The Gospel Light

                                                THE GOSPEL LIGHT (II Corinthians 4:1-6)

Jon Krakauer tells of his harrowing experience climbing Mt. Everest in "Into Thin Air." On May 10, 1996, Krakauer made it to the top. He paused for a few minutes before heading down, his muscles exhausted, his limbs frozen, and his brain oxygen-deprived. As he descended, some clouds drifted up and enveloped him. Soon, thunder, lightning, and a snowstorm threatened to disorient him, but he was close enough to base camp number 4 to get to the sheltering tents before the storm's full force hit.

Four climbers arrived at the summit shortly before Jon and did not have time to get to the camp before dark. The storm caused them to lose their way. Exhausted and lost, they lay down to wait out the night. When they awoke in the morning, they found they had lain down just one step from the 4,000-foot precipice of the South Wall. They had slept the night on the edge of a cliff in the middle of a snowstorm.

Our culture can disorient us with the winds of relativism, secularism, nihilism, and the darkness of unbelief. Many people are unaware that they sleep on the edge of disaster. The Gospel light reveals our position and points the way to safety." In chapter 3, after explaining the glory of the New Covenant, the Apostle Paul challenged us to live as New Covenant People.

In II Corinthians 4:1-6, the apostle Paul shows us what believers have been entrusted with and how to share it with others. The reason for people's blindness and their unawareness of the impending disaster. He also explains how God enlightens our hearts to know God's glory.  

I. The awareness and the right way of sharing the new way with others.

Vs. 1-2, "Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. Vs. 2, "We don't try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this."

Verse one begins with the word, "Therefore," which means "for that reason." Earlier, Paul noted how God enabled us to be the ministers or servants of his New Covenant. Verses 1-2 show us four ways to serve. First, never give up. We remain steadfast amid hardships and persecution. We never give up on doing good. Galatians 6:9, So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."

Secondly, we serve by "rejecting all shameful deeds and underhanded methods." Which means turning away from or repenting of any sinful and shameful acts. God is not looking for any ministers but holy ministers. The New Covenant ministry calls for righteous living.

How about the phrase "underhanded methods"? It refers to secret immoralities, hypocrisies, and sins hidden deep in the darkness of one's life. Remember, in our old life, we lived the way we liked, but as the new covenant ministers, we please God and do His will.

Thirdly, as the new covenant servants, we don't trick anyone or distort or tamper with God's word. During Paul's time, certain false prophets and teachers deceived believers and tampered with God's word. Paul wanted the Corinthians believers to live differently. How about today, do we find false teachers and prophets in our churches? Yes, plenty of them.

We see a distortion of God's word in one Christian movement called the Word of Faith. At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate faith and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). This movement deceives countless people, causing them to grasp a way of life and faith that is not biblical."[1] One of the leaders of such a movement recently apologized for getting it wrong about tithing in the Bible. How do we counter this and other such cultish movements? By reading, understanding, and living by the principles of the Bible daily.

Fourthly, we serve by telling the truth before God. In a world filled with alternative facts, dishonesty, and lying, the new covenant ministers must endeavor to make the truth of God's word plain to people in the situations or circumstances they find themselves in.

We don't manipulate to make God's word effective but present it straightforwardly and let the Holy Spirit do His work. After laying out these four foundational principles of the ministry of the New Covenant, Paul draws our attention to what is going on in the lives of unbelievers.

II. Satan: The god of this world (Vs. 3-4)

Have you wondered why some people remain unsaved despite repeatedly hearing the Gospel, seeing many miracles, and even attending Church? What hinders them from acknowledging Christ as the Messiah and the son of God? Paul has some answers.

Vs. 3-4, "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious Light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

Whenever the Good News is preached, it doesn't seem to impact people. Why? Unless God the Father draws them to Christ, no one will get saved. John 6:44, "For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up."

In Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul explains who is at work in the lives of unbelievers. "You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God."

Paul refers to the devil as the " prince of the power of the air." Satan, the god of this world, is the biggest hindrance to people getting saved. How does Satan blind the minds of unbelievers? Through Mass Media (television, internet, radio, and magazines) and movies.

