2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-6 [GAINING PERSPECTIVE Series]
BEHOLDING THE GLORY
Any of us who try to serve God in any way often have reasons for being discouraged. The awareness of our human limitations and our imperfections gnaw at our self-confidence. The indifference of people to whom we try to share the gospel makes us wonder sometimes if it’s really such good news. Then Satan tells us if this gospel you share is so powerful why are not more people saved by it?
It is easy to feel discouraged when we see the aggressiveness of evil in our world. Then there is the disunity in the church and the lack of love among so many Christians certainly take the edge off of our motivation.
When we read the Scriptures and the story of the lives of the early Christians, we discover that it has always been this way. Paul too had faced many obstacles in his ministry and was tempted to lose heart. But Paul chose to concentrate on those changed rather than those unchanged and that kept him motivated to go on serving. [Chafin, Kenneth L.; The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1, 2 Corinthians. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985, S. 222]
Paul [had been made a minister of the New Covenant, entrusted with the Spirit who gives life and makes righteous. He was neither timid nor deceitful. He] would not doubt the truth, the power, or the success of the gospel which he preached. Neither would he corrupt or conceal the truth, but proclaimed it and commended it to every man's conscience. But despite the entire Gospel's truth and power, it remained hidden to most. Here the Apostle tells us why the Gospel is hidden to the lost and so clear to the saved (CIM).
I. RENOUNCING HIDDEN THINGS, 1-2.
II. BLINDED MINDS, 3-4.
III. THE LIGHT OF THE GLORY, 5-6.
In spite of everything Paul had experienced he could write to his friends in verse 1 that we do not lose heart.“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,”
“This ministry” the ministry of the New Covenant, is the ministry of the Spirit. It is the ministry of life; of grace, of righteousness (3:8–9), of liberty and the ministry of glory so vividly described in the preceding passage. To have this ministry is to “receive mercy.” Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Based on what the law calls for, we each should receive condemnation. The ministry of the Spirit is not an achievement of man but a consequence of receiving divine mercy. Previously Paul had been a blasphemer and a persecutor. Against this background he had received mercy.
The same mercy that had sustained Paul through his many painful episodes also enabled him to overcome despair. Despite his hardships and opposition (11:23–29), Paul remained encouraged in His ministry. Thus he could proclaim that “we do not lose heart” (4:1,16). Receiving God’s mercy was a reason for his encouragement not to lose heart.
“Lose heart” or faint [ from & ] means “to behave badly in, to give into evil, to lose courage, to turn back.” The word is used for the faint hearted or cowardly in proclaiming of the message of reconciliation (5:18). Paul did not lose heart because he placed his faith in the fact that God had already won victory through the resurrection of Jesus (vv. 13–18).
Having a ministry of such glory and power we can be encourage past our times of discouragement (Gal. 6:9) into new times of boldness and courage (5:6). The gospel of Christ must be made known! For the one who ministers the eternal riches of the gospel there can be no question of abandoning the struggle.
What would you think of a BASEBALL PLAYER who played seven seasons without hitting the ball in fair territory? One of the best players of all time, Mickey Mantle, did the equivalent of that. His walks and strikeouts add up to more than 3,400 trips to the plate ¬seven seasons' worth.
Or what would you think of an INVENTOR who failed hundreds of times in his experiments? Thomas Edison, perhaps the greatest inventor in American history, spent many long months failing before he found a filament that would stay lit in his incandescent light. The lesson behind these experiences is clear: we have to look beyond failures and keep persevering. I can't think of a better example of someone who persevered despite apparent failure than the apostle Paul. His list of discouragements would lead most of us to quit. For one, the people in a church he founded in Corinth stumbled badly. For another, he went to prison numerous times. Throw in the shipwrecks, beatings, and betrayals (2 Cor. 11:23-27), and you could have a picture of defeat. Yet Paul's ministry is remembered for its unmistakable success. [Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class.]
Success often rises out of the ashes of failure. So let's learn to look past our failures. Because of God's mercy and grace we need not lose heart.
In verse 2 Paul defends his ministry of the Word of God. “but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the Word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”
One source of discouragement was the condition of the Corinthian church brought about by false believers and their biting criticisms and challenges to Paul, but instead of losing heart he renounces all falseness and deceitfulness. To renounce is “to speak forth, to speak off or speak away.” What Paul speaks away is “the hidden thing of shame.” [Those things done in secret which are dishonorable and deceitful which would result in shame if exposed to the light of God’s truth, so they are hidden.] These are the things that attack a Christian but the Christian who has submitted to God's will can renounce them and courageously stand in defiance against the powers of darkness and they must move back, they must move away. Renouncing in the Spirit thus means the turning against “walking in craftiness” [clever cunning, deceitfulness, a cunning readiness to adopt any device or trickery to achieve their selfish ends) or adulterating [dolo from del, to catch with bait - to ensnare or corrupt with error - mixing error with truth] the Word of God. [Paul could say, “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you” (1 Cor 11:23).]
