2 Corinthians 1:3-7

The Comfort of Christ in Our Affliction

Please remain standing for the reading of our sermon text. We are continuing in 2 Corinthians chapter 1. This morning, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. That is on page 1145 in the provided pew Bibles.

As a reminder, last week, Paul emphasized his apostleship. He was writing to them, to the church of God in Corinth, as an apostle of God. Paul had been appointed by God in this special role. The reason he emphasized that point is because some in Corinth had been questioning Paul’s legitimacy.

As we read, we are reading the Word of God given to us through the apostle of God.

As you hear this Word, know that it is the very Word of God.

Reading of 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Prayer

Why has God allowed this suffering in my life or my loved one? What are his purposes in it? Does my trial mean that God is displeased with me? Will it ever end?

Every one of us, in some way or to some extent, struggles through these questions.

And we generally struggle through them on two levels. On the one hand, the intellectual questions... Why does God allow suffering and affliction? What do the Scriptures teach about it? And then on the other hand are the questions of the heart. Why am I or why is someone I love enduring this? God, where are you?

Questions of the mind and questions of the heart.

In 1940, well-known British author and Christian philosopher, CS Lewis, wrote the book, the Problem of Pain. It’s a philosophical analysis of why a loving and omnipotent God allows pain and suffering – questions of the mind. Lewis seeks to answer by working through questions of God’s nature, his justice, the fallen state of the world, heaven and hell, and the purposes of pain.

But 20 years later, in 1961, Lewis wrote a very very different book on suffering. A Grief Observed. You see, in 1957 Lewis married Joy Davidman. They had developed a deep friendship with one another over the years through letters and visits. Joy was from the States. Eventually that friendship turned into a deep love for one another. But Joy developed breast cancer and it metastasized into her bones.

Nonetheless, they loved one another, so they had a small wedding ceremony in a hospital room in Oxford, England. Joy lived for three more years. They endured the ups and downs of her cancer. They grieved and cried together. Lewis significantly reduced his writing and speaking engagements to be by her side. Joy passed away in the summer of 1960 at the age of 45.

In the months after her death, Lewis wrote A Grief Observed. In it he shared his sorrows, his confusion, and doubts. He wrote about the struggles of maintaining his faith in God through it. But he shared how he came to find deep meaning and healing in the grief and sorrow and suffering. Through it, he experienced the love of God in Christ in a way he had never before. In short, Lewis experienced in his heart what his mind knew.

What we find in 2 Corinthians is that very thing. It was one of the apostle Paul’s goals in writing to the church. He wanted them to understand the intellectual side of affliction and suffering, but also for them to apply it to their hearts.

Let me explain. You see, the theme of suffering and comfort runs throughout 2 Corinthians. It’s not the only theme, but the apostle Paul comes back to it many times and in different ways.

And the reason Paul addressed affliction and suffering over and over was to correct them - to first, correct their thinking.

I mentioned last week that there was a group trying to infiltrate the church. Paul called them “super-apostles.” And one of the ways that they were attempting to sway the church, was by undermining Paul.

Do you know what their main critique of Paul was? It was the suffering that he was going through. They were saying something like, “Hey, church in Corinth, look at that guy, Paul. You know, the one who calls himself an apostle. Look at all the suffering that he has and is going through. He’s been persecuted. He has this physical ailment and God hasn’t healed him. His speaking ability is weak. He’s suffered many things. You see, there is no way that this guy Paul is a true apostle. No, God would not allow someone with such an important role to go through all of that.”

That’s what they were saying. We’re going to get into those details in chapters 10-12. But it’s important to understand why Paul writes these opening words here. He wants them to understand clearly that suffering and affliction are part of the Christian life. But that’s not the only thing. In fact, there’s something greater that Paul explains. You see, in the Christian life, God gives comfort and joy and hope in our trials and afflictions.

Let me put it this way. A big part of Paul’s letter teaches us a foundational theology of suffering. It’s a theology that we can understand in our minds and apply in our hearts. And when we do, not only will we understand the problem of pain, to use CS Lewis’s language, but in the grief and suffering that we observe and experience, God will overwhelm us with his comfort… the comfort of his grace in whatever we go through.

As we go through 2 Corinthians, it will be critical for each of us, you and me, to re-evaluate our theology of suffering. Because in the trials you are experiencing or will experience, your understanding of suffering will greatly affect your heart response to suffering. It’s that important.

We see that right here in these opening words. So let’s consider them.

And to start with, I have a theory about these 5 verses. I don’t know how to prove it. But I think that these 5 verses may have the most intense use of word repetition in the whole Bible.

· That word “comfort” is used 10 times in the 5 verses. I’m including the verbs and the nouns, by the way.

· The word “affliction” and “suffering” are used seven times, total between them.

· The words “share” 4 times.

That is a lot packed into just 5 verses.

Maybe Psalm 150 rivals it. The word “praise” in Psalm 150 is used 13 times in just 6 verses. But still, in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, multiple words are repeated – comfort, suffering, affliction, and share. It is intense – intensely comforting.

Before we get into Paul’s message, let me first define the word “comfort.” Because we may be tempted to think about our current use of the word. When we think about comfort today, it is most often about how we feel in our senses. We say, “are you comfortable?” ...meaning are we at ease. “Are those chairs comfortable to sit on?” In healthcare... comfort is how well our pain is medicated.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with those uses.

But the word “comfort” here is spiritual and relational. It’s about being encouraged and consoled in the midst of a trial. In other words, it’s not about removing the affliction or being physically comfortable in it. Rather it is being strengthened in your soul while enduring the suffering, whatever trial it is.

Ok, with all of that said… (1) the false teaching being addressed, (2) the mind and heart application, and (3) the repetition and the word comfort, let’s now get into the message.

Let’s look at three things this morning.

1. Worship the God who comforts.

2. Know the comfort of God in Christ.

3. Share the comfort of God with others.

Let me say it again if you are taking notes… (repeat)

1. Worship the God who comforts

So first, worship! Look at verse 3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” In the very opening words (in the body of this letter), Paul emphasizes God as the God of comfort. God of ALL comfort. And these words direct our praise to him.

The very first thing that Paul wants the church in Corinth to do… is to worship and acknowledge God as the God of comfort.

And when it says that God is the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction” it is saying that God brings hope and resolve in suffering. He is present with us in our suffering. Back to the definition of comfort. God consoles us. He ministers to us. He strengthens us to endure. Furthermore, gives us assurances that his promises are eternal. In all of that, God provides a measure of peace in unsettled times and in pain. Comforting his people is part of his nature. He is the God of all comfort.

God is not some detached supernatural being that cares not about the suffering of his people. No, he loves us and ministers to us in our suffering.

So, in our suffering, we’re to direct our attention to him in worship … because he is the God of all comfort who comforts us in those ways.

In fact, let me add this point. Worshipping God is one of the ways through which God ministers to us in our suffering. When we praise him for all the ways that he cares for and loves us and gives us hope, he increases our comfort. Through it, he strengthens us to endure the trials and suffering in this life.

Now, when I say “worship” I am talking about both what we are doing here in our worship service, and in all of life when we direct our attention to God.

So, worship the God of all comfort.

2. Know the comfort of God in Christ.

#2 – know the comfort of Christ.

Let’s go back to the so-called super apostles one more time. They claimed that Paul’s suffering disqualified him for apostleship. They are very much like today’s health-wealth preachers. If you are not familiar with that term, it’s referring to pastors who say “that suffering is not God’s will for you.” One thing they believe is that sickness or affliction indicates that you do not have enough faith.

There are a lot of problems with that. The main problem is that it’s not the pattern of Jesus’ own life and ministry.

Verse 5 speaks of the suffering that we share in Christ.

Suffering is a part of the Christian life. And it was especially so for the true apostles. They endured much affliction and persecution because of their ministry. But through their suffering, they brought the comfort of Christ and his salvation to them.

You see, Paul is saying the opposite. He’s saying something like this “The reason that I am suffering is because I am sharing in the ministry of Christ. It is actually for your comfort and salvation. My affliction does not disqualify me. No, actually, my suffering is instead a qualification of my apostleship.”

Part of Paul’s message here is a defense of his ministry.

But he also wants them to know the amazing comfort of Christ in their own affliction.

Now, there are lots of ways through which God comforts us in suffering. But the main way is through the comfort we have in Jesus Christ.

Look at verse 5, “For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”

The greatest comfort that we can receive in our affliction comes from sharing the comfort of Christ.

It says we “abundantly share” in Christ sufferings and comfort. I think that’s hard to get our minds around. Afterall, Jesus lived 2000 years ago. How do we share in his sufferings and comfort?

It happens this way… when God calls believers to him and gives them faith in Christ, he unites them to him. So, if you believe in the saving grace of God, he does this amazing thing. You are ingrafted into Christ… Jesus describes it like a vine being grafted into his root… like a branch grafted into a healthy tree.