Satan creates a Godless global culture using these tools. Satan deceives many to pursue the world's mindset, which is expressed by the majority of people's ideals, opinions, goals, and views. It encompasses the world's philosophies, education, entertainment, and economy.

Satan blinds men and women to God's truth through the world system that he has created, void of God. What happens when God is not at the center of human life or society? Man is left to his own schemes and pursues a system of the world that is unsustainable and collapsing rapidly. How can we heal the blindness caused by Satan and preserve a morally declining society?

III The Gospel Light (Vs.5-6)

            Vs. 5-6, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." The only way we overcome the culture of the beast and the grip of Satan is through the Gospel Light of Jesus Christ, who said I am the Light of the world.

            However thick the darkness and powerful the acts of Satan in the world might be, they cannot withstand the Gospel light. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized, saying, "that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine." Isaiah 9:1-2.

John talked about the One who is the true Light who gives Light to everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1:9). The apostles preached about that Gospel light, Jesus Christ.

We need to turn on the Gospel Light for darkness to flee. We have witnessed it in our lives, how Christ has illuminated our darkened minds and hearts. Now, as the servants of the New Covenant, let us turn on the Gospel light. When people come to Jesus, the Light of the world, the darkness will flee, giving them a chance to become children of the Light. 

 

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html

The New Covenant People (II Corinthians 3:6-18)

 

THE NEW COVENANT PEOPLE ( II Corinthians 3:6-18)

We don't talk much about covenants today, maybe we should, but it was a familiar concept in ancient times. We, modern people, are used to contracts. Usually, contracts are for goods or services and hard cash. The formal or informal contract helps specify failure in these relationships. Contacts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep their promise.

If a patient fails to keep an appointment with a doctor, the doctor is not obligated to call the house and inquire, "Where were you? Why didn't you show up for your appointment?" He simply goes on to his next patient and has his appointment secretary take note of the patient who failed to keep the appointment. The patient may find it harder the next time to see the doctor. He broke an informal contract. Covenants are made and operate differently.

A covenant is a relationship between two partners who make binding promises and work together to reach a common goal. Oaths, signs, and ceremonies often accompany them. Covenants define obligations and commitments, but they differ from contracts because they are relational and personal. Think of a marriage—a husband and wife choose to enter into a formal relationship, binding themselves to one another in lifelong faithfulness and devotion. They then work as partners to reach a common goal, like building a family together.[1]

Covenants are one of the most critical themes in the Bible—they are the key to God's redemptive plan to restore humanity to its divine calling. In II Corinthians 3:6-18, the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian Church about two covenants God has made with people, namely the old and the new covenant. He explains how they differ from one another. He highlights how we are to live as the New Covenant People in our world today. Before we delve into our passage, let me share a snapshot of various covenants God made and their significance in the Bible.

I. A snapshot of seven covenants in the Bible

1. The Adamic Covenant: (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:16-17; 3:15-19) Two parts to this covenant. The first is man's responsibility and God's command toward His creation and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The second is about God's curses and His provision of salvation.

2. The Noahic Covenant: Genesis 9. Adamic covenant continued, "Be fruitful and multiply." Also, God's promise never to destroy all life on earth with a flood and the rainbow as the covenant sign. The rainbow is a sign and reminder that God can and will judge sin. (2 Peter 2:5).

3. The Abrahamic Covenant: God's manifold promises to Abraham. He would make Abraham's name great (Genesis 12:2). Give him many physical descendants (Genesis 13:16). And Abraham would be the father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:4-5). God's promise regarding a nation called Israel. Genesis (12:7; 13:14-15; 15:18-21). All the families of the world will be blessed through the physical line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18).

4. The Palestinian or Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). It amplifies the land aspect that was detailed in the Abrahamic Covenant. If the people disobeyed, God would scatter them worldwide (Duet 30:3-4). He would eventually restore the nation (vs. 5). After the restoration, the nation will obey Him perfectly (vs. 8), and God will prosper them (vs. 9).

5. The Mosaic Covenant: (Deuteronomy 11): It was a conditional covenant that either brought God's blessing for obedience or God's cursing for disobedience upon the nation of Israel. The ten commandments in Exodus 20 were part of that covenant. The rest of the Law contained over 600 commands—roughly 300 positive and 300 negative.

