But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost: 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. (2Corinthians
4:3-4, KJV).
The word "glorious" here refers to the splendor, the
brightness, the majesty or the excellence of Jesus Christ and
His Gospel. The Apostle Paul is saying that this Gospel (or "Good
News") that he was preaching is so spectacular, so marvelous
in its splendor and brightness that you would have to be blind
not to see it.
In fact, he says, if you cannot see it, a demonic force, Satan,
or the "god of this world" has blinded your minds so
that you "believe not." This opposing anti-Christ force
works to keep us from the truth of this glorious Gospel, which
has the power to set us free and to give us a new life in God.
The Gospel is the Good News that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ,
who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross
for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day and is now
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let's think about several of ways in which the Gospel of Jesus
Christ is glorious:
1. It is glorious in it's saving power. The Bible teaches
us that without Christ we are "without hope and without God
in this world." (Eph. 2:12) Our destiny is eternal separation
from God in the lake of fire. We already have this hopeless damnation
based on the sin that is in our life. "The wages of sin is
death," the scripture says, and, "All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God." We are hopelessly caught
in a web of sinfulness which we inherited from the first man Adam.
But through Jesus Christ, the spotless lamb of God, we are delivered
from this destiny and given the forgiveness of sins. His death
on the cross became a total, absolute substitute for the punishment
we deserved.
2. It is glorious in its life-changing power. The Bible
teaches us that not only do we receive the forgiveness of sins,
but when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive a
new life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new." (2Corinthians 5:17, KJV). We receive a new nature and
the life of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have
a desire and the ability of God to live right.
3. It is glorious in it's deliverance power. Another word
for the Greek word translated "salvation" is deliverance.
The scripture says that we are delivered from the power of darkness,
and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son. (Col 1:13) When
we give our life to Jesus, we are no longer under the dominion
of Satan and the powers of darkness. The strongholds that are
behind addictions, sexual immorality, and spiritual wickedness
(such as occult activities, witchcraft etc.) are broken in Jesus
name and we are made free. I know, for example, one man who was
set free of seven additions by the power of Jesus Christ.
4. It is glorious in its healing power. The scripture says,
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed." (1Peter 2:24, KJV). Healing
has come to into our lives mentally, emotionally and physically
through the Good News of Jesus Christ. By his bruises (stripes)
there is healing to us.
Make a decision today to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior. Turn from sin and believe in the glorious Gospel that
brings forgiveness, changes lives, delivers and heals.