Second Corinthians 4:3

“if our gospel be hid”

2 Corinthians4:3-6, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost. Jesus said ye are the light of the world let your light so shine before men. How then can the gospel be hide?

The word hide means to cover. If the gospel is hide to the lost, then they do not hear it, they do not see it, they do not think about it, they do not understand it. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” The cross is to them that perish foolishness. To them that perish foolishness.

What is it that covers the gospel so that it is hide why the shadowing shroud is the lies of the world which saturate the minds of the lost. 2 Corinthians 4:4, “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.”

Instead of the light of the gospel filling a person’s mind the lies of the world fill the minds of those who are lost. In this sense the gospel is hid to them. In talking about what has blinded the minds of them which believe not the list could be any of a million false teachings such as evolution or reincarnation or some other false religion. After all every human being has their own personal thoughts on life and death, the origin of man and what happens after a person dies. These personal thoughts are part of what makes up a person’s beliefs or religion. Where did these beliefs come from? why they come from the world and ultimately from the god of this world, the devil.

2 Corinthians 4:4, “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.”

This next phrase in verse 4 describes the miracle of salvation, “lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The light shines when a person who is in darkness hears the truth about Jesus Christ and then in his or her heart repents of sins and accepts the free gift of salvation.

Notice the terminology used here. It is very similar to the creation of the world when God spake and said let there be light and there was light. The Spirit of God speaks to man with the word of God convicting man of sin and bringing man to realize his need for forgiveness lest he die in his sins and face eternal damnation in hell. Such a moment of spiritual understanding is the light of the glorious gospel shinning unto the lost.

2 Corinthians 4:5, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

To preach means to publicly proclaim. If Jesus saves and He does then It is Jesus that should be talked about.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

It is interesting that the face of Jesus Christ is mentioned here. In some ways a person’s face represents their personality their character. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they look.

Undoubtedly there was something very different about the face of Jesus Christ. The apostles saw Jesus face to face and they learned important truths about the glory of God truths which made them experts on the gospel. We have not seen the face of Jesus but we do have the teachings of the apostles

God has either shinned in your heart or He has not if has shined in your heart then you know and understand something about the glory of God. Most importantly you will understand that the glory of God centers around the person of Jesus Christ who loved us and died for us that we might share in His eternal glory.

Our gospel be hid lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine in the hearts of the lost. If you are lost in your sins today is the day of salvation. Pray to Jesus right now and he will forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life.

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