6. The Davidic Covenant (II Samuel 7:8-16). David's lineage would last forever, and his kingdom would not pass away permanently. The Davidic throne has not always been in place. In the future, someone from the line of David will sit and rule as king. He is Jesus (Luke 1:32-33).

God made with the nation of Israel three unconditional covenants (Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic). God will fulfill these covenants regardless of Israel's obedience or disobedience. The Mosaic Covenant is conditional, bringing blessing or cursing depending on Israel's obedience or disobedience. Three of the covenants (Adamic, Noahic, New) are made between God and humanity in general and are not limited to the nation of Israel. Let us look at the seventh one, the New Covenant, and how that differs from the Old Covenant.

II. The New Covenant and how it differs from the Old Covenant.

Vs. 6. "He has enabled us to be ministers (servants) of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." This verse explains how the covenant was written and its nature. But it doesn't say what the New Covenant is all about. Was Paul assuming that the Corinthians knew about it? That's where the letters-sharing among the churches comes into place. To get a fuller understanding of the New Covenant, we will turn to Hebrews 8:1-13

By studying the history of Israel, we know how they broke the old covenant and incurred God's punishment again and again. So, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah that He would make a New Covenant unlike the one He made before with their ancestors. Jeremiah 31:33-34

The New Covenant:  Hebrews 8:10-12, "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."  By calling this a New Covenant, God made the first one obsolete, and we no longer come under the Old Covenant.

In verses 7-11, we read the contrast between the Old and the New Covenant. The old one was written in stone, and the new one is written in our hearts and minds. The first one was glorious to an extent. When Moses read it, people couldn't see his shining face, so he had to put a veil on his face. The new way would be even more glorious because it remains forever.

The old one was based on laws, and works brought condemnation and death. In contrast, the new one operated on grace and brought conviction and life. The old one was written by hand by men, but the new one is engraved on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The stone tablets containing the ten commandments were kept in the Tabernacle and the Temple. The New Covenant is written on human hearts, the living temples of the Holy Spirit.

III. The New Covenant People.

             Vs. 16-18, "But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So, all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image."

            Every time someone responds to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and turns to God in repentance, God writes his New Covenant on his heart. Together we become the New Covenant People. We are called to freedom and to live out the New Covenant and reflect the glory of God through our changed lives. The New Covenant is all about the work of the Holy Spirit. He is making us more like Jesus as we are changed into His glorious image by the day.

            How are we to live as the New Covenant? People? First, we rest in God, as He is the one who makes the covenant and rewards those who trust Him. Secondly, we must share the Good News with others through words and good works. Thirdly, we build a community where love and grace are shared with all people. Fourthly, we live differently than the people in the world.  

 

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[1] https://bibleproject.com/blog/covenants-the-backbone-bible

Who Writes Your Story? II Corinthians 3:1-5

 

WHO WRITES YOUR STORY?

Introduction: "Shepherding the Shepherd," written by retired pastor Lee was a compilation of weekly letters he wrote during the height of the Pandemic in 2020 to encourage discouraged pastors. I was comforted by reading these caring letters of a pastor with 40 years of experience.

Since then, I have had several Zoom calls with him and exchanged views on various matters. In Lee's book, he shares the story of a pastor friend who was taking a Doctoral Ministry class on conflict. His professor asked him, "Who writes your story?" "They do," he replied. "No," his prof replied. He tried again, "I do?" "Nope." Having no options left, he said, "God?" "Right," replied his professor. "God writes your story."[1]

            We all have personal stories to tell others. They are unique and special to us, but who writes them? For my sermon title on II Corinthians 3:1-5, I borrow this question who writes your story? Last time we saw in the 2^nd chapter how the Apostle Paul described believers as the prisoners of Christ who spread the fragrance of Christ by preaching the good news.

He clarified how he was different than the false teachers who corrupted God's word for personal profit. On the contrary, he and other apostles preached God's word honestly and with Christ's authority. Chapter three begins with Paul's refutation of the false prophets. Let's begin.

