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

I. Introduction to the 2 Corinthians 哥林多後書簡介 The city (哥林多城) The culture (文化) The church & problems (教会及其問題) False teachers (假先知) The circumstances (背景) Most personal: Paul the apostle (個人情况) Humility-Human Weaknesses (4:7-18) (謙卑) Relying on God’s grace (12:8-10) (靠神恩典) The theologically important: (神学上極重要) Christology (5:21; 8:9) (基督論) New Covenant (3:6-18) (新約) Face to face with Jesus (3:18-4:6) (与主面對面) Separation from unbelievers (6:14-7:1) (与不信者分別) After death (5:1-11) (1Co 15) (有信心地面對死亡) Giving (Ch 8-9) (奉献, 給予) Doctrine of reconciliation (5:14-21) (和好論) Substitutionary atonement (5:21) (代罪論)

II. State of life before our salvation II. State of life before our salvation. 未得救前的生命狀况 (弗 Eph 2:1; 傳 Ecc 3:11; 罗 Rom 6:23a; 8:21; 林後 2 Co 4:16) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. (弗 Eph 2:1) 你們死在過犯罪惡之中. Death, decay, waste away (死亡, 腐敗, 毁壞)

God left us at the fall 人墮落時神離開了人的生命 (傳 Ecc 3:11; 創 Gen 3) He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 神造萬物，各按其時成為美好‧又將永生安置在世人心裡‧﹝永生原文作永遠﹞然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透‧

林後 2 Cor 4:7-10, 16-18 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‧10身上常帶著耶穌的死，使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上‧….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‧

林後 2 Cor 4:7-10, 16-18 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. 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. ‧…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.

III. Paul’s metaphors of a Christian’s life 保罗對基督徒新生命所作的比喻 (林後 2 Cor 4:7-9, 16) Treasure in Jars of Clay (4:7-9) 宝貝放在瓦器裡 Jars of clay (瓦器) Treasure (宝貝): New life in Christ Outer man and Inner man (4:16) 外在人(外体)与内在人(内心)

A. Treasure in jars of clay 宝貝放在瓦器裡 林後 2 Cor 4:7-10 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. 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. 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‧10身上常帶著耶穌的死，使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上‧

B. Inner man and outer man 外在人(外体)与内在人(内心) 林後 2 Cor 4:16 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‧

The value of one’s life is determined: (人生命的價值…) Not by the broken/decaying jar of clay, 不是由破裂/腐化的瓦器來定, But by what’s in it (contents). 是看裡面有什么(內容) 而定. Dead in sin and transgression (死在罪惡過犯中) New life in Christ (through the power of the gospel message) 在基督裡的新生命(復活/永生)

IV. The state of our resurrected life 基督徒復活生命的現况 (林後 2 Cor 5:17; 4:10, 16; 加 Gal 2:20; 羅 Rom 6:5) 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‧

V. What does a true believer’s new life look like in reality V. What does a true believer’s new life look like in reality? 真正活出來的復活生命(永生) 是什么樣子? (林後 2 Co 4:10, 16-18; 加 Gal 2:20; 罗 Rom 6:1-14, 5; 西 Col 3:1-3) State of life (林後 2Co 4:10, 16b; 罗 Rom 6:5) 生命的現况 Our attitude: (林後 2Co 4:16a) 应存的態度 Our focus & efforts: (林後 2Co 4:18) 努力的目标 Our reward: (林後 2Co 4:17, 7-9) 神的賞賜

A. State of the believer’s Life 基督徒生命的現狀 (林後 2 Co 4:10, 16b; 5:17; 羅 Rom 6:5; 加 Gal 2:20; Isa 賽 40:28-31) Carry both death & life of Jesus. (4:10; 羅 Rom 6:5) 同時帶着耶穌的死与生. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (4:16b; 弗 Eph 2:10) (Process) 外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天‧ Already but not yet. (林後 2 Cor 5:17; 4:10, 16; 加 Gal 2:20) 已經開始, 尚未完全.

以賽亞 Isaiah 40:28–31 (NIV) 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 28 你豈不曾知道麼，你豈不曾聽見麼，永在的神耶和華，創造地極的主，並不疲乏，也不困倦‧他的智慧無法測度‧ 29 疲乏的，他賜能力‧軟弱的，他加力量‧ 30 就是少年人也要疲乏困倦，強壯的也必全然跌倒‧ 31 但那等候耶和華的，必從新得力，他們必如鷹展翅上騰，他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏‧

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. 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)

C. 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) 28 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. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. 28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‧29因為祂預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法祂兒子的模樣，使祂兒子在許多弟兄中作長子‧

D. New Focus & Goal 新的努力与目标 (林後 2 Co 4:18; 5:9-10; 腓 Phil 3:14) 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‧

New Focus & Goal 新的努力与目標 (林後 2Co 4:18; 5:9-10; 腓立比 Phil 3:14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (腓 Phil 3:14) 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‧

VI. Reward for living out our resurrected life more fully 更多活出復活的生命的賞賜 (林後 2 Cor 4:7-9, 17; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-4; 林前 1 Cor 3:14; 腓 Phil 3:14) This life (今生): Victory (得勝) Already but not yet (已開始, 尚未完全) Positional, Partial Experiential (地位性, 部份經驗性) 林後 2 Cor 4:7-9; 5:17 Life to come (來生): Glorified (得榮耀) Perfection (完全) Heavenly inheritance (天上的基業) 林後 2 Co 4:17; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-4; 林前 1 Co 3:14; 腓 Phil 3:14

A. This life: Victory (4:8-9) 今生: 得勝 Already but not yet (已經開始尚未完全) 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)

B. Life to come: Eternal glory 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‧

林前 1 Cor 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 人在那根基上所建造的工程，若存得住，他就要得賞賜‧

彼前 1 Peter 1:3-4 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you. 3願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神，他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，4可以得著不能朽壞，不能玷污，不能衰殘，為你們存留在天上的基業‧

VI. Personal Response 個人回应

Jars of Clay (瓦器) Discussion and Sharing Questions 討論与分享的題目 We are all jars of clay; the important thing is what’s in it? 人人都是瓦器; 問題是裡面有什麼. When our resurrected life is at work in full force, our outer man can also be victorious. (already but not yet) 当我們裡頭主復活的生命充份發揮功用時, 我们外在人也能得勝. (已經開始, 尚未完全) Share your view about this treasure in jars of clay. 請分享一下瓦器裡的宝貝是什麽. We are composed of two parts: The outer man and the inner man. 請分享你對外在人及內在人的暸解. You can become younger and more lively. How can you do that? 你可能越老越年輕, 越有活力. 怎樣才能如此呢? What should be our priority? 我们应該首要注重的是什麼?

Jars of Clay (瓦器) Challenging Thoughts (更深地想想) As we get older, we can get younger. 我们会越老越年輕. What’s inside of you? Treasure or junk? 你裡頭有什麼? 宝貝還是廢物? The treasure inside makes a person valuable. 裡頭的宝貝使整個人有價值. You can be victorious over life’s hardships and challenges. 你能勝過人生的困難与挑戰. Already but not yet: The state of our resurrected life. 已經開始尚未完全: 我們復活生命的現狀.