Light and Life
(II Corinthians 4:6-15)

• The Light of God: Glory Displayed (II Corinthians 4:6)
  • Christ as the Light of the gospel is the source of life for the believing sinner (II Timothy 1:10 cf. John 1:4)
  • Just as the Spirit moved upon the face of the dark deep (Genesis 1:2), so the Spirit sanctifies the spirit of the believing sinner (II Thessalonians 2:13) by removing the blindness of the "god of this world (age)" (II Corinthians 4:4)
  • Just as God (the Father) commanded the Light (Christ) to shine upon the darkness of the deep (Genesis 1:2-3), so God (the Father) has enlightened (via Christ) the darkened hearts of believing sinners (Ephesians 1:17-18 cf. Ephesians 4:17-18)
  • Just as God (the Father) separated the Light (Christ) from the darkness of the deep (Genesis 1:4), so God (the Father) has delivered believing sinners from the power of darkness (Satan) and translated (placed) them into the Light (Christ) of the Kingdom of "His dear Son", i.e. the "Son of His Love (Christ)" (Colossians 1:13 cf. Acts 26:18)

• The Light of God: Treasure Concealed (II Corinthians 4:7)
  • The precious Light (Christ) of the gospel is concealed in the believer's body which is likened to a common earthen vessel (II Corinthians 4:7), just as the light of the lamps were hidden in the pitchers carried by Gideon's men (Judges 7:16)

• The Life of God: Power Revealed (II Corinthians 4:7-9)
  • The breaking of the believer's body (the earthen vessel) reveals the resurrection power of God (II Corinthians 13:4 cf. II Corinthians 12:7-10), just as the breaking of the pitchers by Gideon's men revealed the sword of the Lord (Judges 7:20)

• The Life of God: God Manifested (II Corinthians 4:10-11)
  • The "mystery of godliness" at work in the Church (I Timothy 3:15-16) is God manifested in the flesh of the believer (Colossians 1:27)
  • Christ as the believer's Life is called the "fruit of the Light" (Ephesians 5:9) and encompasses:
    • Goodness (attitudes), i.e. the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23)
    • Righteousness (actions), (Ephesians 4:22-24)
    • Truth (words), (Ephesians 4:15,25,29)

• The Life of God: Glory Shared (II Corinthians 4:12-15)
  • Paul endured ALL things for the elect's sake (II Timothy 2:10), so that they too may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus (i.e. "living with Him", II Timothy 2:11) and the eternal glory (i.e. "reigning with Him", II Timothy 2:12)

Study Outline

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