GOD’S GLORY IN THE FACE OF CHRIST

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Key verse: 6

NIV

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(C) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(D) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(E) in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 4 The god(I) of this age(J) has blinded(K) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,(L) who is the image of God.(M) 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a](Q) made his light shine in our hearts(R) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(S)

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having (A)this ministry (B)by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced (C)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b] cunning or (D)to tamper with God's word, but (E)by the open statement of the truth (F)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even (G)if our gospel is veiled, (H)it is veiled to (I)those who are perishing. 4 In their case (J)the god of this world (K)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing (L)the light of (M)the gospel of the glory of Christ, (N)who is the image of God. 5 For what (O)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with (P)ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, (Q)“Let light shine out of darkness,” (R)has shone in our hearts to give (S)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The ministry we have is given in God’s mercy. Because of that we take courage. It is the ministry of the word of God. It is not a human thing. We do not convey it as a human thing or in a human way, but rather as a holy thing. In Paul’s time, there were those who preached something other than the gospel. They did so with selfish motives. They distorted the truth to fit their ideas or make it easier for people to accept. Paul was not like this. He taught the pure gospel as the truth, plainly and with a clear conscience before God.

Not everyone would accept the truth. Many people in this age are perishing, blind to the gospel and remaining in unbelief. But the gospel is the display of the glory of Christ. His glory is nothing less than the glory of the creator God, who spoke all things into being in the beginning. God shines his eternal glory into our hearts when he gives us the gospel. In Christ, we see the glory of God on full display. Our ministry is preaching this gospel of glory to a dying world.

Prayer: Lord, your gospel is a holy thing. It is God’s glory revealed in this world. Bless me to be a steward of your glory and teach your word today.

One Word: The gospel is God’s glory