3:1-2; 林前 1 Cor 15:19; 腓 Phil 3:20) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 1所以你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事‧那裡有基督坐在神的右邊‧2你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事‧