2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:… I. WHAT IS OUR GOSPEL? You may call it either "God's news" or "good newsy" for "God" and "good" are one and the same thing. The "gospel" is God's good news. And what is "the good news"? Now, if I were to say that God is our Creator and Father, this might be "good," but it would not be "news." Almost all nature teaches that. And if I were to say that His Son came into this world, it might be "news," but it might not be "good." But when I add that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, is not this "news"? Is not this "good"? II. BUT SOME OF YOU DO NOT SEE IT. 1. You say — (1) "It would never do for God to forgive sin so easily. It will encourage sin." You do not see that the acceptance of forgiveness provides the cure for sin. (2) Or you feel "there is a simplicity in that which is contrary to all my ideas of the greatness of God."(3) Or you take very little trouble to understand it. It is an abstraction — like any other philosophical dogma. (4) Or you know it is true. You always heard it, and you have been educated up to it. But it has no power over your heart. It is "hidden." 2. And if it is "hidden," what "hides" it? A thing may be "hidden" from one or other of three causes — (1) The organ of vision may be weakened or destroyed. The apostle assigns to the Corinthians this cause. "The god of this world" had "blinded their minds." The right image is not formed. There is no reflection of the object inwardly. You have not the capacity of seeing such things as these. (2) Something has come in between you and truth. A big sin hinders the view. (3) Men drive God to do an act of retributive justice. Neglected light has been withdrawn. 4. What underlies the threefold process? Your sin. You were not prepared to accept the gospel of His grace on the conditions. And so sin dulled the perceptive power; sin drew the veil; one sin was punished by another sin. From long darkness your heart grew dark. III. "TO THEM THAT ARE LOST." (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:WEB: Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; |
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