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
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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
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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。〃
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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 every side；〃 he wrote；
〃yet not distressed； we are perplexed； but not in despair；
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persecuted； but not forsaken； cast down； but not destroyed； always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus； that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body。〃
Paul reminded his brethren that as Christ's messengers he and his fellow
laborers were continually in peril。 The hardships they endured were wearing
away their strength。 〃We which live；〃 he wrote； 〃are alway delivered unto
death for Jesus' sake； that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in
our mortal flesh。 So then death worketh in us； but life in you。〃 Suffering
physically through privation and toil； these ministers of Christ were
conforming to His death。 But that which was working death in them was
bringing spiritual life and health to the Corinthians； who by a belief in
the truth were being made partakers of life eternal。 In view of this； the
followers of Jesus were to be careful not to increase； by neglect and
disaffection； the burdens and trials of the laborers。
〃We having the same spirit of faith；〃 Paul continued； 〃according as it is
written； I believed； and therefore have I spoken； we also believe； and
therefore speak。〃 Fully convinced of the reality of the truth entrusted to
him； nothing could induce Paul to handle the word of God deceitfully or to
conceal the convictions of his soul。 He would not purchase wealth； honor； or
pleasure by conformity to the opinions of the world。 Though in constant
danger of martyrdom for the faith that he had preached to the Corinthians；
he was not intimidated； for he knew that He who had died and risen again
would raise him from the grave and present him to the Father。
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〃All things are for your sakes；〃 he said； 〃that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God。〃 Not for
self…aggrandizement did the apostles preach the gospel。 It was the hope of
saving souls that led them to devote their lives to this work。 And it was
this hope that kept them from ceasing their efforts because of threatened
danger or actual suffering。
〃For which cause；〃 Paul declared； 〃we faint not； but though our outward man
perish； yet the inward man is renewed day by day。〃 Paul felt the power of
the enemy； but though his physical strength was declining； yet faithfully
and unflinchingly he declared the gospel of Christ。 Clad in the whole armor
of God； this hero of the cross pressed forward in the conflict。 His voice of
cheer proclaimed him triumphant in the combat。 Fixing his gaze on the reward
of the faithful； he exclaimed in tones of victory； 〃Our light affliction；
which is but for a moment； worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory； while we look not at the things which are seen； but at the
things which are not seen： for the things which are seen are temporal； but
the things which are not seen are eternal。〃
Very earnest and touching is the apostle's appeal that his Corinthian
brethren consider anew the matchless love of their Redeemer。 〃Ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 he wrote； 〃that； though He was rich； yet
for your sakes He became poor； that ye through His poverty might be rich。〃
You know the height from which He stooped； the depth of humiliation to which
He descended。 Having once entered upon the path of self…denial and
sacrifice； he turned
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not aside until He had given His life。 There was no rest for Him between the
throne and the cross。
Point after point Paul lingered over； in order that those who should read
his epistle might fully comprehend the wonderful condescension of the
Saviour in their behalf。 Presenting Christ as He was when equal with God and
with Him receiving the homage of the angels； the apostle traced His course
until He had reached the lowest depths of humiliation。 Paul was convinced
that if they could be brought to comprehend the amazing sacrifice made by
the Majesty of heaven； all selfishness would be banished from their lives。
He showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory； voluntarily
subjecting Himself to the conditions of human nature； and then had humbled
Himself as a servant； becoming obedient unto death； 〃even the death of the
cross〃 （Philippians 2：8）； that He might lift fallen man from degradation to
hope and joy and heaven。
When we study the divine character in the light of the cross we see mercy；
tenderness； and forgiveness blended with equity and justice。 We see in the
midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the
suffering endured to reconcile man to God。 We see a Father； infinite；
dwelling in light unapproachable； yet receiving us to Himself through the
merits of His Son。 The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and
despair； in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God：
Live； sinner； live！ ye penitent； believing souls； live！ I have