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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 4
Gospel light shines on the saints—Mortal trials are nothing as
contrasted with eternal glory.
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1 THEREFORE seeing we
have this ministry, as we have received amercy, we faint
not;
2 But have arenounced the
hidden things of bdishonesty, not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God cdeceitfully; but by
manifestation of the dtruth commending ourselves to every
man's econscience in the sight of God.
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3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the agod of this
bworld hath cblinded the
dminds of them which ebelieve not, lest
the flight of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
gimage of hGod, should shine unto
them.
5 For we apreach not
ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
bservants for Jesus' sake.
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6 For God, who acommanded the
light to shine out of darkness, hath bshined in our hearts,
to give the clight of the knowledge of the
dglory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the apower may be of God, and not of
us.
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8 We are atroubled on
every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
bdespair;
9 aPersecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not bdestroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
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11 For we which live are alway delivered unto
adeath for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our bmortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
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13 We having the same spirit of
faitha,
according as it is written, I abelieved, and therefore have
I spoken; we also believe, and therefore bspeak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes,
that the abundant grace might through the athanksgiving of
many redound to the glory of God.
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13a spirit of faith Paul is
one who speaks of it being by faith in Jesus Christ that salvation cometh.
And he speaks against dead works which are performed without that faith. But
Paul does not speak against not keeping the commandments and living
righteously, 'God forbid', as Paul would say. Yet here Paul speaks of the
spirit of faith and by that spirit of faith in Christ and in and by and
through that spirit of faith we are able to do more than that which the
temporal carnal man could do alone without faith and without Christ. Faith is
unto action to do. And in this both Paul and James are correct. We must live
and do by the spirit of faith which enables us to do more and more perfectly
in Christ than that which we could do alone of ourselves. It is because we
believe that we are enabled to speak and act and do in the name of the Lord
all that which we otherwise could not do alone in and of ourselves. There is
much wisdom and power in this. It is beyond that striving to live 613
commands of the Jews. It is living beyond the law as explained by Jesus
Christ in his sermon delivered in Israel and in Bountiful. Living by and in
and through the spirit is living by the spirit of faith, which is to live
the high law which is beyond the law for we then live by the spirit of the
law and not by the limits of the law only. And in this and by doing so, so
will the spirit work in us unto sanctification and eternal life. This is the
power of faith, even the very spirit of faith, which is the power of God in
us. And this is that which the traditional Jew lacks for he has not that
power of the spirit of faith wrought by the power and mercy of Jesus Christ
unto man from God.
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16 For which cause we faint not; but though
our outward man perish, yet the ainward man is
renewed day by day.
17 For our light
aaffliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and beternal
cweight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are
aseen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not
bseen are ceternal.
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