2 Corinthians 4:1-6

                                                                     2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

The Gospel is the hope of the world.  Sin has infected every man, woman and child on the planet and left everyone condemned before God.  The Gospel is the only means by which we can escape this reality.  For this very reason it comes under such severe attack from Satan.  He wants to do anything he can to distort and distract from the Gospel.  For this reason it is of utmost importance that we do all we can to defend and advance the Gospel.

 

INTEGIRTY OF THE GOSPEL: The Gospel is precious.  Unfortunately, everything that is precious is the object of imitation and forgery.  Paul refused to use methods that were not clear and upright.  He would not try to make changes to the Gospel in an effort to make it more palatable or acceptable.  He was open and transparent with people in the preaching of the Gospel and was assured that what he spoke was the truth.  His desire was to please God in that which he taught; not to impress others or simply gather a following.  We must preach the Gospel in the right way for the right reasons.

 

IGNORANCE OF THE GOSPEL: Even though there was great care to protecting the message of the Gospel and how it was delivered; there were still those to whom the Gospel remained hidden.  Satan is working to blind the eyes of people, so they are unable to understand or respond to the Gospel.  The world in which we live can distract people.  The desires of our fallen flesh can destroy people.  False religions and faith in man-centered works can deceive people.  Satan uses these and many other tools to keep people from understanding or responding to the Gospel.  They focus on the world or their own works instead of Jesus, so they remain blind to the Gospel and the glory of God.

 

IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL: The Gospel is what illuminates the hearts and minds of people so they can be saved from their sin and transformed to the image of Christ.  No preacher of the Gospel has the power to change people.  Only the Spirit of the living God can transform lives through faith in the work of Jesus on the cross.  Only as people recognize who Jesus is as the Son of God, Savior from sin, and Sovereign over our lives; can they be transformed by the power of the Gospel.  The is the glorious truth that must be proclaimed to mankind so the light of the Gospel might be heard, understood, and obeyed.

 

APPLICATION: Share the Gospel of Christ with others in a clear and accurate way no matter how they might respond to it.  Beware of both subtle and overt attempts of Satan to adulterate the Gospel.  Trust in the power of Christ to set us and others free from their sin through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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