The apostle was not an opportunist nor shrewdly and unscrupulously seeking to achieve his desired aims. A man dare not use the gospel to achieve his own ends. Paul proclaims that his ministry was one in which the truth was manifested, openly displayed and outspokenly proclaimed so that none but gain-seekers would question the genuineness and sincerity of his motives. If in a man's conscience, in the sight of God, he will listen to what Paul says, God will bear witness to its truth. God will reveal what is truth and what is counterfeit, what is valuable and what is worthless. In the sight of God all things and everyone is laid bare. Now if that conscious has been severed from God, it will be unmoved by God’s revelation of truth.
When things are brought into the light of the divine Presence the true is separated from the false. In contrast with those who shun the light because of the shameful character of their conduct, he that does truth comes to the light so that his works maybe revealed that they have been wrought by God (John 3:20-21).
When E. Stanley Jones, well¬ known missionary to India, had the opportunity to meet with MAHATMA GANDHI, he asked a searching question of India's revered leader: "How can Christianity make a stronger impact on your country?" Gandhi very thoughtfully replied that three things would be required.
First, Christians must begin to live more like Jesus. Second, the Christian faith should be presented without any adulteration. Third, Christians should emphasize love, which is at the heart of the gospel.
These insightful suggestions are the key to effective evangelism around the world. We are also to share the biblical essentials of our faith clearly. We must not handle the Word of God “deceitfully.” And our lives are to be marked by love for God and others (l John 5:1-2).
Let's be sure that we reflect a clear image of Jesus' like¬ness the truth of God, and love. [Vernon Grounds. Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class.] The primary reason for living in this world is to reflect the light of the likeness of Christ.
II. BLINDED MINDS (3-4).
In verse 3 Paul defends himself from the charge that what he said was obscure and difficult to grasp. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,”
Now this “gospel” for which he claims so unique a power has been ineffective in the case of majority of those to whom Paul proclaimed it. Paul concedes that large numbers failed to perceive its heavenly glory of which he has spoken with such enthusiasm. The fault, however is not in the gospel or with his preaching but in those who have failed to discern its glory. It is not because he obscured or hid anything from them (2:13), but because they chose to be blinded by the work of evil, especially the deception that come through false believers.
Yes many could not comprehend the gospel Paul preached but understood the preachers of the law. Fallen man finds it easier to believe what is fleshy than what is spiritual. The Old Covenant rules and regulation written for fleshy man is easier to understand than the gospel where yielding to the Holy Spirit must occur if comprehension is to occur. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit for they are foolishness to him” 1 Corinthians 2:14.
A very young minister became quite discouraged because most didn’t respond. He commented to an older member of the church that “they seem to shed the gospel the way a duck sheds water.” Sensing his discouragement he said, “you need to remember that it’s not the water’s fault.” Paul had understood from the beginning that sin had created a veil over man’s understanding (v. 3) and that people who are lost are suffering from a kind of spiritual blindness. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important to the work of sharing the gospel—He can lift the veil and open our spiritual eyes. [Chafin, Kenneth; Ogilvie, Lloyd: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1, 2 Corinthians. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985, S. 224]
Verse 4 indicates that the devil blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel message. “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.”
There is another power at work upon natural man. Unbelievers are so dominated by Satan that he effectively shields them from the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. The apostle infers that those who find his message difficult to accept or criticizing his ministry at Corinth are not even saved. They are lost, unbelieving, and blinded by The god of this age.
“The god of this age” is the devil (Jn. 12:31, 16:11, 14:30), whose activity is characterized by “hidden things of shame,” “craftiness,” deceitfulness (v. 2), and by blinding people’s minds from the light of the gospel. When by unbelief one turns from the One True God that person has turn to the dark side and submitted their mind to the Satanic blinding.
In contrast, Christ is the very “image” [Gk. eikgn] of God. The ideas are those of representation and manifestation. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:19, 1:18). Christ is the invisible God made visible, sent to shine God’s truth into the minds of men (Col. 1:15). Christ, the Light of the World, is the visible image of God.
