2 Corinthians 4:3 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.
Paul is telling the church in Corinth that the god of this world, Satan has blinded the minds of those who are perishing. Who is it that is perishing? Those who do not believe in the gospel; the good news of Christ.
He refers to this knowledge as light. What light? The light that Christ is the image of our God. We don't need to IMAGINE God any longer. If you want to see our heavenly Father, study the Son. He came to do the will of the Father. He came to reveal the Fathers' love.
In the previous chapter, Paul explains what this veil is. 2 Corinthians 3:6 ...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. verse 14...For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
What veil is that? It is Law of Moses. The Law which Jesus came to fulfill. Paul refers to the Law of Moses as the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones. He said that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. When we live under the Old Covenant; the Law of Moses, it is like a veil over our eyes. We don't see the life giving power of Jesus' blood, washing us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. All we see is our deeds done in the flesh. We are blinded to the fact that God has called us Kings and Priests in this New Covenant and that He calls us the righteousnes of God in Christ.
What removes the veil from our eyes? vs 14 says Christ takes away that veil. Romans 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. The Law of Moses is the law of sin and death or the ministry of death as Paul called it in verse 7.
The enemy wants to keep us in the dark. He wants us to live conscious of the law and of our deeds. The bible calls him the accuser of the brethern. But the Light of Life has come to the world. And as we walk in the knowledge of all that Christ purchased for us, it causes His glory to shine in our hearts. We are no longer to walk in a consciousness of sin...being ever so mindful of our flesh and sin nature. We are to walk in the light of the gospel of Jesus. We are to walk in the knowledge of His light that He is our righteousness...the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.
He took on our sin and nailed it to His cross so that sin would no longer have dominion over us. That debt was paid once and for all and now we can rejoice; walking in a righteousness consciousness - for this ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
Why do you think Paul said that this ministry exceeds in much more glory? My guess is because once there was a man; one man; Christ Jesus who walked this earth revealing the Glory of God the Father. But now, through faith in Christ and walking in the knowledge of our righteousness in Him, that veil is removed enabling the Glory of God to shine from all our hearts to a lost and dying world. All believers, united in Spirit revealing God's glory!
Remove the veil brought about by sin consciouness and reveal Christ in you, the hope of Glory!
This stanza from one of my favorite songs always makes me shudder:
ReplyDelete"Behold the man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulder.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life;
I know that it is finished."
And this, my favorite quote (from the same song):
"Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom."
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
(by Stuart Townend)
Wow.