Today I want to draw from the wealth of GOD and Christ's abilities hidden deep within us who become One with GOD Almighty through our gaining Christ. Our actually having put on Christ both as a new covering outwardly and inwardly. Who is the LORD of both the Old and New Covenants and Testaments of witness to Him the Almighty One, also called the Ancient of Days and the Son of GOD. First Pastor Hoekstra and Grace which is Christ and then with the use of the ESV translation I will proceed with Divine Ability.
"Outer Man Perishing, Inner Man Renewed'
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2Corinthians 4:16)
"Those who learn to live by the Grace of God are increasingly protected from discouragement. "Therefore we do not lose heart." This truth was touched upon in an earlier verse from this fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians. "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (2Corinthians 4:1). The protection from discouragement there involved mercy and grace. Since we serve the LORD by mercy and grace (and not by our own merit or by our own resources), we have a built-in supply of heavenly encouragement available to us daily.
In our present verse, encouragement comes from the contrast between what is happening to the "outward man" and to the "inward man." The "outward man" is the physical person, which can be observed by human sight. Made up of the elements of the earth as a clay pot is so made. This is generally the object of attention among the unredeemed (as well as among believers who are walking according to the flesh). This man is "perishing" because sin has impacted all of us. It is also known as the court of the Gentiles figured in the old temple of Jerusalem, the outer fringe of the temple there located. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Man began from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground" (Genesis 2:7). Due to sin, the outer, physical man is headed back toward that initial starting point. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). For those who do not know the LORD, this is a discouraging fact. They often strive desperately to prevent this inevitable process.
On the other hand, servants (heirs) of New Covenant find that en Grace they are not discouraged by this fact. "Therefore we do not lose heart." It is true that our outer man is also perishing. Because it is within our flesh that the battles are win or lost depending on our choices. It is here that we learn that Satan dwells and that it is here that he will be found under our feet, if we do not loose hope, of faith. Yet, we see a bigger picture than that. "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." As our outer man is deteriorating, we are still encouraged, because our inner man can be in the process of renewal (salvation's work): "And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him Who created him" (Colossians 3:10). As we are humbly seeking the LORD in His word, we are being changed, brought more and more into the newness of Christ: "Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD" (2Corinthians 3:18).
Divine Abilities,
Able to Deliver:
Daniel 3:16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He Will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
To raise up children from stones:
Luke 3:7-9 "John the Baptist said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by Him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
To Fulfill Promises:
Romans 4:16-25 "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all His offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (who live by and acquire his kind of faith), as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the GOD in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead (those separated from Him, of the world) and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to GOD, fully convinced that GOD was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe en Him Who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
To make Grace Abound:
2Corinthians 9:6-15 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all Grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify GOD because of your submission that comes from your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing Grace of GOD upon you. Thanks be to GOD for His inexpressible gift!"
To do Exceeding Abundantly: Ephesians 3:14-19, 20-21 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in His Love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of GOD. Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
To Subdue all things:
Philippians 3:17-21 "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ, Who Will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself."
To Guard the soul's treasure:
2Timothy 1:8-14 "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us en Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are en Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."
To Save to the Uttermost:
Hebrews 7:18-22, 23-25, 26-8:13 "For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to GOD. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a Priest with an Oath by the One Who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, 'You are a Priest forever.'" This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He (Christ Jesus) holds His Priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to GOD through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a High Priest, Holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since He (Christ Jesus) did this once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law (of Moses) appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than this Law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect forever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the Holy places, in the true tent that the LORD set up, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this Priest also to have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by GOD, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the Covenant He Mediates is Better, since it is enacted on Better Promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For He found fault with them when He says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I Will establish a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in My covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declared the LORD. For this is the Covenant that I Will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I Will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I Will be their GOD, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I Will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I Will remember their sins no more." In speaking of a New Covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."
To Keep from falling:
Jude 24-25 "Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only GOD, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our LORD, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. The Amen."
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