February 17, 2022 – Thursday
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Comment.
Fair warning, tomorrow we will look at verses 5-6. Wanted to include them in today’s verses, but also wanted to give each duo plenty of attention even though they are obviously related. With that said let’s take a look at the above verses.
Frist verse 3, And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. I really like how Barnes’ Notes on the Bible looks at this verse, And he adds, that this might very well be, for, “however conspicuous the gospel was in itself, yet like the sun it would not be visible to the blind.” The cause was not in the gospel, but in themselves. This verse teaches, therefore: (1) That the beauty of the gospel may be hidden from many of the human family. (2) that there is a class of people who may be called, even now, “the lost.” They are lost to virtue, to piety, to happiness, to hope. (3) this is not the fault of the gospel. It is not the fault of the sun when people shut their eyes and will not see it. (edited) However, what cannot be forgotten is 3:16, But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Even those who have the clear gospel of Jesus hid or veiled to them, they may turn to the Lord at any time prior to their death just as the thief on the cross did.
Next verse 4, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Let’s first be clear, The god of this age is referring to Satan also know as the prince of this world (John 14:30), the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and the evil one (1 John 5:19). Notice the purpose of Satan blinding the minds of unbelievers; it is so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. The last thing Satan desires is for unbelievers to see the light of the gospel for if they do so they will then see the glory of Christ, the image of God.
From all of this you might think it useless to pray for the unbelievers (such as I once was). But Guzik is of a different opinion stating, Understanding Satan’s strategy with unbelievers should affect how we pray for the lost. We should ask God to shine His light, to bind the blinding work of Satan, and to give faith to overcome the unbelief that invites the blinding. I could not agree more. After all, Satan is not all powerful and can only blind by lies and deceit.
Prayer: Father God, Please help me to pray for the lost, that the blinders that blind them would fall away and upon seeing the truth of the gospel of Jesus would then turn to Him for salvation through His Grace. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek