Paul the apostle shared
with the church
members in Corinth how he and his companions, “have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the
truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of
God.”, and
in
chapter four and verse three of Second Corinthians, Paul shared, “if
our gospel be hid”,
where we read:
But if our
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
The verse begins, “But
if our gospel be hid, ...” Paul
began with the word, “but”
which
is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “if
our gospel” or
“whether Paul and his companions' good news and glad tidings” “be
hid” which
means “veiled and hindered to the knowledge of”.
Paul considered the possibility of the “obscurity, veiling or
hindering” of the “good news” which he and his companions
shared.
The verse continues,
“...it is hid to
them that are lost:”
Paul added the words, “it is hid” which
means “the gospel is veiled and hindered to the knowledge of”
“to them” or “to
the people” “that are lost” which
refers to “who are rendered useless, put
out of the way entirely, abolished and put to an end”.
Paul declared those to whom the “gospel”
is “veiled and hindered” are “useless, abolished and put to an
end”.
When we meditate upon
these words of Paul, we see how ominous it is to have the “gospel
of Jesus Christ” “hidden”
from insight. There are people who cannot see the usefulness and
importance of the “gospel”,
and they are in a state of condemnation. They don't know it, but they
are rendered as “useless, put out of the way entirely, abolished
and put to an end”. This is why Paul wrote these words. There is
hope that every person will receive the “gospel
of Jesus”, and although some shall never
receive it, nonetheless it is important to present it that all may
have an opportunity to receive it. May everyone who reads these words
no longer have the “gospel” hidden to them, but see the truth of
God's word and receive His Son Jesus as “Savior and Lord” in
their lives.
Next
time Paul shares with the church members, “the
god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not”
so read ahead, and we shall join together then,
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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