PARADOX THE UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH OF FAITH
Week 2 Become Weak to be Strong?
2 Corinthians 11 & 12 2 Cor. 11 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Cor 12 9 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses… I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Bullet Points (title here) Feel free to move these bubbles around and copy paste or delete as many as you’d like (subtitle here)
Bullet Points (title here) Feel free to move these bubbles around and copy paste or delete as many as you’d like (subtitle here)
2 Corinthians 11 & 12 2 Cor. 11 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Cor. 12 9 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses… I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 4 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
“…human beings [God] created naked and vulnerable that he might teach them wisdom instead; and gave them, beside all else, this deep sense of obligation to protect, love, and cherish one another, to proffer and accept assistance against every danger.” (Lactantius, Divine Institutes , VI. 10).
Weakness in human beings is… … not simply a choice. … not, on its own, a good. … not entirely negative.
Romans 7 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Romans 7 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
2 Corinthians 4 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us . 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 11 & 12 2 Cor. 11 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Cor 12 9 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses… I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
That which doesn’t kill us… … makes us stronger (Friedrich Nietzsche). … leaves a scar (Marylin Manson).
Paul’s scars: Defiance (2 Cor. 10:6) Physical Pain (2 Cor. 11:23) Criticism (2 Cor. 10-9-10) Torment (2 Cor. 12:7) Frustration (2 Cor. 12:20) Opposition (2 Cor. 11:5)
2 Corinthians 4 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 11 & 12 2 Cor. 11 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Cor 12 9 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
“The holy Christian people… must undergo every misfortune and persecution, all kinds of trials and evil from the devil, the world, and the flesh (as the Lord’s Prayer indicates) by inward sadness, timidity, fear, outward poverty, contempt, illness, and weakness, in order to become like their head, Christ. And the only reason they must suffer is that they steadfastly adhere to Christ and God’s Word, enduring this for the sake of Christ …” (Luther, On Councils and the Church , 41:164-165).
Romans 8 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Romans 8 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Weak people finding strength in Christ means: 1. Witnessing to the gospel with our whole bodies (2 Cor. 4; Rom. 8, 12) 2. Expecting pain and failure in this world (2 Cor 11:23-29; Rom. 8:18-22) 3. Persevering expectantly in and for Christ (2 Cor 12:9, 12; Rom. 8:25)
1 Thessalonians 3 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Christ is our strength!
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