按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
measure； above strength； insomuch that we despaired even of life。〃
But now one cause of anxiety was removed。 At the tidings of the acceptance
of his letter to the Corinthians； Paul broke forth into words of rejoicing：
〃Blessed be God； even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ； the Father of
mercies； and the God of all comfort； who comforteth us in all our
tribulation； that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble；
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God。 For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us； so our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ。 And whether we be afflicted； it is for your consolation and
salvation； which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which
we also suffer： or whether we be comforted； it is for your consolation and
salvation。 And our hope of you is steadfast； knowing； that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings； so shall ye be also of the consolation。〃
In expressing his joy over their reconversion and their growth in grace；
Paul ascribed to God all the praise for this transformation of heart and
life。 〃Thanks be unto God；〃
326
he exclaimed； 〃which always causeth us to triumph in Christ； and maketh
manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place。 For we are unto
God a sweet savor of Christ； in them that are saved； and in them that
perish。〃 It was the custom of the day for a general victorious in warfare to
bring with him on his return a train of captives。 On such occasions incense
bearers were appointed； and as the army marched triumphantly home； the
fragrant odor was to the captives appointed to die； a savor of death；
showing that they were nearing the time of their execution； but to those of
the prisoners who had found favor with their captors； and whose lives were
to be spared； it was a savor of life； in that it showed them that their
freedom was near。
Paul was now full of faith and hope。 He felt that Satan was not to triumph
over the work of God in Corinth； and in words of praise he poured forth the
gratitude of his heart。 He and his fellow laborers would celebrate their
victory over the enemies of Christ and the truth； by going forth with new
zeal to extend the knowledge of the Saviour。 Like incense the fragrance of
the gospel was to be diffused throughout the world。 To those who should
accept Christ； the message would be a savor of life unto life； but to those
who should persist in unbelief； a savor of death unto death。
Realizing the overwhelming magnitude of the work； Paul exclaimed； 〃Who is
sufficient for these things？〃 Who is able to preach Christ in such a way
that His enemies shall have no just cause to despise the messenger or the
message
327
that he bears？ Paul desired to impress upon believers the solemn
responsibility of the gospel ministry。 Faithfulness in preaching the word；
united with a pure； consistent life； can alone make the efforts of ministers
acceptable to God and profitable to souls。 Ministers of our day； burdened
with a sense of the greatness of the work； may well exclaim with the
apostle； 〃Who is sufficient for these things？〃
There were those who had charged Paul with self…commendation in writing his
former letter。 The apostle now referred to this by asking the members of the
church if they thus judged his motives。 〃Do we begin again to commend
ourselves？〃 he inquired； 〃or need we； as some others； epistles of
commendation to you； or letters of commendation from you？〃 Believers moving
to a new place often carried with them letters of commendation from the
church with which they had formerly been united； but the leading workers；
the founders of these churches； had no need of such commendation。 The
Corinthian believers； who had been led from the worship of idols to the
faith of the gospel； were themselves all the recommendation that Paul
needed。 Their reception of the truth； and the reformation wrought in their
lives； bore eloquent testimony to the faithfulness of his labors and to his
authority to counsel； reprove； and exhort as a minister of Christ。
Paul regarded the Corinthian brethren as his testimonial。 〃Ye are our
epistle；〃 he said； 〃written in our hearts； known and read of all men：
forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
ministered by us； written not with
328
ink； but with the Spirit of the living God； not in tables of stone； but in
fleshy tables of the heart。〃
The conversion of sinners and their sanctification through the truth is the
strongest proof a minister can have that God has called him to the ministry。
The evidence of his apostleship is written upon the hearts of those
converted； and is witnessed to by their renewed lives。 Christ is formed
within； the hope of glory。 A minister is greatly strengthened by these seals
of his ministry。
Today the ministers of Christ should have the same witness as that which the
Corinthian church bore to Paul's labors。 But though in this age there are
many preachers； there is a great scarcity of able； holy ministersmen
filled with the love that dwelt in the heart of Christ。 Pride；
self…confidence； love of the world； faultfinding； bitterness； envy； are the
fruit borne by many who profess the religion of Christ。 Their lives； in
sharp contrast to the life of the Saviour； often bear sad testimony to the
character of the ministerial labor under which they were converted。
A man can have no greater honor than to be accepted by God as an able
minister of the gospel。 But those whom the Lord blesses with power and
success in His work do not boast。 They acknowledge their entire dependence
on Him； realizing that of themselves they have no power。 With Paul they say；
〃Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves；
but our sufficiency is of God； who also hath made us able ministers of the
new testament。〃
A true minister does the work of the Master。 He feels
329
the importance of his work； realizing that he sustains to the church and to
the world a relation similar to that which Christ sustained。 He works
untiringly to lead sinners to a nobler； higher life； that they may obtain
the reward of the overcomer。 His lips are touched with a live coal from the
altar； and he uplifts Jesus as the sinner's only hope。 Those who hear him
know that he has drawn near to God in fervent； effectual prayer。 The Holy
Spirit has rested upon him； his soul has felt the vital； heavenly fire； and
he is able to compare spiritual things with spiritual。 Power is given him to
tear down the strongholds of Satan。 Hearts are broken by his presentation of
the love of God； and many are led to inquire； 〃What must I do to be saved？〃
〃Therefore seeing we have this ministry； as we have received mercy； we faint
not； but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty； not walking in
craftiness； nor handling the word of God deceitfully； but by manifestation
of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of
God。 But if our gospel be hid； it is hid to them that are lost： in whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not； lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ； who is the image of God； should
shine unto them。 For we preach not ourselves； but Christ Jesus the Lord； and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake。 For God； who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness； hath shined in our hearts； to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ。〃
330
Thus the apostle magnified the grace and mercy of God； shown in the sacred
trust committed to him as a minister of Christ。 By God's abundant mercy he
and his brethren had been sustained in difficulty； affliction； and danger。
They had not modeled their faith and teaching to suit the desires of their
hearers； nor kept back truths essential to salvation in order to make their
teaching more attractive。 They had presented the truth with simplicity and
clearness； praying for the conviction and conversion of souls。 And they had
endeavored to bring their conduct into harmony with their teaching； that the
truth presented might commend itself to every man's conscience。
〃We have this treasure；〃 the apostle continued； 〃in earthen vessels； that
the excellency of the power may be of God； and not of us。〃 God could have
proclaimed His truth through sinless angels； but this is not His plan。 He
chooses human beings； men compassed with infirmity； as instruments in the
working out of His designs。 The priceless treasure is placed in earthen
vessels。 Through men His blessings are to be conveyed to the world。 Through
them His glory is to shine forth into the darkness of sin。 In loving
ministry they are to meet the sinful and the needy； and lead them to the
cross。 And in all their work they are to ascribe glory； honor； and praise to
Him who is above all and over all。
Referring to his own experience； Paul showed that in choosing the service of
Christ he had not been prompted by selfish motives； for his pathway had been
beset by trial and temptation。 〃We are troubled on ev