I. Letters of Recommendation? (II Cor 3:1)

Vs.1, "Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not!" In the corporate world, we are familiar with letters of recommendation. We have either given one or asked for one. A letter of recommendation is a letter written on behalf of an applicant by someone who can vouch for that person's educational or professional performance.

Like the Pharisees of Jesus' time, false teachers constantly attacked Paul's competency and authenticity of his ministry. They demanded letters of recommendation for his ministry among the Corinthians as if he was new to them. Paul challenged them with these questions.

Do we need to commend or introduce ourselves all over again? Do we have to show letters of recommendation as though we were starting the ministry afresh? We know by reading the beginnings of the Corinthian Church that Paul was the founder of it and did the hard labor of service for eighteen months among them. (Acts 18). Therefore he needed no introduction.

 On the contrary, certain false prophets arrived in Corinth with letters of recommendation that they may have forged (Acts 15:1) or obtained by pretense from prominent members of the Jerusalem church. Paul wrote letters of recommendation for Phoebe (Rom 16:3) and Timothy ( I Cor 16:10). These letters helped them find a welcome in various churches. Paul's point is that he needed no secondhand testimony when the Corinthian believers themselves are his proof.

II. The Living Epistles (Vs.2)

Vs. 2, "The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you." Paul's only proof of evidence is not the letters but the changed lives by God through his ministry.

Paul humbly acknowledges that though God used him to change lives, ultimately it is God's work. II Cor 3:5-6, "It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant."

People take great pride in their achievements in this world, as though they did it on their own. We rarely hear winning athletes or sports stars saying, God enabled me to win, and I give glory to Him. When it comes to Christian ministry, none of us are qualified to serve God but thank God he qualifies us and enables us to become the ministers of his new covenant.

The Corinthian believers became the living epistles or letters of recommendation due to God's work through His humble servant Paul. They are living proof that God changes lives. Similarly, all those whose lives have been changed by God's work become the living Epistles.

In a powerful old Hymn, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" we sing a Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long." Who writes the story of our lives?

III. Who Writes Your Story?

Vs. 3, "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone but on human hearts." Paul expands his letter imagery in this verse.

Paul answers the question of who writes your story by saying, "you are a letter from Christ." Our lives are letters from Christ that are not written by pen and ink that can fade. They are alive, written by Christ through the supernatural transforming work of the Holy Spirit. In a way, the Holy Spirit uses a Super Permanent Marker when writing our stories.

Paul uses a powerful imager from famous Old Testament passages predicting the promised day of new hearts and new beginnings for God's people. Jeremiah 31:33, "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Ezekiel 36:26-27, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. These two prophecies indicate that God transforms lives and writes his story in our hearts.

Unlike the old covenant, now God makes a new covenant with his people (we will talk more about it next week). For now, let's recognize it is all the work of God and not ours. The instructions of that covenant are not on stone tablets that can break or on paper with ink that can be burned or faded, but deep within people's hearts. God will make us his people and give us a tender and responsive heart by His Spirit so that we can obey his instructions.

What does all this mean for us today? It means I have nothing to boast about my salvation. I am saved by His grace and not by my works. God is writing my life's story. He composed several chapters and will complete the final chapter when I die.

Mother Theressa humbly acknowledged, "I am a little pencil in God's hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything, and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil, and He has to sharpen it a little more." Let us acknowledge that we are just little broken pencils. God is sharpening us a little more to write His powerful story in our hearts.

The evidence of God's work through me is the lives I impact through the power of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, God is at work in you and all those whose lives are constantly being transformed through the love of Christ. How do we know God is at work in Hope Church?

Look at the lives that are being changed through the Holy Spirit. We don't need to carry a letter to let people know how and when we got saved. As Paul noted, we are the living epistles that people can read and learn. Perhaps you are the only living letter of Christ in your workplace, neighborhood, or family. You are an open letter of Christ. As a letter can be read, so are you.

What can people see and read in you? Do they see God's love, mercy, grace, kindness, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, or something else? God has not finished with us yet. We are a work in progress, but to the extent we received change, let us live it out. By seeing our good works, people will glorify God. Not what we do changes people but what God does through us. Amen!

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[1] Shepherding the Shepherd, Lee Eclov, 30.