Switzerland is known for its scenic mountains and beautiful waterfalls. A visitor to that picturesque country observed: "some guidebooks name the time when RAINBOWS MAY BE SEEN on many of the waterfalls in Switzerland. One day, a visitor to Lauterbrunnen, went to the famous Staubbach Falls and watched and waited. Others did the same, and they all went away quite disappointed. The next day a native said he would show them how to find the rainbow. So they went again and saw a lovely one, and stood almost in the center of it. They discovered that not only were sunshine and spray necessary to produce a rainbow, but also that it could be seen and enjoyed only at a certain point.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. A person who knows Jesus as Savior is "in Christ," and from that vantage point he can see Jesus as He really is. The Holy Spirit lives in believes lives and enables us to appreciate and understand Scripture. But those who have not received Christ as Savior and Lord are spiritually blinded to spiritual truths. They are like the visitors who saw the tourists who saw the waterfall and the sunshine - but not the rainbow. Can you see the rainbow? If you can, be sure to tell others how they can see it too. Without the light of Christ, people are in the dark about God's Word. [Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class.]
Walter B. Hinson told the story of a friend of his worked as an EYE SPECIALIST. One day Hinson stopped by his office and found him exuberant. When the preacher asked him why he was so happy, the doctor answered, "did you meet an elderly man as you came into my office? He has not seen a flower or the faces of his children for a long, long time. He lives out in the country, but a few months ago he came to town to seek my advice. After I examined him, I told him I thought his sight could be restored. Today I performed the final operation on his eyes. When I was done, I took him outside and showed him the glory of the morning. I restored his vision!" What a privilege for that doctor to be able to bring sight to blind eyes!
As Christians, we have a similar privilege. We can help the spiritually blind to see. We can introduce Jesus Christ to those to whom the gospel "is veiled." The apostle Paul wrote, "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Just before His ascension, Jesus said, "...you shall be witnesses to Me" (Acts 1:8). Believers are responsible to be an ambassador for Christ, a witness who can say, "I was blind, but now I see."
What an awesome challenge and privilege! We can "give the light of the knowledge" of Jesus to a sin-darkened world. Who could ask for a greater privilege! If your Christianity is worth having, it's worth sharing.
III. THE LIGHT OF THE GLORY (5-6).
In verse 5 Paul affirms that he is not promoting himself but proclaiming Christ Jesus as Lord. “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as our bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
Preaching “ourselves” is a poor topic for any preacher, yet some do. Some do blatantly like Jim Jones who called himself lord or Sung Yung who peached that he was the second coming of Christ. Others simply say put your hand on the screen or buy this prayer cloth
and send me your money. Yes many crafty deceivers adulterate the Word and preach self. Paul’s remark suggests that some “false apostles” were presenting themselves as important rather than as servants (11:13).
Paul may have called it “his gospel” but He did not preach himself. Paul and his companions focused their message on the fact that Jesus is Lord. It is the responsibility of the preacher to preach Christ as the central and absolutely indispensable focus of the gospel message (Phil 2:11; Acts 2:36). The preacher must focus his attention upon Christ and minister as a bond-servant, not a master or lord.
The Old Testament speaks of bond-servants. Provision was made for an Israelite to sell himself into the service of another Israelite for six years. At the end of the time he was to go free. If his master had given him a spouse, and if children had been born to that union, the spouse and children remained with the master when the time for freedom came.
However, because of his love for his new family or perhaps out of loyalty for his master, the freedman could choose to remain a servant. A simple ritual would confirm his choice. The master would place his servant’s ear on the door post and drive an awl through the lower lobe, thus making the freed man his bond-servant for life (Ex. 21:1-6). The choice to remain his servant was a choice of love and commitment.
Such was the nature of Paul's choice to serve Christ. For him there was no turning back. Out of love and gratitude for God's mercy, he gave himself to a life of service to others for the sake of Christ.
Could you describe yourself as Christ’s bond-servant? How would you describe your service for Christ?
Now Paul is not suggesting that those he ministers to are His masters. There is but one master. It is for Jesus' sake that he assumes the role of the servant of others. The servant of Jesus becomes the servant of every other believer but always for the sake of Him who is His sole master.
[As they stood by the pond the boy listened intently while his GRANDFATHER INSTRUCTED him how to be a good fisherman. "Three things are important," he said. "First, stay out of sight; second, stay out of sight; and third, stay out of sight!" Those are also wise words for fishers of men. Good messengers for Christ do not call attention to themselves but to the Savior.]
