Renewed Day By Day
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Last week we learned of how we face all kinds of opposition and trials, yet we are never overcome. Through the Holy Spirit and the power of God we are able to stand firm. As we respond correctly to the difficulties of life, Christ is seen in us. As Paul wraps up his thoughts on this topic he encourages the believers with the knowledge that we are being renewed and that ultimately all the suffering will be worth it in glory. Paul declares that…
Renewal Brings Strength And Endurance v. 16
Renewal
“Therefore” refers back to v. 14. We will be raised up! Because that is true. We don’t lost heart! This is a confident statement of assured fact. Paul doesn’t say “we shouldn’t lose heart”, nor does he say “I hope we don’t lose heart”. Paul confidently asserts the reality that we don’t lose heart! Why not? Because this world is not our home! Though death awaits us, we will be raised!
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Turn to . One of the things I love about Paul is that he always connects our expectation of future glory with a plea for present faithfulness. Because we will be raised; be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Our labor is not in vain! Because our labor is not in vain, don’t lose heart. Don’t lose heart when there are trials. Don’t lose heart when there is opposition. Don’t lose heart because we will be presented faultless in Christ Jesus before the throne of God!
Our outward man is indeed perishing. This is simply a reality. If we are alive, we are also dying. Yet the incredible promise here is that the inward man is renewed day by day! The idea is that of being remade but better every single day. Don’t lose heart when you feel the effects of old age. Don’t lose heart when sickness increases. Don’t lose heart when the ability to work and move is lost. Don’t lose heart because the inward man is renewed daily!
This begs the question. “How is the inward man renewed?” The first way is by the mercy of the Lord in daily forgoing the full discipline our sin deserves. This is seen in .
How is the inward man renewed? The first way is by the mercy of the Lord in daily forgoing the full discipline our sin deserves. This is seen in .
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Though all the punishment for sin and the wrath of God on sin was taken by Christ, sin still has consequences for the believer. If I were to receive the discipline my sin deserves I would not be breathing. Yet God’s mercies are new every morning! His faithfulness is great! As God’s mercy is new, so I am renewed. The second way the inward man is renewed is through the Word of God. , , all ask the Lord to revive according to His Word. It is Scripture that provides renewal and revival and therefore it is necessary to be in the Word of God on a daily basis. The third way the inward man is renewed is through fellowship with the body of Christ. challenges us to assemble more often as the return of Christ approaches. In this way we encourage love and good works in one another. This also enables us to bear one another’s burdens as speaks of.
No matter what might be taking place in our physical bodies, our inward man is renewed day by day! What a blessing and joy! Renewal gives us strength and endurance. We also learn that…
Renewal Balances Our Focus vv. 17-18
Renewal
Paul’s words here are comparative. He is not seeking to minimize the suffering that is endured. He knows personally what suffering does. He is simply emphasizing that when eternity is weighed in the balance, our suffering here is light and momentary. Part of the renewal is the knowledge that the temporary suffering of this life brings eternal glory. Our affliction is light because it is less than the affliction of Christ! It is light because it is temporary. Even if affliction were to last our entire time on earth, it would still be temporary. When compared to eternity, our lives on earth are only moments in time. Yet these moments have the capacity to bring an exceeding and eternal weight of glory!
Suffering is to be embraced and even rejoiced in because it means glory in eternity! If you are afflicted today, that is glory! Paul will talk more about this in ch. 12. There are a couple really important words in v. 17 that I want to highlight. The first is the word “working”. This is the Greek word κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) meaning produce; do; bring about. To cultivate, to prepare someone or something for use; especially by working it (like soil).
Part of the renewal is the knowledge that the temporary suffering of this life brings eternal glory.
Working - κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai)
Soil is worked by blades cutting up the soil in preparation for planting, fruit bearing, and harvest. This is the imagery used for us. The trials are the blades cutting up the soil so that God can plant something useful! Affliction is preparation for use! It is bringing about and producing the exceeding and eternal glory!
The second word is “exceeding”. This word is important because it is repeated. This is the Greek word ὑπερβολή (hyperbolē) meaning extraordinary degree. Extraordinary overabundance. The state of having extremely (even superlatively) more than is necessary.
Exceeding - ὑπερβολή (hyperbolē)
Our light, momentary affliction accomplishes a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The reward for enduring trials far exceeds the trials themselves! That is what Paul is saying. In Greek Paul literally says that affliction works an extraordinary degree of an extraordinary degree of eternal glory. Anything we face in this life will pale in comparison to the glory that is ours in Christ Jesus! When we are with Him we will be blessed beyond measure!
In v. 18 Paul challenges our focus. To get through the affliction, even though it is light and temporary, we must focus on the glory that is to come. We do not look at what is temporary and fleeting! “Look” is the Greek word σκοπέω (skopeō) meaning notice; look out for. To look to, turn one’s interests or expectations towards something and respond accordingly.
Look - σκοπέω (skopeō)
Our interest and expectation is not on the things of this life! It is not on the here and now. The things we can touch, taste, and handle. We are setting on interest and expectation on the things that are eternal! The eternal things cannot be seen. They require faith. speaks of this.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
We cannot see Christ, yet we cling to Him as eternal God! Never having seen Him, nevertheless, we love Him. mentions this same concept in considering those who have gone before us.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Though we cannot see the promises, we cling to them. The things that we cannot see, that we accept by faith. Those things are eternal. This life and everything in it is temporary. We dare not live for things that will not last. Though we may endure trials and affliction, we do so with our focus fixed on the glory that is to come.
CHALLENGE: Be renewed and find strength, endurance, and eternal focus.
V. 16
Lose heart - ἐγκακέω (enkakeō) be discouraged. To be disheartened v. — to be or become discouraged or disheartened; lose spirit. Finite verb, present, active, indicative, first person, plural.
Perishing - διαφθείρω (diaphtheirō) destroy; corrupt. To decompose v. — to undergo the physical process of breaking down and wearing out; whether by becoming older and less healthy or rotting after death. Finite verb, present, passive, indicative, third person, singular.
Renewed - ἀνακαινόω (anakainoō) renew. to be renewed (state) v. — to be or become reestablished in a like-new and often improved manner. Finite verb, present, passive, indicative, third person, singular.
V. 17
Light - ἐλαφρός (elaphros) light; insignificant. Lightness n. — the property of being comparatively small in weight. Predicate adjective, nominative, singular, neuter.
Affliction - θλῖψις (thlipsis) distress; affliction. Distress (state) n. — an oppressive state of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity. Noun, qualitative genitive, singular, feminine.
For a moment - παραυτίκα (parautika) immediately; momentary. Fleeting adj. — lasting for a markedly brief time. Adverbial object.
Working - κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) produce; do; bring about. To cultivate (prepare) v. — to prepare someone or something for use; especially by working it (like soil). Finite verb, present, either middle or passive, indicative, third person, singular.
Exceeding - ὑπερβολή (hyperbolē) extraordinary degree. Extraordinary overabundance n. — the state of having extremely (even superlatively) more than is necessary. Noun (prepositional object), accusative, singular, feminine. This word is repeated.
Weight - βάρος (baros) burden; weight. Gravity ⇔ weight n. — the importance, significance, or dignity of something whose import bears heavily on the senses or spirit. Noun (direct object), accusative, singular, neuter.
V. 18
Look - σκοπέω (skopeō) notice; look out for. To look to v. — to turn one’s interests or expectations towards something and respond accordingly. Verb, present, active, circumstantial participle, plural, genitive, masculine.
Temporary - πρόσκαιρος (proskairos) temporary; transitory. Temporary adj. — not permanent; not lasting. Predicate adjective, nominative, plural, neuter.