MINISTRY VALUES STATEMENT
1 Therefore, since through God's (abundant Provisions of Grace which flow to us out of his) Mercy
>we have (been supported and made competent for) this ministry,
>(so that) we do not lose heart (Hope).
2 Rather (Also),
>we have renounced secret and shameful ways (immoral and unlawful behavior),
>we do not use deception (devious schemes to increase wealth or status),
>we do not distort the Word of God (the Scripture) (to teach prosperity gospel, sacrificial giving and service to others, works salvation [religious performance as a means to earn Eternal Life], hyperCalvinism, work-on-yourself sanctification, or papal authority to absolve sin). On the contrary,
>by setting forth (our conviction and understanding of) the Truth plainly (according to the New Testament [Covenant] Message of Grace, with compassion but without hype or wildfire sensationalism [hooptydramatics]),
>we commend ourselves (our personal and public lives) to every man's conscience (scrutiny according to his God-given sense of right and wrong) in the sight of God.
3 And even if our Gospel is veiled (hidden / not understood), it is veiled to those who are perishing (dying, body and soul, because they have not experienced Christ to live in their hearts per John 15:4-6; Revelation 3:20; 2 Peter 1:3).
4 The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds (blunted the understanding) of unbelievers (through deception, ignorance of Truth, arrogance, affinity for this world [it's culture], love of pleasure, mind altering drugs and alcohol, and addictions [chemical and psychological]), so that they cannot see (understand) the Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the Image (Reflection) of God (Hebrews 1:3).
5 For we do not preach (of) ourselves (in our own strength), but (about) Jesus Christ as Lord (who equips and enables us), and ourselves as your bond-servants (his vessels through which he serves/supports you) for Jesus' sake (to accomplish his Redemptive Plan).
6 For [the same] God, who said [when he created the heavens and the Earth], "Let light shine out
of darkness," made his Light shine in our hearts to give us the Light of
the knowledge (personal experience) of the Glory [Life] of God (revealed) in
the Face (Person) of Christ (per John 1:14).
7 But we have this Treasure (Light / Glory / Competency) in jars (bodies/vessels) of clay to show that this All-Surpassing Power (for Godly living and effectual ministry) is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed (don't know what to do), but not in despair (without hope);
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around (experience) in our body the death (suffering) of Jesus (the giving up of comforts in behalf of others per Ephesians 5:22), so that the (Resurrected) Life of Jesus may also be revealed in (and through) our body.
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to (under constant threat of) death for Jesus' sake (his Redemptive Purpose) so that his Life may be revealed in (and through) our mortal body.
12 So then, death is at work in us, but (his Resurrected) Life is at work in you.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same Spirit of Faith we also believe and therefore speak (testify out of our conviction concerning what we have experienced)
14 because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence (bring you and us together into his Presence).
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the Grace (Message) that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving (the acceptance of Christ) to overflow to the Glory (manifesting) of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart (Hope). Though outwardly we are wasting away (being expended), yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For (God is using) our light and momentary troubles (to call/draw us to trust/receive Christ, his Life and Abundant Provisions of Grace, which) are achieving for us an Eternal Glory (experience of Christ) that far outweighs them all.
18 So (Therefore) we fix our eyes (minds), not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
