Once And Future Life

Once and Future Life (2 Cor. 4:16-5:10) Though our outer person is wasting away, our inner person is being constantly renewed (Ps. 73:26) Outer Person Diaphtheiro, Gk. = Corrupted, wasting away, decaying, being destroyed (Job 19:26-27, Contra: Rom. 2:6-7) Oikia, Gk. = tent, temporary dwelling place While here, must live by faith (Rom. 1:17, quoting Hab. 2:4) and continue to labor for God (2 Cor. 5:9) Our earthly behavior has potentially eternal consequences for ourselves and others! Inner Person Esothen, Gk. = that which dwells within, the inner person or being, the spirit, the true self, “the real you” Renewed day by day (daily bread - Luke 11:3) Our food being God’s word Doing God’s work Created by and marked/seal for God by His Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 2:10) unto “good works” A “good” action is one that conforms to God’s will and Word Stenazo, Gk. = groan or sigh in expectation (Rom. 8:23) of our eternal dwelling place We walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1), focusing on the eternal (2 Cor. 4:18)

Some of what we have to look forward to No more tears (Isa. 65:19, Rev. 21:4) Enjoy fruits of own Labor (Isa. 65:21-22) Peace (Isa. 65:25) The immediate presence and response of God (1 Cor. 13:12; Isa. 65:24)

Reason to endure (Ps 27:13) Calvin called perseverance “continuance in grace” based on the “certainty of salvation” as one of God’s elect. Keep your eyes on the prize (Phil. 3:12-15) Happy is the man that keeps enduring, he will receive the crown of life God promised (James 1:12) Keep on, you will not fail and you will gain entrance to the kingdom (2 Pe. 1:1011) Prove yourself faithful even to death and I will give you a crown of life (Rev. 2:10) Keep on holding fast that no one may take your crown (Rev. 3:11-12) Paul strove to “finish the race” and “complete the task” of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24, see also Heb. 12:1) But he that shall endure to the end, that one shall be saved (Matt. 24:13) We count happy them which endure … (James 5:11)

Able to endure by God’s own strength (Ex. 18:23; Isa. 40:31) Maintaining this eternal perspective makes life’s troubles “momentary light afflictions” (2 Cor. 4:17; Ps. 30:5; Rom. 8:18)