Can you see?

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV):  “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  

“The light of the glorious gospel of Christ”  which is what?  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

When was that gospel, that glorious gospel given by Paul to us wards was heard in a sermon from the pulpit?  When was it last heard in Sunday School?  When was it last heard in Christian programing of any sort.  Truthfully, in and of yourself when was it last heard anywhere?  Why?

“The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not”,  As  believers in Christ Jesus, part of the body of Christ how do we allow the Holy Spirit to heal man kinds blindness in this “the dispensation of the grace of God”. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.   

One doesn’t study to impress God, to show God how sincere one is, but to learn why God has approved us unto Himself.  To know what faith is and how faith works in this dispensation.  To know what  “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.  To know the nuts and bolts of that passage and its importance in relation to why the gospel can be presented  as:  “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:5-10.  If it were not for 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 there wouldn’t be any justification for 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 4:25.  Then following if that “glorious gospel of Christ” isn’t appropriated through faith of the One who is faithful; Ephesians 2:5-10 has no power to save:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Romans 1:16.  The gospel will not save one until by faith and faith alone is believed.  Thats why the next verse is important to be understood:  “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”   That written “faith to faith” must be understood and be living in one to understand its meaning.  Its ones faith which He gave to place in His faithfulness of Himself that is the glue, if you will, that makes it all work. 

If one doesn’t understand their personal predicament one is facing or did face, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and that: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.  Not understanding then how does one articulate the gospel to the lost when it is the Holy Spirit that convicts the hearer.

“Wherefore tongues [a known language] are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not [those not in Christ, lost]: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  If therefore the whole church [body of Christ] be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  But if all prophesy [as in speaking Gods Word as we now have in written form], and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” 1 Corinthians 14:22-25.  Note:  it doesn’t read that the one hearing will believe but that he only will “worship God”.  This shows to me it is mans choice to believe or not to believe even when scripture is given (as was the “tongues”) still must believe unto salvation. Again: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Romans 1:16

Personally I do not think that just for one to parrot words unto salvation is faith but presumption.  Isaiah wrote well:  “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 

for with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 

To whom he said,This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;

and this is the refreshing:yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” Isaiah 28:10-13.  I would hope that one would read the whole of chapter 28 and for the matter the whole of Isaiah and study to see how and why so great a salvation has come about.  

At this present fellowship I attend I hear at the last of the sermons presentation this.  “If there be any here that have decided to accept Christ and be saved, come forward and receive Him”.  Book, chapter and verse please?  Have yet to date see one even go forward but will ask individuals why they believe they are saved or what happens when they die.  In asking have yet to have one speak of the gospel of Paul.  Pitiful of what our clergy have come to.  Paul spoke well in writing: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

If one does not teach and preach the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the circumstances surrounding that availability of so great a salvation, how can one be saved.  If not: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2