II Corinthians 4: Outer Decay, Inner Life

In II Corinthians 4, Paul presents the Christian life as a study in contrasts.

• The light of Christ shines in our hearts...but does so as through an earthen jar.
• We are afflicted...but not crushed.
• We are perplexed...but not driven to despair.
• We are persecuted...but not forsaken.
• We are struck down...but not destroyed.
• We always carry the death of Jesus around in our bodies...so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our bodies.
• Death is at work in us...but life is at work in those we serve.
• Our outer nature is wasting away...but our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
• We are momentarily afflicted...but we await an eternal glory.

This is what it means to live as a Christian in a fallen world!