2 Cor. 4:5-7
INTRO: Paul was always careful to let others know he was nothing without Christ and was never endeavoring to preach or uplift himself in their eyes. He is quoted as recognizing nothing was beyond accomplishing but it was through Christ that it is accomplished and not himself. He was quick to state that he was merely a servant of the God who “commanded the light to shine out of darkness… in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.” Christ indeed was Paul’s treasure. Treasure speaks of something of great value. Let us consider the great treasure we have IN Christ.
I. GOD’S TREASURE IS IN HIM
What treasures of great value do we find “IN HIM?”
We are BLESSED in Him..
Psalm 72:17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be
continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him:
all nations shall call him blessed.
We have HOPE in Him.
Lamentations 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure
We REJOICE in Him.
Psalm 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him
We have TRUST in Him.
Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is
the man that trusteth in him
Psalm 18:30 …he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
The list of treasures that we find “IN HIM” goes on and on… such as:
We have forgiveness in Him… We have Life in Him…. We have truth in Him…We have light in Him… We have peace in Him… We have sufficiency in Him… just to mention a few. No treasure chest we could ever find could offer us the treasure we find IN CHRIST. In fact there is no other source to find the treasures we have IN CHRIST.
Men have tried to find satisfaction, comfort, peace, and hope in:
Church membership…. But it’s not there
Living good lives……. But it’s not there
Performing rituals…… But it’s not there
They have even gone to extremes to find contentment in:
Drugs and Alcohol
Money and power and position
Sex and living uncontrolled lives
And they still end up unfulfilled, empty, depressed and deep down inside sense that longing in their soul that is unquenched.
We find those treasures only IN HIM.
II. GOD’S TREASURE IS IN YOU
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The “riches of the glory” is the treasure in earthen vessels that our text speaks of. This ultimately is speaking of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ himself. A Vessel unto honor, what a treasure is in the Earthen Vessel….God manifest in the flesh. He, who took upon himself the very likeness of human flesh, yet without sin. He was tried, tested and tempted in all points even as we are, yet without sin. He is the God-Man….both God and Man at both one and the same time. As man He knows our every trial and temptation that we can possibly experience.
He was so human….that He could thirst (woman at the well, Jn 4)
Yet so divine that He can give us the water of life that we shall
never thirst. He can make a well of water come forth into
everlasting life. Two times He ask for a drink…Woman at
the well and On the Cross “I thirst”
So human….that He could hunger.
Yet so divine that He could take a lad’s lunch and feed a
multitude of 5000 plus with 12 basketfuls left over.
So human…..that He could “Sorrow. Weep real tears in sympathy with grieving Mary and Martha.
Yet so divine that a few moments later He could cry out
“Lazarus, come forth” and the dead came forth bound hand and
foot.
So human….that He could be betrayed by one of His own, Judas…by the sacred token of love, a kiss.]
Yet so divine that later His words from the cross were, “Father
forgive them for they know not what they do.”
So human….that He could suffer, bleed, and die on the cross.
Yet so divine that death, hell and the grave could not hold Him.
So human….that He commanded His disciples to witness both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Yet so divine that He would endue them with power to do it.
So human….that He will bear in His body the marks, scars, wounds of our sin for all eternity.
Yet so divine the He will give us a new body fashioned like
His, but without the scares of sin.
So human ….that He knows our every need.
Yet so divine that He can supply all your need according to His
riches.
So human….that this same Jesus will soon come back as He left.
Yet so divine that where He is, we shall be also… “in my
Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jn. 14
As Christians we also have this treasure in these Earthen Vessels. (bodies) When you have this treasure, what a treasure you have.
