But even if our
gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those
who are perishing,
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.
2 Corinthians 4: 3 --
4
How can it
be that the Gospel veiled to some and not others? Do not those who are veiled hear the Gospel? Yes!
Is the problem with the Gospel?
Is the problem with those who were preaching the gospel? No!
The Gospel, for some, hidden and has proven ineffectual to some who hear
it. The Gospel has no fault in this
matter because the Gospel simply is the truth of God and the revelation of God of
Who He is and how we are to live for Him.
The problem lies, first, and foremost, with those who have heard the
Gospel and have rejected the Gospel.
Why did they reject the Gospel?
The god of this world has blinded their minds and they are under the
influence and power of Satan. Satan is
not a being that covers this world for he is simply a created being, an
individual spirit. We must not forget
that when Satan fell from the glory he had with him many other angels who fell
with him and by them, they are able to have great influence all over the world. How is it possible for a spirit creature to
have such influence upon a human being that is fleshly and not spirit? This is an important question; one that must
be answered so that we who hear the word of God and that word is not veiled to
us understand how to flee from the devil:
"Therefore submit to God. Resist
the devil and he will flee from you" (James: 7). As Christians we are to submit and the Greek
word used is imperative and in the passive form, in other words you are
directed by command to place yourself or to arrange yourself under the influence
of God. You are to be subordinated and
brought under a state of influence of God and this means to render obedience;
that is to be submissive. Furthermore
as a Christian hearing the word of God and no longer under the veil of Satan's
influence you are to resist the devil.
And this word is also an imperative a directive and that direction is to
become in opposition, to oppose, and to stand out against, and in this case
the devil and his demons who are veiling the minds of men. How do we do this: "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify
your hearts, you double -minded" (James 4:8)? Due to the fall of man and this by the sin of
Adam all men are sinners from their conception to their death. Due to this original sin that has infected mankind, and that infection has darkened their understanding of God, they
do not, and often will not, due to the error that grows within them, and the
prejudice that they hold to, they cannot behold the light of the glorious gospel
of Christ. Spirit speaks to
spirit! All Satan has to do is to
influence with by his false words to our spirit that is already sinful. The Gospel of Christ is designed so that we
can discover God and by this we renew our mind, our exercise of the faith that
God will give to His children. How do
we discover the Gospel of Christ:
"So then they come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"
(Romans 10:17). Satan has but one design and that design is to keep people from hearing the
word of God and even for some who have heard the word of God so that they are blinded
by the tempter and reject the word of God.
Satan is in opposition to the Gospel to us from a personal and the redeeming acceptance of the
sacrifice on the cross by Jesus keeping men from the Gospel and even sets them against
it. What we have done in this blog is
to trace the rejection of the Gospel to its proper cause: Satan, and our
unwillingness to hear the Gospel and apply it in our lives. Only the Holy Spirit can speak to your
spirit and give you the faith freely that which you cannot earn or obtain without
Him. Jesus Christ is the very image of
God, God's representation and the manifestation of God in the flesh. The image of God demonstrates His
relationship with God the Father and due to this fact Jesus Christ who is the
very image of God even though came to earth incarnate, that is in the flesh, He
is still suitable to bear the responsibility. This He came to accomplish and that is to restore to fallen man,
who had lost their desire to be associated with God, can now return and be
restored by the divine grace of God, that part of the image of God that they
had from their creation, restored and now represent Him. They are restored to that relationship to
God. If this is true of you than you
are also restored to a right relationship with God. This then is where those imperatives for us are both commands and a directive,
that we are to subject ourselves, and to resist ourselves against Satan and his
demons. When no longer do the things
that this world does, and dress like the world, nor speak like the world, we
become law abiding citizen, holding the justice of God first and foremost. This means driving according to the speed
laws, and obeying other laws. Within
the democracy of the United States, if we disagree with the law we have the
right to oppose it and to aid in its change, to be restored, or reform or
completely rejected the law, by a new law. Until then
we are obliged as Christians who hold to the justice of God for which the
government is also to hold too, and be just according to God's law. We are not to be blinded by the god of this
world, we are to be the manifestation of the image of Jesus Christ who is the
image of God and we become His image also.
As we grow in sanctification the image of the invisible God through
Jesus Christ this is expressed in our lives to the world. An awesome responsibility, one that may raise fear in your
hearts, but do not be afraid for we have the power of God within us, the Holy
Spirit. Live today as an Authentic
Christian: God will bless your efforts.
You now have the greatest blessing they God can give to you and that is
eternal life secured. Praise God!
Oh, give thanks to the LORD,
for He is
good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the
redeemed of the LORD
say so, whom He has redeemed
from the
hand of the enemy.
Psalm
107: 1 -- 2
Today spend time in God's Word
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