Two men visited church services on Sunday in London. At the morning worship hour they went to one church to hear a renowned pulpiteer. They came away saying, "What a wonderful preacher he is!" That evening they went to Metropolitan Tabernacle to hear Charles Haddon Spurgeon. As they left the meeting, they remarked, "What a wonderful Christ that man preached!" ¬
Not all of us are preachers, but every Christian is to be a witness. It is our privilege to direct others to Jesus Christ. Rather than call attention to ourselves, we must exalt the Savior so that others are attracted to Him.
We would do well to take a cue from that grand¬ father's advice to his grandson, "Stay out of sight." Let's make sure that when we witness people are directed to the Savior. "For we do not preach our selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." [ P.R.V. Our Daily. Bread]
When you witness, tell people about what Christ has done, and not about your abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to Christ, not to you.
In verse 6 Paul states the reason why he preached Christ and served others. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The conjunction for connects with the preceding verse and forms the basis for it. Light will shine out of darkness paraphrases or alludes to the creation account in Genesis 1:3. The Word of God spoke to the light so that it would shine in the darkness. The gospel is intended to do in human hearts what the creation of light did to the darkened chaos of earth. The earth was formless and empty till God acted to bring light out of darkness, so in His creating of a new spiritual man He cause light to shine in darkened hearts. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers into a new creation (5:17).
He, Jesus Christ, shines into our hearts and only then can we be saved. Left to our self, the sinner can only stumble on in eternal darkness. At the point of salvation God enlightens our whole being: moral, intellectual and spiritual. Miners carry a lap on their fore heads to see the way. Christians carry Christ in their hearts so they can see the way out of darkness into His glorious light of His new creation in Christ.
[I was relaxing at home one Friday evening by watching a MOVIE. During a suspenseful scene the hero was attempting to rescue a woman by leading her across a skywalk connecting two very tall buildings. She took a few steps, looked down, and froze. She Was completely paralyzed with fear, and the bad guys Were in pursuit. Desperate to save her, the hero reached out his hand. "Just look at my face," he said. "Take One step at a time and walk toward me." Following his instructions, she was able to make it to the other side.
What a beautiful spiritual truth! We face many difficulties in our lives. These difficulties Can paralyze us with fear if we take our eyes off the only One who Can help us. Jesus asks that We keep our eyes on Him and simply take one step at a time. He will faithfully lead us to the other side of the difficulty or danger. We can always look to Jesus for the strength and leadership We need.
The basis of Paul’s ministry is the privilege of having seen for himself the glory of God in the face of Christ (initially on the Damascus road). We can only share with others the Christ we have met for ourselves.
When I take a photograph, I am amazed that it requires only a fraction of a second for the light to pass through the camera lens and make a picture. All the details are dearly seen in the picture, every object and every color. The camera is dark inside, and the disk seems unchanged. But during the brief moment the lens is open, light enters and creates an image on the disk.]
The human heart can be a closed, dark space. But the Christian who looks to Christ will have the illuminating knowledge of the glory of God shining in their hearts (Jn 1:1–14; 9:24–25, 35–41; 1 Cor 2:10–14).
IN CLOSING
God has made the ultimate truth available. Dr. Billy Graham would often say to an audience, “You have two sets of ears—your physical ears with which you hear what I’m saying to you right now, and your spiritual ears with which you hear what God says to you.” When the gospel is preached in power, God uses it to shine a light where before there was only darkness.
In Benjamin Franklin's day the STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA were dark after sunset. Nighttime pedestrians had to walk cautiously to avoid rocks and holes.
Franklin decided to set a good example for his fellow citizens by placing a lantern outside his home. As people stumbled down his street at night, they would come to that oasis of light and realize what a blessing it was. Soon other Philadelphians were putting up their own lanterns. After sunset the whole village became a place of illuminated safety.
The world around us is dark with spiritual ignorance. For multitudes of people, the aimlessness of their exist¬ence leads to unspoken despair.
We can't single-handedly drive back the darkness every¬where, but we can do something significant. We can let our redeemed, Christ-ignited lives serve as lanterns of light. Our Savior commands us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven (Mt. 5:16).
Instead of bemoaning the darkness, we can show the way to those around us. As Christ shine through us, lost souls stumbling in spiritual darkness will be attracted to Him who is the Light to the World. Remember, the smallest light still shines in the darkest night.
Is the glory of God in the person of Jesus the image you are looking at, and being transformed into? Is the light of God’s glory displaying Jesus to you? Are you shining the light of Christ’s glory?
Prayer: Father of Light, there's no shade of change in You. Enlighten our minds and hearts to see the miraculous things that exist beyond this earthly darkness. Amen.
