Question
Let Light Shine Out of Darkness
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Key Verse 4:6
Read verses 1-2. Why is it necessary for a minister of the new covenant to renounce secret and shameful ways (especially as they preach the gospel)? What do the following words (in verse 2b) show us about the way to serve the gospel? 1) [We set] forth the truth plainly; 2) We “commend” ourselves; 3) to every man’s “conscience”; 4) “in the sight of God.”
Read verses 3-4 and think about the following words: 1) the gospel; 2) the glory of Christ; and 3) the image of God. How are they connected together? What does this passage teach us about the light we are called to let shine?
Read verses 5-7. Why is it sometimes difficult to preach Christ alone? How can we avoid preaching “ourselves” [or a little bit of us and a little bit of Christ] rather than “Christ” alone?
Read verse 7 again. In what respect does the light [that is, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ] represent the “all-surpassing” power (that is from God)? (14)
Read verses 8-12. What does Paul mean by “death is at work in us, but life is at work in you”?
Read verses 13-15. What does this passage tell us about the work of [resurrection] faith?
Read verses 16-18. How will the Lord reward those who brave hardships and preach the gospel?
Manuscript
Message
Let Light Shine Out of the Darkness
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Key Verse 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
When Jesus came he said, “I am the light of the world.” Then Jesus commanded his disciples, “You are the light of the world.” The question for us then is, “How can we live as the light of the world?” The Apostle Paul set an example that answers this question which we can find in today’s passage.
First, we have renounced secret and shameful ways (1-2a).
Look at verses 1-2. “Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.”
In the past the Apostle Paul did not have God’s light in him. Naturally, he lived as a child of darkness. He was bright. He mastered the philosophies of this world. But since he did not know Jesus he ended up living as an instrument of darkness.
God had mercy on him. In his mercy the Risen Jesus revealed himself to Paul. Then Paul saw God’s light in Jesus. Jesus’ light exposed the darkness inside of Paul. Paul deeply repented. In humility he asked God to help him overcome the power of darkness within. God honored his request. God expelled the darkness inside. God established his light in Paul. Then Paul started living as an instrument of God’s light.
A lot of people want to do something good for others. They desire to live as the light of the world. But unless one sincerely repents and accepts Jesus as Lord he cannot live as the light of the world.
Second, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (2b).
Look at verse 2b. “On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”
The Apostle Paul set forth God’s truth by commending himself to every man’s conscience. Figuratively speaking, the conscience is like a courtroom where evidences are presented so that the court may decide who is right and who is wrong, who is guilty and who is innocent. On the day of the court hearing both parties come out and present their cases. The court hears evidences. The court then makes a decision. In order for you to convince the court and let it decide the case in your favor it is absolutely necessary for you to present evidences that are true and convincing.
God gave each person a “conscience.” It is God’s tribunal in a man where God’s voice can be heard. It is in this place called the “conscience” that man hears what is being presented and weighs its merits. After debates in his mind, he makes a decision: he either rejects or accepts what is being presented.
Like the Apostle Paul we too must present God’s truth plainly to everyone’s conscience. In so doing we must present ourselves as living witnesses of Jesus Christ, for in their conscience they not only hear the message being spoken but also see the man behind the message.
Third, the light of the gospel (3-6)
What do we mean by “light”? What is the light we are called to let shine? Look at verses 3-6. “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 of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Light means the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Light consists of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Note that Paul characterizes the light of the gospel with two words: glory (as in the glory of God) and image (as in the image of God). Here “glory” denotes all that are valuable in God’s eyes: love (especially the love that forgives man of man’s sins), integrity, goodness, honesty, faithfulness, diligence, kindness, compassion, and so on. The image refers to the net effect of these qualities combined together.
Some people have good qualities like being gentle and kind. Some people have bad qualities like being rude, etc. Some have more good qualities than bad qualities. Some have more bad qualities than good qualities. In this way each person has different images, some good, some bad, some terrible.
But Jesus is different. He is good, always good, and totally good. God put in Jesus’ person and life all that are good. Referring to this quality of Jesus, Paul says that Jesus is the glory of God and the image of God. Jesus is God incarnate.
Here is a question: If Jesus is so good, and if indeed it is Jesus whom we present to everyone’s conscience as God’s light, and if this light of God is the only thing that saves man, why is it that not all people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? We already know the answer: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
So let us stop for a moment and think about “the god of this age.” What is it? The god of this age stands for what the people of this world worship. It is a fancy word for idolatrous ways of life such as materialism and humanism (materialism in the sense of man putting money ahead of the Living God, and humanism in the sense of man putting human being(s) above God.)
