Second Corinthians 4 Part 1 Gospel Light Penetrates Blinded Minds

God's mercy is always sufficient for our needs when we suffer for our Lord. 

2 Corinthians 4:1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  

Paul reaches back to chapter three and the glorious ministry of the gospel of Christ and the grace of God that was entrusted to him as an apostle.

In the previous chapter Paul magnified his office after expounding the excellency and glory of the gospel of Christ.  

In this chapter Paul was guided by God's Spirit to vindicate the apostolic ministry from defamatory statements made by false teachers.

Not only did false teachers cause discord and foster disunity in the church, they said the apostles were deceitful workers. 

They attempted to turn the minds of the people against Paul and other apostles because of their sufferings for the sake of the gospel. 

Each apostle suffered in many ways for preaching the gospel of Christ. All apostles except John were martyred.

False teachers taught that Christians should never suffer, even though the Bible contains numerous references to believers suffering.

Paul and the other apostles persevered in their work as declared. “We faint not under the difficulty of our work, nor do we stop from our gospel labors.” 

Mercy from God is always sufficient to sustain us through life's hardships and sufferings.

Contentment while suffering for the gospel because God strengthens us.

Philippians 4:12-14  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14)  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 

Through experiencing suffering as Jesus told him he would, Paul learned to be content in whatever situation that he faced. 

Sometimes he would enjoy the blessings of food, clothing and shelter during his ministry and other times he was deprived of basic necessities. 

No matter what happened to him, Paul was always strengthened by the indwelling Spirit and the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thus, he could say that he could do all the things Jesus gave him to do (See Acts 9:15-16). 

The apostle tells us we must not become weary in well doing (See Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13).

He encouraged other Christians not to faint because he suffered for the sake of the gospel (See Ephesians 3:13).

We look to Jesus who will show us how to suffer for His sake.

Hebrews 12:1-3  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3)  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

He reminded us that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith and He is our example to follow.

No one ever suffered like Jesus is and we look to our Great High Priest and Master to receive strength to endure. 

Jesus suffered many things for us and it is our great privilege when we suffer for Christ's sake (See 1 Peter 2:19-25).

Those who pervert the gospel or attack God's truth must be exposed. 

2 Corinthians 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

It was Paul's duty as an apostle to speak out against false teachers who tried to undermine the apostolic ministry. 

The things of dishonesty are hidden things, that will not bear the light of God's truth. 

Those who practice them should be ashamed of their evil works when they are exposed. 

The Greek words God's Spirit guided Paul to use refer to merchants who mixed defective or substandard goods in with those of good quality.

They did this to entice people  to buy a whole lot of goods including many defective ones. 

Usually, the buyer did not discover that they bought any bad products until they got home. Of course the scheming seller quickly moved on.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation See (Romans 1:16-17).

He preached it publicly and transparently with words that all people could understand. 

Paul never yielded to false teachers but strongly renounced them with a holy indignation.

Christ's apostles were never crafty or dishonest. They never acted with duplicity or cunning. 

Instead, those chosen men preached the gospel with great simplicity and openness.  

They had no wicked intentions like false teachers did, as they promoted a false gospel after attacking Paul's integrity with pretenses of something that was good. 

Nor did they in their preaching handle the word of God deceitfully. 

The word "deceitfully" refers to mixing water with wine to dilute it while charging the same price.  

Paul used great plainness of speech so that all who heard the gospel might come to saving faith in Christ. 

Christ's apostles never cheated the people by substituting falsehood in place of gospel truth. 

God's apostles were not like those who were dishonest. Instead, they opened God's truth to every man's conscience, declaring what they knew to be true about God and salvation. 

Paul and his helpers faithfully completed gospel work in the sight of God and by so doing were commended to God. 

They testified of the gospel of Christ to men's consciences with sincerity. 

Steadfast adherence to gospel truth is the right kind of commendation for a pastor, elder or church leader. 

Paul's message is clear. Those who preach the gospel must also live by the gospel.

Light of the gospel can shine in the hearts of men and point them to Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Some people never come to saving, repentant faith in Jesus Christ. They do not see their need of a Savior because of sin.

Some never come to salvation because their minds are blinded by the wicked one. 

Matthew 13:3-4  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4)  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 

The gospel remains hidden to their sight. Paul's teaching in this place connects with Matthew 13 where the good seed of the gospel of Christ is preached and falls onto four kinds of soil.

When the seed lands on the first soil which is called "the way side" fowls of the air came and ate the seed so that it could not take root and bear fruit.

Jesus explained that this pictures the Devil snatching away gospel seed before that person has an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel of Christ. 

This is what Paul alludes to by telling us that the "god of this world" which is Satan, actively works to blind the minds of men, women and children.

It is a sobering reality that we must grapple with because we truly desire our family, neighbors and friends to be with us in heaven one day.

Pure gospel light repels the Devil's attempt to blind us.

Psalm 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. 

We must keep sharing the gospel of Christ with others and we must pray that the living truth of the gospel will break into blinded minds.

When the Word of God penetrates our minds, the entrance of His Word gives light and understanding to that soul (See Psalm 119:130).

Psalm 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

When we begin to read and learn the Bible, God's Word will shine on spiritual obstacles that are in front of us so that we do not trip or fall. 

God's Word will beam brightly ahead of us to show us the way God wants us to walk. 

Let us always be ready to share the gospel of Christ with those who don't know Him.

Let us always be reading the Bible and asking God to teach us about Himself, so that we remain pliable clay in God's hand.

Let us renew our prayers for lost people that we love, and let us be those who live by the gospel.

Let us love our God more fervently for who He is and all that He has done for us in Christ. 

Bob