Persecuted, but not Forsaken

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, January 25, 2026

 

Persecuted, but not Forsaken

 

2CO 4:7-14

 

Last week:

Satan has blinded many, but Christ the Lord removes the veil

Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ

A light shined brighter than the sun

 

Earthen vessels (2CO 4:7) means Paul understood the temporary nature of our bodies. What we do is because of the strength and power God gave us, and God is eternal.

 

Our adequacy comes from God, and Paul made a similar point earlier in the book: 2CO 3:5-6

 

Focusing on men instead of God caused some dissension for this same group before: 1CO 1:10-17

 

Paul and the apostles found themselves in constant turmoil amid serious persecution (2CO 4:8-9).

 

Any and all people who live in Christ Jesus will be persecuted: 2TI 3:12

 

 

Paul and others suffered greatly for the sake of the cross of Christ:

2CO 11:21-27

2TI 3:10-17

HEB 11:32-40

 

All who live in Christ Jesus will never be forsaken:

JOH 16:23-33

JOH 14:15-20 (we will live)

JOH 10:24-30

 

Amid that persecution, Paul writes that he and other always are carrying the death of Jesus Christ in their bodies (2CO 4:10). They lived precarious lives.

 

They also delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus Christ might be manifested in their mortal flesh (2CO 4:11).

 

The man that has believed on Jesus Christ has already passed from death to life: JOH 5:18-24

 

He who has the Son has life, but those who do not have the Son does not have life: 1JO 5:9-12

 

Paul writes that the same God who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus (2CO 4:14).

 

God raised His Son from the dead:

ACT 4:8-12

1CO 6:12-14

HEB 13:20-21

 

God raised His Son Jesus Christ from the dead, and we shall rise in due time: 1TH 4:13-18

 

We have risen with Christ: COL 3:1-4

 

Because of our faith in Christ, we can walk in newness of life having been made to God in that same Christ: ROM 6:4-11

 

In conclusion:

Persecution is a guarantee

There is life in Jesus Christ now

All who die in Christ will rise from the dead like Christ did

 

Next week, we’ll consider things unseen and what connections they have to very real and present persecution that the apostles dealt with. We must focus on those things, same as they did.