2Co 4:2
But 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.
The hidden things? The hidden things « kryptos » of dishonesty or shame.
What did we see Paul talking about just a little while ago that realates tp hidden things?
We saw that Moses had to put a vail on to cover his face. Why? So that the people of Israel could not see the fulness of the glory of God. They were given a form of GOd in the Law that Moses received. They were not ready to believe to the point of the full revelation of Gods glory and that was when Christ came. The law was the vail and that is what Israel knew of God for the time. It was soon to be surpassed by the Glory of Christ.
It would be a shame and dishonest thing to go backwards, cover up God’s real heart with the Law. Yet that is what happens when the religious Jews entered the Christian assemblies to teach circumcision, baptisms, temple services etc. The idea of working for the grace is backwards and the religious works cover up the face of God that is shinnnig to us in the face of Christ!
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
The word vail that Paul used is of the same origin as hidden. Vail is κάλυμμα or kalumma comes from the verb to hide or cover…..kalypto and Hidden is the word kryptos κρυπτός. But God will reveal all things and doesn’t hide anything! God gives revelation which is the word « apokalypsis » and that means to take away (apo) the covering (kalypsis).
The devil is a liar. He is always hiding and covering the truth. If the truth of Christ was hidden itw as not God’s will but the devil’s. The only reason that the minds of the Jews and all men were covered by a vail of Law was that is all their unbelief could see at the time. God was patient for millenia.
The mysterty was kept gaurded and handled with love. The mystery of Christ was kept secret by their inablility to see through their laws to the Glory to come. Yet God kept this mystery safe in His bossom so that when the time came it would be fulfilled but the sacrifice and resurrection of His own dear Son.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelationG602 of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
The devil loves mysteries and while keep secrets. God wants to expose all secrets and reveal all things! The devil and his servants always have had to use secret societies, where only the most proud and evil knows the secrets. God is in the business of pouring all the truth out an broadcasting it. The servants of God are revealing the mysteries and the enemies servants try to conceal them. One great method is to keep the words of the law in your face so you cannot see the Grace. And the work of Jesus is our grace!
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work
There is no work that is good that does not come from this Grace. First comes Grace and then we can do good works. But without seeing Gods Grace and glory we can only do bad works.
For nothing is secret,G2927 that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
God is the Light of the world. HE wants all to see and all to be revealed. When we have this revelation we are to make it known to all. Now Jesus Christ is that Light and revelation of God so we preach the Risen Christ not the law anymore. Take the mask of the law off so you can see His face! Get to know the person and fall in love. Then you no longer need a rule book on “the idiots guide how to love your Lord in ten easy steps”
We are to preach Christ no longer the Law of Moses.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
If we continue to teach the Law of Moses in place of the Grace in Christ people will remain lost.
The good news of Grace is hidden behind the rules.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
The world can be a dark place, but God has given you a Light who is greater than the darkness. Jesus has overcome the world, conquered death, and there is no trial that unsettles him. Jesus smiles at every storm.
The answer to death is looking into the face of Christ. So take the mask off!
Do not hide it in a basket of laws and rules as the devil would have you do.
2 Corinthians 3:15
But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
(a) Moses represents the law. A Moses-message is anything that promotes rules and regulations. “The law shows me how to live; it teaches me how to please the Lord.”
(b) Whenever Moses is read. The old covenant’s fulfillment coincided with the tearing of the temple veil, but in the minds of some, the veil remains. It endures whenever Moses is read and people are put under law. “The law shows me how to live; it teaches me how to please the Lord.” Such a lie veils the heart and cheapens the gospel. To read Moses – to put your trust in your law-keeping in light of what Christ has done – is spiritual adultery. It’s approaching the Lord with an unauthorized sacrifice. It’s bringing your own sandwiches to his table of abundance.
(c) A veil lies over their heart. The ministry of law blinds us to the grace of God because it causes us to focus on ourselves and our works instead of Jesus and his. “We are not under law but grace” (Rom. 6:14). Believers ought to have nothing to do with the law because living under law amounts to spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on Jesus (see Rom. 7:4).
When we take the mask or vail off we can stop being religious actors and get real with God
We must stop trying to change everything and let Christ change us
We must stop hiding behind our goodie goodie religion and be broken but honest with Him. Don’t be afraid to take the mask off and look Him in HIs face. A covered face is not going to do any good. The glory of God is in Jesus Christ face and as we look into His face we become more and more like Him. We are changed by Grace not that we can do anything without it.
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