Theme: Gospel Light
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Greetings: The lord is good and his love endures forever. “Let there be light”, Amen. Today, I would like to share with you three thoughts from 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 about the gospel light. Gospel of Christ is the light to the world and nations. It’s a magnificent light, it’s a miracle working light, it’s manifested light. Everyone whoever believes in Christ can see this light and experience the joy of the Lord.
1. Magnificent Light- 2 Corinthians 4:4
The term gospel is found ninety-nine times in the NASB and ninety-two times in the NET Bible.
In the Greek New Testament, gospel is the translation of the Greek noun euangelion (occurring 76 times) “good news,” and the verb euangelizo (occurring 54 times), meaning “to bring or announce good news.” Both words are derived from the noun angelos, “messenger.”
In classical Greek, an euangelos was one who brought a message of victory or other political or personal news that caused joy. In addition, euangelizomai meant “to speak as a messenger of gladness, to proclaim good news.” Further, the noun euangelion became a technical term for the message of victory, though it was also used for a political or private message that brought joy.
The gospel of Jesus Christ brought equalitarianism among various nations, communities and groups. Paul said in Romans 1:17 ‘ I am not ashamed of the Gospel’. It has power to save every one. The slave and a master feel equal in Christ. The Gospel is the sum total of the saving truth as God has communicated it to lost humanity as it is revealed in the person of His Son and in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible.
There is a difference between being shamed for the gospel and being ashamed of the gospel. If you are a faithful Christian, you will be shamed for the gospel. That is, you will be the target of shaming behavior. But there is a very good reason why you do not have to be ashamed when that happens.
When we read Hebrews 12:2 Jesus accepted the suffering as a joyful experience rather than shameful act. He was treated in humaneness.
The Wycliffe summarises the gospel as central truth that God has provided a way of salvation for men through the gift of his son to the world (John 3:16). Jesus suffered, sacrificed for sin, overcame death and now offers a share in his triumph to all who will accept it. It is a gift. No one can earn it or buy it through penance or through arms. ( Romans 5:8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:14-19, Titus 2:11-14).
Communion is the greatest gift to the humanity. Communion table brings equality among men ans women. It brings oneness and makes everyone to accept that we are God’s children at the table.
‘For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’(1 Corinthians 1:18).
2. Miracles working Light - 2 Corinthians 4:6
Jesus was a miracle worker. His love extended to everyone who was on need, everyone cried out for joy and grace. During the earthly ministry Jesus Christ performed miracles by touching, healing, and transforming countless lives. He overcame the laws of nature and even he raised the dead proving he has power over life and death.
The four gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus, but most are found in the recording of Mark. Three New Testament words refer to Jesus's miracles: power, sign, and wonder. Every miracle of Jesus served a specific purpose in God's plan of salvation for humankind.
The 37 miracles of Jesus Christ that were written down in the New Testament serve a specific purpose. None were performed randomly, for amusement, or for show. Each was accompanied by a message and either met a serious human need or confirmed Christ's identity and authority of Jesus Christ as the son of God. At times Jesus refused to perform miracles because they did not fall into one of these two categories.
In the New Testament, three words refer to miracles:
Power (dunamis), which means "mighty deed." Jesus's miracles were overwhelmingly powerful acts that revealed his omnipotence and authority. Sign (semeion), which refers to a miracle that figuratively represents kingdom of God. The miracles of Jesus were signs, authenticating his ministry and revealing him to be the Messiah and Son of God.
Wonder (teras), which indicates something extraordinary. Christ's miracles were wonderful, compelling, supernatural acts that caused people to marvel and confirmed his divine nature.Paul says, ‘for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.’(1 Thessalonians 1:5).
3. Manifested Light - 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
The Manifestations of God are appearances of the Divine Spirit or Holy Spirit in a series of personages, and as such, they perfectly reflect the attributes of the divine into the human world for the progress and advancement of human morals and civilization through the agency of that same Spirit. The intermediary between God and humanity is expressed in the term Manifestation of God.
The Manifestations of God are not seen as incarnations as of God as God cannot be divided and does not descend to the condition of his creatures, but they are also not seen as ordinary mortals.
Instead, the concept of a Manifestation of God emphasizes the simultaneously existing qualities of humanity and divinity. In the station of divinity, God has manifested his will, knowledge and attributes of God. in the station of humanity, he has shown the physical qualities of common man. So Jesus was the manifestation of God.
John 1:14, 10 the word became flesh and dwelt among us. But they did not receive him. “This is the mystery of religion that Christ was on the flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among gentiles, believed in throughout world and taken up in glory”(1 Timothy 3:16). He was put into death in flesh and alive in spirit (1 Peter 3:18).
A theophanies are described in Old Testament in different forms but all had one thing in common. No one saw God's actual face.God did not limit himself to one type of appearance in the Old Testament. The reasons for the different manifestations are not clear, but they fall into three categories.
Appearance in nonhuman form. In Exodus, God appeared in a burning bush in a as a pillar of cloud by day, and as a pillar of fire by night. God appeared as a "whisper" to Elijah and in visions to other prophets. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, promising to grant what he asked.
Appearance as a man. The most famous revelation of God in the form of a man happened at Peniel ("face of God"), where Jacob wrestled with a man all night. Moses spoke with God "face to face" on Mount Horeb, but Jesus revealed that "God is spirit," (John 4:24), so any human manifestation of God is not his true for him.
Appearance as an angel. By far the most common revelations of God were as the angel of the Lord. The term occurs over 60 times in Scriptures. Some Bible commentators think those Old Testament manifestations were actually Chistophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus Christ. of but that is not spelled out in any of those incidents. The "angel of the Lord" is unique from other angels and is linked to Yahweh himself.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16).
