Lesson 492

(Lesson 492)(12-20-12) 2 Corinthians 4:1-7, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 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. 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

In this lesson, Paul exhorts the Corinthians, as well as Christian people today, to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ in it's purest form. We are not to distort it, nor embellish it, while always giving honor and glory to God for His divine mercy in providing it for us.

The true gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple that it requires very little effort to teach. Many try to complicate it and make it seem as if only they have the true understanding. It is my sincere belief, sadly, that in many instances, the true agenda of a majority of preachers is simply to spew senseless blather to fill pulpit time. This practice keeps the same faces coming back to the same pews time and time again, preventing them from going out to do the much needed footwork of spreading the good news of salvation to the lost.

In my opinion, two examples of the greatest distortion of Christianity are Catholicism and Mormonism. The essence and purpose of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has so been distorted by their vulgar pomp, ritual and outright subversion, so as to qualify them as cults.

It is the urgent duty of Christians today to pull themselves away from the organized rut of today's horribly failing "religion", and recapture the cross of Christ. We should abandon the circle of doctrines that lead nowhere and guide the lost to that "strait gate" and "narrow way" that leads to eternal life.

I believe Paul foresaw the coming of today's religious chaos as he wrote this simple letter to those early Christians at Corinth.~