2 Corinthians 4:1-6 says and year 2 at Union...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, which read,
v.1, 2 - Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestations of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Paul has been telling the Christians in Corinth about this ministry, the new covenant of Jesus, that was unveiled to them and is also everlasting. He is telling them of something that he has also experienced. He has a personal testimony of this upon his life. In the face of persecution and opposition, Paul doesn't lose heart to continue to proclaim this gospel.
He also gives us a picture of conversion here. "Renounced" means "to turn away from or repent." The "hidden because of shame" is the sin that is ugly and disgraceful. A different way of walking is instituted that is not of deception or cheating on or adultery to God. We repent of sin and walk in a way that is guided by the "manifestations of the truth" which is the Word of God. This is the fruit that is seen by others who witness a transformation that has happened in the life of the believer.
v.3, 4 - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Even though others don't believe the gospel does not mean that the gospel is not true. They are following the god of this world who is Satan and he is snatching up the seed as soon as it is hitting the hard path. It is not the message, the gospel, or the messenger, Paul and his companions, that is the problem but the receiver who is under the influence of the deceiver, Satan. Jesus is still the "gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" no matter if one believes or not.
v.5 - For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
Paul has an order in life and it is that Christ Jesus is first and His gospel to be preached and then the church in Corinth in which he is a bond-servant to for the sake of that gospel and then himself. Paul is not promoting himself as the false teachers do and putting themselves over their listeners. Paul is doing just the opposite. Paul is promoting someone else and putting himself below in service to those who are listening.
v.6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
This is such a great verse. Paul takes us back to creation when God spoke and then there was light and it was good, day one. The same God who spoke the creation of physical light and it was good is the same God who has given us the capacity to see the spiritual Light of Jesus through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and it is good.
What you have heard and believed is not some passing thought or ideology. What you have heard and believed is coming from the God of all time and from the beginning of time. Salvation, the new covenant, the turning from sin and walking in the ways of God is from the creator God and therefore we will not lose heart when persecution or opposition comes our way. Paul is saying that we have a lot to stand upon when we are getting pushed around for our faith given through the grace of God by the life of Christ.
"Lord, may we go back to the roots of the salvation that we have in You. When we feel the pressure of others and of the god of this world to walk a different way that we fall on our knees again before the cross of Christ that changed everything in our lives and continue to walk in His way. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.1, 2 - Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestations of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Paul has been telling the Christians in Corinth about this ministry, the new covenant of Jesus, that was unveiled to them and is also everlasting. He is telling them of something that he has also experienced. He has a personal testimony of this upon his life. In the face of persecution and opposition, Paul doesn't lose heart to continue to proclaim this gospel.
He also gives us a picture of conversion here. "Renounced" means "to turn away from or repent." The "hidden because of shame" is the sin that is ugly and disgraceful. A different way of walking is instituted that is not of deception or cheating on or adultery to God. We repent of sin and walk in a way that is guided by the "manifestations of the truth" which is the Word of God. This is the fruit that is seen by others who witness a transformation that has happened in the life of the believer.
v.3, 4 - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Even though others don't believe the gospel does not mean that the gospel is not true. They are following the god of this world who is Satan and he is snatching up the seed as soon as it is hitting the hard path. It is not the message, the gospel, or the messenger, Paul and his companions, that is the problem but the receiver who is under the influence of the deceiver, Satan. Jesus is still the "gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" no matter if one believes or not.
v.5 - For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
Paul has an order in life and it is that Christ Jesus is first and His gospel to be preached and then the church in Corinth in which he is a bond-servant to for the sake of that gospel and then himself. Paul is not promoting himself as the false teachers do and putting themselves over their listeners. Paul is doing just the opposite. Paul is promoting someone else and putting himself below in service to those who are listening.
v.6 - For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
This is such a great verse. Paul takes us back to creation when God spoke and then there was light and it was good, day one. The same God who spoke the creation of physical light and it was good is the same God who has given us the capacity to see the spiritual Light of Jesus through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and it is good.
What you have heard and believed is not some passing thought or ideology. What you have heard and believed is coming from the God of all time and from the beginning of time. Salvation, the new covenant, the turning from sin and walking in the ways of God is from the creator God and therefore we will not lose heart when persecution or opposition comes our way. Paul is saying that we have a lot to stand upon when we are getting pushed around for our faith given through the grace of God by the life of Christ.
"Lord, may we go back to the roots of the salvation that we have in You. When we feel the pressure of others and of the god of this world to walk a different way that we fall on our knees again before the cross of Christ that changed everything in our lives and continue to walk in His way. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment