2Cor 4:4-6 | KingComments | STEP | . It might appear that Paul wrote some theory in the third chapter. However the fourth chapter dispels this impression. In the third chapter Paul called himself a servant of the new covenant ( ). His service was connected to the Spirit ( ) and righteousness ( ). In this fourth chapter you see what a tremendous effect this had on his life. He begins this chapter with the word “therefore” and this means that he is connecting to what he said earlier. The service he received was a powerful incentive to move forward, to persevere and not to get discouraged. There was a lot of resistance and hostility. But he was full of inner vigor. That was because he was always conscious of the Lord’s abundant mercies that were shown to him. That was the secret behind the motivating force and the zeal that were operative in his service for the Lord. Nothing really gives so much power to live for the Lord, as the consciousness you personally have of the mercy that was shown to you. In the parable of the good Samaritan we find a magnificent illustration of mercy ( ). The Lord Jesus narrates this parable in which He Himself is that good Samaritan. You see how he took pity on the man who fell victim to robbers and was wounded severely. This is the exact picture of yourself; it portrays your condition when you did not know the Lord. That was your situation when the Lord Jesus found you and that’s the way He showed mercy to you. The more you are conscious of your past miserable condition, the more you will have zeal in your service for the Lord. It was so with Paul. He continued, no matter how great the opposition. . Paul did not work secretly. The false teachers did that. False teachers are people who claim to be true servants of God, but they seek their own advantage. Their tactic is to seek the church members who are not strong in the faith. They first implant their false teachings into them. Once they gain influence enough they move out publicly and then cause untold misery to people. Paul did not adopt this insidious method. His message was straight, clear and bright. He never distorted the word nor used any other cunning method in his teaching. He conveyed the truth he received from God. Everyone was allowed, yea, had to listen to his message. Everyone was allowed to prove it and examine his life to see whether he practiced what he preached. Otherwise his message is only a beautiful story worth nothing for practical life. Unfortunately there are lots of Christians whose mouth pours down all sorts of biblical truths in pompous and grandiloquent language, but their life shows nothing of it. Their great sermons do not have a lasting effect on their listeners. Your life must express what your mouth speaks. Then you can touch the conscience of the people you address. When you live in the sight of God and are constantly aware of His presence, the truth that you speak will impact the life of your audience. . The one who rejects the clear testimony of the gospel shows that he is completely blind. He cannot see because his eyes are covered. Is it your experience that you tried to share the gospel with someone, but you could not push the message across? In your opinion you expressed very clearly but everything bounced back. Why is it? It is because people, just as you were in the past, are blinded by satan the god of this world. Once your eyes become open to the glory of the gospel you will be surprised to see that so many cannot see it. But you know how cunning satan is to prevent people from deciding for Christ. He has got innumerable methods: luxury, success, wealth, richness, career, but he also uses great worries, sickness or any other misfortune, that people are obsessed with these things so that they cannot look to Someone else in life. How sad that they cannot see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. How glorious is the content of this passage! You must let the words of this passage work in you. What a malicious monster is the god of this world, bent on denying God’s blessings to people! These are people of whom it is said that they “are perishing”. Their end will be horrible. We must be ready to reach the lost ones with the gospel. A sharp contrast is presented here, and in it is even sharper. . But first Paul comes back to his message. He focuses his message not on himself but on Jesus Christ. He does not want to bind people to himself but to the Lord Jesus. He does not preach Him as Savior or Redeemer but “as Lord”. But he does not do so without reason. Paul’s conviction is that the Lord Jesus has all the rights over all people. Of course it is nice to present Jesus as the Savior before the lost people, but it is also essential that He is presented as Lord. No one can escape His rule. This acknowledgment is essential for salvation. In Romans 10 this condition is made clear ( ). Whoever does not confess Him as Lord now will be forced to do so later ( ). The one who acknowledges Him as Lord will show it in his life. This is what Paul did. He made himself not only a slave of the Lord Jesus, but even a slave of the believers because he loved the Lord Jesus and he wanted to serve Him in everything. . He comes to this attitude because the light shone in his heart. It happened in his heart as it happened in creation and it happens in every heart in which the light shines. The heart of a man who thinks he doesn’t need God and Christ is dark. It is just as dark as the earth was before God brought order out of chaos and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters ( ). In the same way the Spirit of God begins His work in the dark and evil heart of a sinner. Then the voice of God is heard, Who says: “Let there be light” ( ). In the same way a powerful and an unstoppable work of God has taken place in your heart. The light has penetrated your heart and your eyes saw “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”. This again is a statement with a rich content. What a gigantic change! What happened in your heart shines out of yourself. After this personal testimony of Paul (and you can repeat that) you will learn from the verses following how this glory can be made visible in your life in the best way possible. Now read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 again. Reflection: How can you equip yourself against discouragement in the service of the Lord?

