We continue our study of First and Second Corinthians. In the third and fourth chapters Paul begins to show how that he and those with him were indeed servants sent by the Lord Jesus to Corinth for the blessing of the believers there. Sad to say, there were those in Corinth who were trying to undermine the doctrines that the Apostle taught them and the authority which he had been given by the risen Christ.
The Spirit of God uses these and succeeding chapters to bring out very lovely truths concerning our Christian walk and our hope. It was Paul’s earnest desire that the Corinthians would not have their eyes and hearts blinded to the truth as the Israelites had in a former day.
Paul had a treasure and he taught the Corinthians that it was hid in an “earthen vessel” (his body) in order that the power needed to overcome the persecutions and trials of this life would be found in God. Paul did not teach that the life of a believer would be easy. There are afflictions connected with the believer’s pathway, but they work for us eternal glory, which faith sees and values.
1. Paul had the Corinthian believers on his heart and that served as his commendatory letter to them. Where has God written His children? Isaiah 49:___
2. Who is it that the Spirit says is written in the book of life? Revelation 3:___
3. What is the end of those who are not written in the book of life?
Revelation 20:___
4. Where will those who are written in the book of life be found?
Revelation 21:___
5. Paul’s “treasure,” the Lord Jesus Christ, was “hid” in his earthly body and was the means of providing the power to overcome in every situation he met in life. Where is it that a man’s heart will be attached? Luke 12:___