WE BELIEVE AND SPEAK

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Key verse: 18

NIV

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a](A) Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith,(B) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(C) will also raise us with Jesus(D) and present us with you to himself.(E) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(F) to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(G) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(H) we are being renewed(I) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(J) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(K) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 Since we have (A)the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, (B)“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that (C)he who raised the Lord Jesus (D)will raise us also with Jesus and (E)bring us with you into his presence. 15 For (F)it is all for your sake, so that as (G)grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, (H)to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. (I)Though our outer self[a] is wasting away, (J)our inner self (K)is being renewed day by day. 17 For (L)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 (M)as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God will raise us with Jesus (13-15)

What do we believe? We believe that God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us and in our sheep. He will transform us by his power and complete the work of restoring his image in us. He will bring us into the very presence of God. We also believe that his grace and power is available to anyone who believes, so we share the gospel with others. As God's grace works in more and more people, God is glorified, and we are full of thanksgiving.

2. Therefore we do not lose heart (16-18)

Paul was not free of human problems. His health was sometimes not good. He was misunderstood and persecuted. Some of his sheep and coworkers ran away. But he was not discouraged. Why? Because he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus, and his hope in the kingdom of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for working in me and in those with whom I am studying the Bible. Help me to put my hope in Jesus only.

One Word: Don't lose heart