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2 Corinthians 4:1-6
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 the Apostle Paul states, in reflection of Moses and the veil he wore over his face to hide the glory of the LORD that shone on him (as we have learned in the previous lesson), that in the ministry of Christ Jesus, by whom he and his fellow ministers have been called, is not to cover the glory of the LORD, but to let it shine through the door that Christ Jesus has opened to the world to receive the message of the gospel. It is by, and only by God’s mercy to them that they are allowed to have this position, and realizing that and having a proper understanding of that, they are dedicated to walking in the ways of the Lord Jesus and not of the ways of this world. Paul reaffirms this in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NKJV) as he declares, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 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.” But in the middle two verses of this passage Paul makes note of those who are not opened to receive the message of the gospel as being veiled not by God but by Satan, the ruler of this world. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
This is a promise of the gospel of Christ Jesus being spread with a sincere heart through the working of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of those who are called by God. “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” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Paul give us an example of the ways of this world and the ways of the Spirit in which we should walk in the Lord Jesus in Galatians 5:19-26, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbutsts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
As new Christians we have a lot to learn about what it means to be a Christian, and as mature Christians we are always continuing to grow in our knowledge and relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear LORD,
We must have a proper knowledge of what it means to be a Christian to first of all be a Christian, and then to have the capacity to share that with others in hopes that through our testimony they too will put their faith in Christ Jesus. Please indwell us with Your gospel, overwhelm us with Your mercy, and bring us to an understanding of Your grace to us in Christ Jesus so that the light of Christ Jesus shines through our lives to bring glory to You LORD God Almighty. In Jesus name I pray, amen.