Daily Scripture Reading 2Corinthians 4:1 - 5:3
It is the duty of Christians to proclaim the gospel to all nations. However, some people do not become believers despite hearing the message multiple times. Does that mean we need to change our message? Do we need to minimize or ignore the truths about Jesus that people do not want to hear. Should we alter the message so as to make it palatable to as many people as possible?
In today’s reading we will learn why some people do not become believers even though they have heard the truth many times. Once we know the real reason, we can respond appropriately.
In chapter 3 Paul wrote about being a minister of a new covenant. The old covenant was a ministry of death, but the new is a ministry of life. The new ministry has greater glory than the old. Contrary to Moses, who veiled his face to hide the glory of God being reflected in his face, Paul spoke boldly with unveiled face so as to behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed into His image.
2Cor. 4:1 ¶ Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
2Cor. 4:2 but we have renounced the hidden things 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.
2Cor. 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2Cor. 4:4 in whose case the god of this age 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.
Take note of the word “blinded”, and the fact that the minds of unbelievers are blinded by the god of this age.
It is the duty of Christians to carry out the great commission and make disciples of all the nations. Some unbelievers hear the gospel multiple times over the course of many years without becoming believers. Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of thinking we need to be creative with the gospel message in order to get unresponsive people to respond to the message and repent. That leads Christians to downplay controversial aspects of Jesus or invent new ways to present the gospel message in a more palatable form.
Paul informed us that when people do not respond to our invitation to become Christians, the problem may not be a deficiency in our message. Instead, the problem may be that the non-believers have been blinded. If that is the case, then it doesn’t matter how much we massage our message.
We Christians need to present the gospel message clearly, completely, and without apology. If certain people do not become believers as a result of our efforts, we should not add to nor take away from the truth about Jesus as recorded in the Bible. The problem may be that they are blinded.
2Cor. 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
Notice how Paul summarized his message. He preached Jesus Christ as Lord. When we present the gospel, we must make it clear that Jesus is Lord. Being a Christian means making Jesus Lord of our life and submitting to His authority over us.
It is trendy today for Pastors to supposedly preach the gospel by telling non-believers that they need to have a relationship with Jesus. That is not sufficient. Having a relationship does not necessarily imply there is any authority involved. Next door neighbors have a relationship, but neither has authority over the other.
Telling a non-believer he needs to have a relationship with Jesus may lead him to conclude that he can treat Jesus as a friend or next door neighbor. However, in order to be saved, Jesus has to be Lord of our life, which does involve authority. If we don’t tell people they need to make Jesus Lord of their life, then they will not truly know how to be saved.
2Cor. 4:6 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.
2Cor. 4:7 ¶ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
The word “treasure” refers to the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God. Earthen vessels refers to our physical bodies which we have here on earth.
2Cor. 4:8 in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
2Cor. 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
2Cor. 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2Cor. 4:11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2Cor. 4:12 So death works in us, but life in you.
2Cor. 4:13 ¶ But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
2Cor. 4:14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
2Cor. 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
2Cor. 4:16 ¶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
2Cor. 4:17 For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
2Cor. 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
In verse 17 the phrase “momentary, light affliction” refers to our temporary life on earth which is full of pain and suffering. As we persevere through the suffering, we can look forward to an eternity of glory.
2Cor. 5:1 ¶ For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The words “earthly tent” refer to our physical bodies and the words “torn down” refer to death. Humans naturally dread death and try to avoid it. However, as Christians we know that after we die, we will spend eternity in heaven; therefore, we do not need to fear death.
2Cor. 5:2 For indeed in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
2Cor. 5:3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.
Contrary to the human tendency to fear death, we Christians can look forward to death because our eternal destiny in heaven will be better than life on earth.
According to Matthew 7:13, Jesus told us to enter by the narrow gate. There is a very narrow set of criteria people need to meet in order to be saved. They need to believe in Jesus, believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and make Jesus Lord of their life.
Some people are resistant to the gospel and refuse to become Christians, even after hearing the message many times. There is a trend in evangelicalism to get creative in how we present Christ so as to reach those who are resistant. However, Paul made it clear that some of those who do not repent are blinded by the god of this age. That means no amount of massaging the message will induce them to become true believers. We must simply tell them the clear truth and trust God and the Holy Spirit to work on them.
In what ways has your church gotten creative with the gospel message in a futile attempt to reach those who may be blinded to the truth?
Does your pastor make it clear that non-Christians need to make Jesus Lord of their life, or is he one who waters down the message and tells people they only need to have a relationship with Jesus?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”