If Our Gospel Is Veiled

February 10


I have a hard time today deciding on a topic. Deuteronomy 13-25 is so rich with things I think so many need to understand; and likewise, Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is filled with outstanding instruction about church discipline, giving to the support of the saints in Jerusalem, caution about listening to those who preach a different gospel, true repentance, warring in the Spirit, the seal of apostleship, recognizing false apostles, and Paul’s ability to do God’s work in spite of his affliction. II Corinthians 4:3, 4 tells us,

“If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

In Chapter 3 Paul tells the members of the Corinthian church the veil to which he is referring here is taken away in Christ. This is the veil that was torn in two at the crucifixion (Matt. 28:50, 51). It is the veil behind which the Ark of the Covenant sat in the original temple (Ex. 26:31-35). It was the veil in the temple through which only the High Priest was allowed to enter and only after an elaborate ceremony of cleansing and dressing properly (Lev. 16). The Ark of the Covenant was the embodiment of the union of the Old and New Covenants. Seven candles that stood on a lampstand before it represented the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2, 3. (cf. Rev. 1:12, 20 with Ex. 25:37).

The crucial point for us to take from today’s lesson is that those who are not the elect, predestined before the foundation of the world to be part of His kingdom, will not understand the significance of the gospel because their hearts are being blinded by the devil. But we must also understand the reason God lets that happen is that those who are blinded are blinded because they chose to suppress the truth in unrighteousness and to exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:18, 25). This group not only perpetrates evil upon mankind, but they give hearty approval to others who do likewise (Rom. 1:32). One might naturally conclude, though incorrectly, there is no sense in proclaiming the gospel if God has already determined who is effectually called to be part of His kingdom. That conclusion is incorrect because, in the divine plan of God, He determined those whom He has called to Himself will be called through the preaching of the gospel by those who have already entered through the narrow gate to His kingdom (Rom. Rom. 10:14). That, of course, is all of us who are currently submitting ourselves to the authority of God and His word.

Note, I did not suggest that responsibility lies on all who are attending one sort of church or another. Great multitudes are attending one of the millions of buildings in America we call the church each Sunday who are not submitting themselves to the authority of God or His word. God forbid any of them should attempt to preach the gospel, though Paul rejoiced, even when some preached Christ from envy and strife (Phil. 1:18). I trust those at least knew the gospel and preached it soundly. I know a few gifted preachers, who do indeed preach out of envy and in the midst of strife they themselves created.

On several occasions in the past 30 plus years, I’ve asked God to allow me to go to Africa, the Middle East, or South America to do missionary work. His response to me has always been, “I have great multitudes right here in America who don’t yet know Me. You go and preach the gospel to them.” Each of us has a unique sphere of influence of people with whom we deal daily. Through a series of events, unique to each of us and directed by God, we have developed friends, acquaintances, and merchants with whom we deal daily. If you’re unsure why God has brought you into contact with those in your sphere, read Matthew 28:18-20, I Peter 3:15, and II Timothy 4:2. Then, if you are one who has truly been effectually called into His kingdom, demonstrate it by being obedient to His commands. Go and tell someone today what great things God has done for you.