For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.
3 sermons cite this verse
picture here what paul is saying is when christ comforts me in my sufferings he doesn't just do that for my sake he does it for your sake so that his comfort overflows through me to you This goes directly in the face of American individualism, even Christian individualism, that says whatever Christ does in my life, He does for me. Everything Christ does in each of our lives is not just for your sake or for my sake. It's for the sake of this whole body. Whatever Christ is teaching you is not intended to stop with you. It's intended to overflow, Paul says, to be shared with each other. So we relate to each other through Christ. We belong to each other, relate to each other. I want you to think about how this plays out. Picture the New Testament church. Acts chapter 2, verse 38 through 41 says, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. All these believers united together in the fact they've been forgiven of their sins. …
… I give you this scripture and I want you to take this with you because the scripture has been great comfort to me. It's in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 4 through 10. I'm not going to preach it. I'm just going to read it to you. It is the Apostle Paul coming back from a trial that the history books don't even discuss. all we know is that it was so bad that the apostle who wrote most of the new testament went through depression so bad that he despaired of life itself he says about god who comforted us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort we're with. We ourselves are comforted of God. You cannot give to other people what God has not first given you. Sometimes God takes you through things to give you empathy. Don't get mad at people that don't have empathy. They haven't been through enough. When you go through enough, you will humble yourself. …
1. Let it be considered, why it is that we have so much written of the good example of this apostle, unless that we might follow it. We often read those things in the Holy Scriptures which have now been set before us on this subject; and to what purpose, unless we apply them to ourselves? We had as good never have been informed how well the apostle behaved himself, if we do not endeavour to follow him. We all profess to be Christians, and we ought to form our notions of Christianity from what is written in the Scriptures by the prophets, and from the precepts and excellent examples that are there set before us. One great reason why many professors live no better, walk no more amiably, and are in so many things so unlovely, is, that they have not good notions of Christianity. They do not seem to have a right idea of that religion that is taught us in the New Testament. They have not well learned Christ. The notions that some persons entertain of Christianity are very distorted, and ill conformed to the gospel. The notions of others are very erroneous. They lay the chief stress wrong, upon things on which it ought not to be laid. They place religion almost altogether in some particular duties, leaving out others of great weight, and, it may be, the weightier matters of the law. And the reason why they have no better notions of Christianity is, because they take their notions of it chiefly from those sources whence they ought not to take them. Some take them from the general cry or voice of the people, among whom they live. They see that others place religion merely, if not almost wholly, in such and such things. And hence their notions of Christianity are formed. Or they take their notions from the example of particular individuals now living, who are in great reputation for godliness. And their notion of Christianity is, that it consists in being like such persons. Hence they never have just notions of religion: 2 Cor. x. 12. “They, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” If we would have right notions of Christianity, we should observe those in whom it shone, of whom we have an account in the Scriptures. For they are the examples that God himself has selected to set before us to that end, that from thence we might form our notions of religion; and especially the example of this apostle. God knows how to select examples. If therefore we would have right notions of Christianity, we ought to follow the good example of the apostle Paul. He was certainly a Christian indeed, and an eminent Christian. We have God’s abundant testimony. But Christianity is in itself an amiable thing, and so it appeared in the example of this apostle. And if the professors of it would form their notions of it from such examples as those, rather than from any particular customs and examples that we have now, it would doubtless appear much more amiable in their practice than it now does; it would win others. They would not be a stumbling-block. Their light would shine. They would command reverence and esteem, and be of powerful influence. …