Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Change Produced By This Spiritual Discernment – Continued

Ever so sadly, those still living and walking in darkness will go on, forever in the treadmill of vain opposition to God. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

But God may be pleased to shine upon some of them that light which now they spurn. He will use for that purpose the light of the gospel as spread about by those who are changed from glory unto glory into the image of Christ.

My brothers and sisters, men and women all around you are still in the darkness of Plato’s cave. They grope blindly about them for light. But when you let the light, the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shine upon them they turn from you. They just can’t seem to bear that light. Will you then depend upon your eloquence, upon your attractive personality to make them see? Will you put a veil upon your face in order to adapt your message to the spiritual blindness of those to whom you minister? Or, like Paul, will you dare to speak plainly to those who are without, to those who are of a contrary belief?

Eloquence and pitifulness will not in themselves soften the heart of a scoffer or blasphemer, but neither will argument and debate in themselves cause a modern-day Plato to see. Men often seek to be wiser than God. Sincere ministers wish to have men see the full light of the gospel. But there are many who have methods of their own with which to try and accomplish the task. Often they will first bring men a part of the gospel and then another part oftentimes out of context. They hope to make the gospel attractive by sugar-coating it just a little. To those who are on the outside they will offer the gospel as an attractive hypothesis for men to consider. To those who are within they often tone down, or even avoid, the full demands of Christ.

Paul was beyond this stage when he first preached in Corinth. If you are still in doubt whether you will always and everywhere preach the full counsel of God you haven’t yet studied Paul’s complete motives. The Apostle Paul knew he could and that he would do nothing but speak plainly the whole counsel of God. That was absolutely settled with him. But now, as seen in his letters, he rejoices, looking back, at the results of that determination. He had at the beginning presumably been fearful. He had trembled when he first preached to the Corinthians. He had been tempted to let down on both the manner and the content of his preaching. But he had not let down. He had trusted in the God who had called him on that Damascus road. Now God has blessed his efforts. Dramatically changed from one who blasphemed to one who gloried in the Lord, Paul had seen others changed likewise. He had honored God; therefore, God had honored him. He had spoken plainly; therefore, men did see and they saw clearly and continually.

Let us all speak the gospel plainly in our day so that those around us may have the same opportunity to see and to see with an unveiled, or uncovered face.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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