Jesus said that when we abide in him, he will abide in us. That is what Paul is referring to when he says we share abundantly in Christ. He is ours and we are his. The afflictions that he endured, he endured for us… and through those afflictions, we receive the abundance of his comfort.

We have a Savior who endured the suffering and miseries of this life. He shed tears of sadness and was grieved at Jerusalem’s lack of belief. He was tempted in the desert. He was insulted and persecuted. He endured the shame of the cross where he suffered unto death.

And in our union with him, he ministers to us through what he endured… and he is therefore able to comfort us through his victory over the persecution and suffering and death.

I like how one commentary I read put it: “The key experiences of Christ, especially his suffering, death, and resurrection, are the pattern by which Christians can understand their own suffering and final triumph.”

Because we share in his suffering, we share in his great comfort.

It’s not emphasized here, but part of that comfort comes through knowing that Jesus sympathizes in our weakness and our suffering. You see, because we are united to him by faith, he is present in us. He is with us in our trials. He can therefore can minister his comfort to us. I like to refer to it as Gospel comfort. Sometimes you’ll hear me use that phrase “gospel comfort” when I pray.

We have the Gospel comfort of Christ through what he endured and accomplished for us. I’m talking about all those things I mentioned earlier. Strength to endure, hope and resolve. Consolation and peace. Heart encouragement. We share all those comforting things through him.

Now, there is more to say about this, especially as we consider Jesus’ resurrection. We’ll get to that next week.

All experience affliction and suffering. But we worship a God who comforts us in our affliction. And he does that through Christ.

3. Share the Comfort of God

So, #1, Worship the God who comforts. #2. Know the comfort of God in Christ.

And number 3, share the comfort of God.

One of God’s purposes in your suffering, is so that you can comfort others by the comfort you’ve been given in in Christ.

That is actually the main emphasis in these 5 verses. It’s woven throughout. In verse 3, right after it says that God comforts us in all our affliction… Paul writes this, “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” And then again in verses 6 and 7, Paul goes right back to comforting others with the comfort that we are given.

Verses 6 and 7 are like an example. Notice he says, “if we.” “if we are afflicted it is for your comfort and salvation.” He’s talking about himself and Timothy. If they are afflicted, God will use it to comfort the Corinthian church. Verse 7 reinforces that. Next week when we get to verses 8-11, he is going to give a real example – their persecution in Asia.

Here is the point for them and for us. We are called to comfort one another. You and I are to both give and receive the comfort of God. That means relaying the comfort we receive in our affliction. That means directing one another to worship the God of all comfort. It means sharing the comfort of God in Christ. It means blessings each other with the promises of God in his Word. It means being with one another in our suffering… and caring for one another through trials. It means praying with and for each other through those difficult times.

Beloved in Christ, look around you in this room. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ. In the pain and suffering that we each share... we also need to share the comfort of God.

You see, one way that God ministers this grace to his people is through his people.

Now, two things come to mind that are necessary:

· First, in order to minister God’s comfort to one another, we need to intentionally grow in our relationships with one another. I’m very encouraged by how that is happening here in different ways. But we should continue to strive towards that.

· Second, we need to know when we are each suffering. Someone can’t share the comfort of Christ with you without knowing the suffering that you are enduring. You know, sometimes we bottle things up. We don’t want people to know. I get it. To be sure, I’m not saying that everyone needs to know your trials and pain, but I encourage you to reach out to someone. Or reach out to me so that I can connect you with others here who can come alongside of you… and comfort you in Christ. In order for us to minister this Gospel comfort to one another, we need to share our burdens with one another.

In summary, part of the comfort we receive in our suffering comes through sharing the comfort we have in Christ.

Conclusion

So, worship the God who comforts. Know the comfort of God in Christ and share the comfort of God.

If you know the grace of God in Christ. If you have faith in the living Lord... then today, in the midst of the burdens you bear, as you feel the pains of this world weighing on you... be reminded in your mind and heart that God is the God of all comfort. Worship him.

Be strengthened and nourished and assured of all that Christ has done for you. Know of the comfort that he gives because you share in his affliction and his comfort. And may we comfort one another in that great eternal comfort.

If you are suffering today but you do not know the great comfort of Christ... come to him with your burdens. Lay your life and your suffering before him and come and worship him… for God is merciful as it says in verse 3. He will give you that everlasting comfort, the only true comfort in this life.