The god of this age blinds man’s mind, so that he cannot see the light of the gospel. This is what God ordained from before the beginning of the universe. Suppose that there is a man named Mr. Materialist. For some reason he thinks that materials, like money, are more important than God. So he presents himself as a materialist. He is a material man, as Madonna says in her song, “I am a material girl.”
What will God do for that person? As a punishment (or judgment if you will) for his love of money, God will give that person over to the lustful desires for materials such as money, cars, or all other goodies, so that he would become stupid enough to keep pursuing material things and thereby suffer from all kinds of evil. In this way as God sees a man seeking what is materialistic or humanistic, God shuts himself off into the world where it is categorically impossible for him to see the goodness of the gospel light.
Knowing this, as the carrier of the gospel light, the Apostle Paul warned his flock in the church of Corinth against materialistic and humanistic ways of life. As an effort to keep them free from materialistic ways of life, Paul encouraged them to make offerings to support the Lord’s work to spread the gospel. [Would someone stand up and read 1 Corinthians 16:1-3.] Then what happened? Did they offer sacrificially and willingly? No. In the love of money some of them banded together against Paul and said, “Look, this guy is suspicious. He urges us to make offerings only to put the money into his own pocket.” No wonder that Paul mentions the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers, so they could not see the gospel light. On the surface they looked like believers, but they were not. Yes, they were believers: they believed in something but that something was not the gospel but money.
Fourth, we have this treasure in jars of clay (7-12).
The next point for the carrier of the gospel light to consider is the Biblical use of one’s body. Look at verses 7-12. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”
In this passage the word “body” is repeated three times. Verse 7 describes the body as “jars of clay.” In verse 12 Paul describes it as “mortal.” There is no one who does not have a body. Everyone in this room has a body.
So let us talk about our bodies, especially its use. With a body we can do many different things. In one of the magazines I read a commercial that promises that your body would be well fit. The program is basically an exercise program called “Combat Conditioning.” The advertisement says, “The amazing exercise program that transforms couch potatoes into super-hero fitness machines.” Then the commercial describes 12 ways in which it can change your life. Here are some of the things I hear them promising: you can sleep like a log; eight hours of sleep is no longer a goal; is automatic; your muscles will be pliable, like a tiger’s; you’ll turn back the clock. Friends will tell you that you look 5-10 years younger. Wow! The program sounds wonderful.
Indeed turning your body into a fitness machine and making your body as fit as Spiderman is not a bad idea.
In the passage the Apostle Paul presents us a biblical use of our body: that is, dedicating one’s body to the Lord as a vessel to carry the gospel of Jesus. Paul used his body as a vessel to carry the message on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He knows that no matter how much we exercise, our body will sooner or later become dysfunctional. It will soon cease to operate, for it is mortal. So our body has limited mileage. During this limited period of time Paul dedicated his body as a tool to carry Jesus’ death and Jesus’ life. In this way he transformed his body to operate as Little Jesus Incarnate. He turned his body into a moving Bible center, a walking torch light of Jesus’ gospel.
Offering one’s body as the carrier of the gospel of Jesus is the most wonderful way of using our body, because as we die to ourselves and use our body to promote the gospel we can personally experience the all surpassing power of Jesus. In addition, as we serve the gospel using our body by singing gospel songs for the Lord, teaching the Bible, or serving the ministry in many different ways with all the talents we have received from the Lord, life can work in the lives of people whom we serve.
Fifth, I believed therefore I have spoken (13-14).
In verses 13-14 the Apostle Paul tells us what motivates a Christian to live as the light of the world. Look at verses 13-14. “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.” What motives us to be the light of the world? It is faith in Jesus who died and rose again. This faith is not a blind thing. It is an intelligent work of God, for faith comes from personal knowledge of Jesus’ power of resurrection. This knowledge is more than head knowledge; it is a heart knowledge based on personal experience.
The Apostle Peter and the Apostle John personally witnessed the risen Jesus. The Apostle Paul also personally met the risen Jesus. Their personal knowledge led them to be convinced that the Risen Jesus would also raise them back to life, just as God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. This faith based on their personal knowledge of Jesus’ love and power, motivated them to live as the light of the world.
Do we have this conviction? If we do we can be good witnesses of Jesus Christ. No matter where we go people will see God’s light shining in and through us.
Sixth, all this is for your benefit (15).
Look at verse 15. “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” One fabulous thing about the life that carries God’s light in the Lord is that as we carry God’s light in our body the Lord blesses us to live not just for ourselves but for others. As we live for others, praying for their salvation, the Lord multiplies the blessings: as we live for the benefit of others, others who get benefited live for others. In this way more and more people get saved. In this way as the grace of the Lord reaches more people the grace of salvation increases causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Seventh, an eternal glory (16-18).
