Thanksgiving Day Series
Thanksgiving [11-26-09]
Shared On: (11-22-09)
II Corinthians 2:14) Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Concerning “causeth us to triumph in Christ,”
“the word being habitually used with the accusative (direct objective) case of the person or thing triumphed over, and never of the triumphing subject. Hence, to lead in triumph.” And “It is derived from thriambos, a hymn to Bacchus, sung in festal processions, and was used to denote the Roman ‘triumph,’ celebrated by victorious generals on their return from their campaigns. The general entered the city in a chariot, preceded by the captives and spoils taken in war, and followed by his troops, and proceeded in state along the sacred way to the Capitol, where he offered sacrifices in the temple of Jupiter. He was accompanied in his chariot by his young children, and sometimes by confidential friends, while behind him stood a slave, holding over his head a jewelled crown. The body of the infantry brought up the rear, their spears adorned with laurel. They shouted ‘triumph!’ and sang hymns in praise of the gods or of their leader. Paul describes himself and the other subjects of Christ’s grace under the figure of this triumphal pomp, in which they are led as trophies of the Redeemer’s conquest” [Vincent].
“Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God’s victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about, through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example of His power at once to subdue and to save. The foe of Christ was now the servant of Christ. As to be led in triumph by man is the most miserable, so to be led in triumph by God is the most glorious, lot that can befall any [TRENCH]” [JFB].
[NIV] But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
[NLT] But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.
[TEV] But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ’s victory procession. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance.
[GNB] But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ’s victory procession. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance.
[MSG] And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.
Ephesians 4:7-8) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Concerning “he led captivity captive,”
“Man was held by Satan as a prisoner. His chains were around him. Christ rescued the captive prisoner, and designed to make him a part of his triumphal procession into heaven, that thus the victory might be complete – triumphing not only over the great foe himself, but swelling his procession with the attending hosts of those who ‘had been’ the captives of Satan, now rescued and redeemed” [Barnes].
NOTE: We are to thank God that in spite of whatever is going on around us God is leading us in His triumphal parade. HE HAS CONQUERED THE DEVIL AND HAS TAKEN THE DEVIL’S CAPTIVES CAPTIVE!!!
“Our only true triumphs are God’s triumphs over us. His defeats of us are our only true victories [ALFORD]” [JFB].
Colossians 2:13-15) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15) [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
NOTE: We are, on the one hand, the Lord Jesus’ trophies that He openly shows off in the spirit realm. On the other hand, we are in Christ as He makes an open show of Satan in the spiritual realm. We are in Him as He strips of every insignia of rank that Satan was wearing, and every insignia of rank that the devil’s officers were wearing.
ANOTHER NOTE: So you think you’re a mess! God is parading you around in the spiritual realm as one of His trophies. He’s showing you off as a victory HE HAS WON! And He’s showing you off on earth as a letter to everyone who sees you that reads “YOU TOO CAN BE RESCUED FROM SERVITUDE TO SIN AND DELIVERED INTO SERVITUDE TO GOD ALMIGHTY, A GLORIOUS SERVITUDE WHERE YOU LIVE IN A FREEDOM UNLIKE ANY YOU HAVE EVER KNOW!”
II Corinthians 3:1-6) Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some [others], epistles of commendation to you, or [letters] of commendation from you?
2) Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3) [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
[TEV] 1) Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2) You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read.
3) It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.
4) We say this because we have confidence in God through Christ.
5) There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God;
6) it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
NOTE: God is writing His Epistle in the tablets of our hearts. He’s enabling us to walk out our salvation. This ability is not from within us, but “our sufficiency [is] of God.”
QUESTION: How can we walk out our salvation?
Philippians 2:12-13) My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
13) It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
[TLB] 12) Dearest friends, when I was there with you, you were always so careful to follow my instructions. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence, shrinking back from all that might displease him.
13) For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.