After looking at 2 Corinthians 4:1 in the previous article, and how Paul could manage to not lose heart in his ministry for God, let’s take a look at how Paul continues this thought.
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV
Instead of losing heart, the alternatives here include giving up sinful behaviors and telling the truth. This sounds like integrity, where someone’s words and actions are in sync, and their heart, mind, body, and soul all line up with each other…as well as being aligned with reality and truth.
If Paul and others teaching the Corinthians about Jesus didn’t live according to the message that they shared, 1) their message would be tainted, 2) the hearers would be less likely to believe that following Jesus actually “worked”, and 3) the name of Jesus could be smeared by their sinful behavior.
In the same way, if Paul and others tried to change the message of Jesus, whether to try and attract more followers for themselves, or to reduce the pushback that they got from opponents, then their hearers would miss out on the glorious truth about Jesus, and might entirely miss the life of freedom that He offers. That would truly be sad.
Instead, Paul affirms that he and those with him teach the truth while (as he said earlier – see 2 Corinthians 1:12) keeping his conscience clear with regard to his behavior. As a result, others can – in good conscience – see that he has integrity and has something worth listening to.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV
Here in 2 Corinthians, we find that one of the techniques being used on people who are still under some influence from evil forces, is to keep them from seeing “the light of the gospel”. Whether through obfuscation, confusion, or other obscuring of the truth, if lost people can’t see this light, don’t want to understand it, or choose to not trust that it is better than what they have today, why would they even consider this life of freedom, insight, and purpose? This blinding makes it more difficult for them to see the light, even if followers of Jesus know that life with Him is amazing, especially compared to how others are living today.
Imagine that you have rented a cabin on a lake, and there’s a beautiful sunset taking place over the lake. There are just enough clouds to produce a bunch of colors, and the calm lake mirrors the view. So, you’re watching that sunset from the comfort of the cabin’s living room, through a big picture window, with a cup of coffee or tea.
Except…the window is kind of dirty and grimy. The rental company hasn’t cleaned it in a while, and there are leaves, twigs, and dirt stuck to it, along with smudges from the hands of little kids who stayed there the previous week. On top of that, the air conditioner is set up so that it’s fogging up the window, and you can’t make out much through the haze. And, for whatever reason, the blinds are broken and you can’t move them, so you can only see pieces of the view through little slits between the slats!
So, what do you do to fully enjoy the sunset? You step over to the door (still with your drink, of course), and sit at the table in front of the cabin, enjoying an unobstructed view. It’s a nice summer evening, anyway, and the bugs have miraculously disappeared for the evening, being attracted to the neighbors at the next cabin. (And, you obviously rent from someone else the next time you visit this lake!)
With the good news about Jesus Christ, if people can’t or won’t see it, they continue to miss out. Let’s continue to study 2 Corinthians in the next article (along with any other devotions or studies we may pursue in parallel), and learn how to bring light to those who are still struggling to find their way.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 12, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, May 12, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 2 Corinthians, by William R. Baker. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 