What will be the net effect of a man letting the light of the gospel shine forth all the days of his life? Look at verses 16-18. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The end result is each of us achieving an “eternal glory.” To put it another way, by living as the light of the world we prepare for ourselves and those who hear the gospel through us an eternal security of life, because among all strenuous purposes, the “eternal glory” provides for us eternal “life-security” that is truly viable.
In conclusion: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” In God’s mercy we received the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. In carrying the gospel light we may run into some troubles and hardships. But despite all these as we brave hardships and difficulties, the Lord will bless us to ensure that his all surpassing power overflows in us, so we can go from strength to strength, glory to glory, all in an increasing measure, all to his glory. May the Lord bless us to love the Lord more and more, so that wherever we go the Lord’s light may shine forth to all peoples on earth.
One word: let light shine out of darkness
By the all-surpassing power, the Apostle Paul mans the power of resurrection.
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Biblenote
Let Light Shine Out of Darkness
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Key Verse 4:6
In this passage Paul shares several conditions that a gospel servant must meet for bearing fruit.
Read verses 1-2. Why is it necessary for a minister of the new covenant to renounce secret and shameful ways (especially as they preach the gospel)? What do the following words (in verse 2b) show us about the way to serve the gospel? 1) [We set] forth the truth plainly; 2) We “commend” ourselves; 3) to every man’s “conscience”; 4) “in the sight of God.”
** So that the inner darkness would not impede the gospel light from shining. Light and darkness have no fellowship; so it is necessary for a gospel servant to renounce sinful ways of life. 2Co 6:14
** One must set forth the truth (that is, Jesus Christ) plainly. John 14:6
** Second, the gospel servant and the gospel should not be separated but become one, so that the gospel servant would be literally an “instrument” of the gospel, rendering himself as a channel (or mouth piece) through which the gospel is presented to the dying world. Consider what Paul says in 2Co 3:3, that is, a gospel servant being a living letter of Christ, carrying the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ, so that people would receive the fragrance of life from his service. [The word “commend” reminds us of 1 Pe 2:12.]
** Third, we appeal to man’s conscience. [Conscience is the arena where God’s truth is presented and weighed, so that a decision can be made. Consciences can be corrupted and partly or wholly rendered dysfunctional, but still this is the place where the gospel is first reviewed in a man’s mind.]
** Fourth, the expression “in the sight of God” can mean on the part of a servant, “under God’s supervision” or “being conscious of an all-seeing God”. It can also mean that as one presents the gospel God would be present assisting the gospel servant.
Read verses 3-4 and think about the following words: 1) the gospel; 2) the glory of Christ; and 3) the image of God. How are they connected together? What does this passage teach us about the light we are called to let shine?
** The gospel talks about the nature of the message, that is, the good news that gives life to man.
The glory of Christ refers to the substance of the gospel (or the fruit one will bear when they accept the gospel). [Glory – intrinsic nature; all that is true of Jesus, like his love, power, character like gentleness, etc.]
The image of God: this is the end product God has in mind in bringing the gospel to light. Romans 3:23; Psalm 106:20; Hosea 4:7; Roman 1:23
** It is the light of Jesus.
Read verses 5-7. Why is it sometimes difficult to preach Christ alone? How can we avoid preaching “ourselves” [or a little bit of us and a little bit of Christ] rather than “Christ” alone?
** Partly because of us, the instruments, not rendering ourselves transparent (our sinful nature, tendency to seek self-glory, etc.), so that Jesus’ light alone would shine. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. But we don’t always fully deny ourselves (or in Paul’s term, die to ourselves daily).
** In the case of the passage here, perhaps two things: first, remember our position as a servant [of God sent to serve the ones we are sent to]; and second we are merely a jar of clay, not Christ.
Read verse 7 again. In what respect does the light [that is, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ] represent the “all-surpassing” power (that is from God)? (14)
** It is so described (all-surpassing) in that it comes with the power of resurrection which is above all powers including the power of sin and Satan.
Read verses 8-12. What does Paul mean by “death is at work in us, but life is at work in you”?
** Arguably it refers to Jesus’ principle of prosperity taught in John 12:24, a kernel of wheat falling to the ground. Refer to 1Co 11:24-26 as well.
Read verses 13-15. What does this passage tell us about the work of [resurrection] faith?
** We do what we truly believe in.
Read verses 16-18. How will the Lord reward those who brave hardships and preach the gospel?
** He will reward them with the eternal glory that is to be revealed when Jesus comes again.
The end