‏ 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

The Light of the Gospel

2Cor 4:1. It might appear that Paul wrote some theory in the third chapter. However the fourth chapter dispels this impression. In the third chapter Paul called himself a servant of the new covenant (2Cor 3:6). His service was connected to the Spirit (2Cor 3:8) and righteousness (2Cor 3:9). In this fourth chapter you see what a tremendous effect this had on his life.

He begins this chapter with the word “therefore” and this means that he is connecting to what he said earlier. The service he received was a powerful incentive to move forward, to persevere and not to get discouraged. There was a lot of resistance and hostility. But he was full of inner vigor. That was because he was always conscious of the Lord’s abundant mercies that were shown to him. That was the secret behind the motivating force and the zeal that were operative in his service for the Lord.

Nothing really gives so much power to live for the Lord, as the consciousness you personally have of the mercy that was shown to you. In the parable of the good Samaritan we find a magnificent illustration of mercy (Lk 10:30-36). The Lord Jesus narrates this parable in which He Himself is that good Samaritan. You see how he took pity on the man who fell victim to robbers and was wounded severely. This is the exact picture of yourself; it portrays your condition when you did not know the Lord. That was your situation when the Lord Jesus found you and that’s the way He showed mercy to you. The more you are conscious of your past miserable condition, the more you will have zeal in your service for the Lord. It was so with Paul. He continued, no matter how great the opposition.

2Cor 4:2. Paul did not work secretly. The false teachers did that. False teachers are people who claim to be true servants of God, but they seek their own advantage. Their tactic is to seek the church members who are not strong in the faith. They first implant their false teachings into them. Once they gain influence enough they move out publicly and then cause untold misery to people. Paul did not adopt this insidious method.

His message was straight, clear and bright. He never distorted the word nor used any other cunning method in his teaching. He conveyed the truth he received from God. Everyone was allowed, yea, had to listen to his message. Everyone was allowed to prove it and examine his life to see whether he practiced what he preached. Otherwise his message is only a beautiful story worth nothing for practical life.

Unfortunately there are lots of Christians whose mouth pours down all sorts of biblical truths in pompous and grandiloquent language, but their life shows nothing of it. Their great sermons do not have a lasting effect on their listeners. Your life must express what your mouth speaks. Then you can touch the conscience of the people you address. When you live in the sight of God and are constantly aware of His presence, the truth that you speak will impact the life of your audience.

2Cor 4:3-4. The one who rejects the clear testimony of the gospel shows that he is completely blind. He cannot see because his eyes are covered. Is it your experience that you tried to share the gospel with someone, but you could not push the message across? In your opinion you expressed very clearly but everything bounced back. Why is it?

It is because people, just as you were in the past, are blinded by satan the god of this world. Once your eyes become open to the glory of the gospel you will be surprised to see that so many cannot see it. But you know how cunning satan is to prevent people from deciding for Christ. He has got innumerable methods: luxury, success, wealth, richness, career, but he also uses great worries, sickness or any other misfortune, that people are obsessed with these things so that they cannot look to Someone else in life. How sad that they cannot see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”.

How glorious is the content of this passage! You must let the words of this passage work in you. What a malicious monster is the god of this world, bent on denying God’s blessings to people! These are people of whom it is said that they “are perishing”. Their end will be horrible. We must be ready to reach the lost ones with the gospel. A sharp contrast is presented here, and in 2Cor 4:6 it is even sharper.

2Cor 4:5. But first Paul comes back to his message. He focuses his message not on himself but on Jesus Christ. He does not want to bind people to himself but to the Lord Jesus. He does not preach Him as Savior or Redeemer but “as Lord”. But he does not do so without reason. Paul’s conviction is that the Lord Jesus has all the rights over all people. Of course it is nice to present Jesus as the Savior before the lost people, but it is also essential that He is presented as Lord. No one can escape His rule.

This acknowledgment is essential for salvation. In Romans 10 this condition is made clear (Rom 10:9). Whoever does not confess Him as Lord now will be forced to do so later (Phil 2:9-11). The one who acknowledges Him as Lord will show it in his life. This is what Paul did. He made himself not only a slave of the Lord Jesus, but even a slave of the believers because he loved the Lord Jesus and he wanted to serve Him in everything.

2Cor 4:6. He comes to this attitude because the light shone in his heart. It happened in his heart as it happened in creation and it happens in every heart in which the light shines. The heart of a man who thinks he doesn’t need God and Christ is dark. It is just as dark as the earth was before God brought order out of chaos and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters (Gen 1:1-2). In the same way the Spirit of God begins His work in the dark and evil heart of a sinner. Then the voice of God is heard, Who says: “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3).

In the same way a powerful and an unstoppable work of God has taken place in your heart. The light has penetrated your heart and your eyes saw “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”. This again is a statement with a rich content. What a gigantic change! What happened in your heart shines out of yourself.

After this personal testimony of Paul (and you can repeat that) you will learn from the verses following how this glory can be made visible in your life in the best way possible.

Now read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 again.

Reflection: How can you equip yourself against discouragement in the service of the Lord?