Lifting the Veil
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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2 Corinthians 4:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
How often did we hide the truth of Jesus? Refuse to see Him when He made Himself available? We would put the veil, covering His glory, ignore or dismiss the gospel, even when it made sense. Until that moment, when we took the veil off and our hearts saw the truth of Jesus for the first time. I encourage you to remember when you first gave your life to Christ. How we need to remember it. How we need to long for those we share with, to have their time.
For context today lets read: 2 Corinthians 3:12–18 “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 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. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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.
So lets pull it apart some.
2 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
Have this ministry. The call of God to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 1:12 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” Paul also wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:6 “who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” People choose to take the veil off or keep it on. Jesus has revealed Himself.
Turn to: ministry may look like so many different things, we serve in different ways, but you and I know that Colossians 3:22–25 “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.”
Received mercy: 1Peter, since all are guilty, this receiving of mercy is an incredible thing. Because the Lord pours this out for the whole world. 1 Peter 2:9–10 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” outside of Christ, we are lost. Mercy is found in Him. And receiving this mercy was distinct part of this ministry.
Lose heart When you walk in the Spirit and operate in the sphere that God has called you to, you see Him working in your life and that gives us hope. I can do... But we also just from that testimony of the Holy Spirit in our life that He is in us, we are saved.
So much so that Paul would say after so much pain and so many attacks Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” back to 2 Corinthians 4. Remember, much of our heart is lost when we live for our flesh, for the world.
now, Paul says truthfully that this calls for some actions from us.
2 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV)
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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.
Though we received Mercy, we renounced hidden things of shame - Quite simply, repentance. Turning from our sin and turning to Jesus. Many people brag or are proud of their sinful past, but Paul says we should be torn by them, Romans 6:21 “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” sin may have been pleasurable, but was the thing that was dragging us to hell. Sin, is a big deal. When we willfully sin, we declare that we reject the Lordship of God, that we are separate from him. What does it look like in renouncing this shame? If you have the notebook, underline Renounced hidden things of shame, then circle walking crafty add 1 by it, then circle handling deceitfully put 2.
First he says, we don’t walk (live, conduct, actions we take) in craftiness (panourgia: trickery , etc), we don’t have to fake spirituality when we can walk in the truth. Most of the popular things we see from those that claim to have great spiritual powers, they don’t. especially when they give themselves offices of the church like Apostle, Prophet.
Secondly, we don’t handle (dolountes: falsify, adulterate, from treachery or cunning) the word deceitfully, we don’t manipulate it to fit our flesh or the flesh of those that we hope to win to Christ. Many today use the word improperly to promote their flesh, their sins and even encourage others to. When the pharisees tried to trap Jesus in the word using their twisted doctrine, Jesus snapped it back, Mark 12:24 “Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?” Paul had said, 2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”
v2 This results in Manifestation of the truth: not that he is producing the truth or forming reality with his words, etc. he isn't making stuff appear from nowhere. Truth is manifesting itself in his ministry because he is living submitted to his Lord. Plus if the Lord is in their lives, then truly He is on display in us. When we walk with Him, he really shows in us.
this doesn't mean people flocked to Paul. Many did truly give their lives, but many left him, abandoned him. It happens.
this is seen in Commending to conscience, God is watching. The idea isn't that they he in sinless perfection, but his walk was such that he did truly trust that even though he was a christian, they would testify to his God is watching us. You may not like Paul, but you could trust him, because he truly did know, he was doing it not for those around him, but for that audience of one.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
If Gospel veiled: In the OT and now, the only “path” to salvation was through faith in God. Genesis 15:6 “And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
The veil here, is unbelief. Not wrestling with intellectual impossibilities but a choosing to reject the way. God always, always makes a way for one to walk in faith toward Him. You choose to see the veil. You aren't forced to. You cover the glory of Christ.
Look, 2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Those who are perishing, a-polly-menois, destroy, perish, lose, here is an ongoing thing, he doesn't say will perish but is perishing even now. We were lost, ruined, destroyed by our sin. enveloped in our own darkness. We all are already dying. Luke 13:1–5 “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.””
4 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.
God of this Age. You and I have to get this, though Satan and his ilk don’t have the power that Hollywood ascribes to them, they still have a great influence and he wants everyone under the veil, in the dark! Ephesians 2:1–3 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
sin is serious folks. Listen to me now, we aren't all Gods kids. We are made to be image bearers but we often reject that for our sin. We bear the image of wrath for our sin. And Satan, is determined to keep everyone in their dark hearts, 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Even Dylan knew, you gotta serve somebody.
But the light of Christ to shines on us by faith, Galatians 3:22 “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Which is why...
2 Corinthians 4:5–6 (NKJV)
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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.
Mormons, Jehovah witness, falses teachers of all kinds don’t preach Christ, they preach their organization/church, their apostles, prophets, a corrupted version, etc. We however, preach the Christ of the scriptures.
we are bound Paul says, as slaves to those we preach to for the sake of Christ. not to be ordered about like a slave, but to serve to the uttermost, that cause of the Gospel to all 1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” He will add in 2 Corinthians 10:12–13 “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.”
this is the Jesus that said, the gospel is free, but loving Jesus cost it all. Matthew 10:37–39 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” If you live only for the things of this world, that is all you will ever get.
This is Gods command. That the light shine in the darkness of our lives. That darkness we love. John 3:19–21 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””
This darkness that we love, is the darkness of our hearts and was filled by Him and we are changed, Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” Peter would note: 2 Peter 1:19 “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;”
The gospel, the power of God to salvation, points us to what Jesus said in John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”” You are the reflection of this light, you are the manifestation in this world of the working Spirit of Jesus, Matthew 5:14–16 ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
John said in 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In closing: Turn to Eph 5 I want to close with this. We preach this love, this life as not just giving us life and light, but this is living in the Spirit, walking in the Light of Christ here and now. Look Ephesians 5:8–13 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”
God has commanded for this light to shine from us, submitted and wholly dedicated to our Lord Jesus. If you are hearing this Gospel truth, that Jesus died for our sins, giving himself in our place, that he was buried, then rose from the dead to live in this way forever. And if we declare him as Lord, our God and king, we will be saved by grace, through faith. Be sure that you have taken up your cross and followed Him.