Since preaching on God’s creative work in Genesis 1 (July 8, 2001), I have been amazed by the power and the wisdom of God in creating and redeeming so that there might be a new creation. As Lili and I have been on vacation these past eight days, I have meditated on that reality and it is becoming more and more glorious in my life and thought. It is incredible to think that God spoke into nothingness and out came the world. He created with the spoken word, saying “Let there be light and there was light.” He planned redemption for a creation that would turn against him and despise him with their sin, justifying man while remaining just. God is truly awesome.
However, as we turn to the pages of the New Testament, we find that Genesis 1 is not the last time that God’s creative work is spoken of in the Bible. Instead we find Paul writing to the Corinthians about it, quoting Genesis 1:3 as he writes, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
But what does he mean by using this reference to creation? This is what I want to try to answer tonight.
To understand what Paul is talking about, we must understand the context of the passage. Verse 1 of the chapter tells us that we must go back even further, for it begins with “Therefore.” “Therefore” refers back to chapter 3, where we find that Paul is talking about his calling as a minister of the New Covenant.
In chapter 3, Paul first notes that though the Old Covenant had glory, the glory of the New Covenant far surpasses it. He then shows that the Israelites were kept from seeing the glory of the Old Covenant (“the end of what was fading away”) by the veil that covered the face of Moses. Paul says that the veil remains on the eyes of unbelievers even to his day (and to ours) “because it is removed in Christ,” and they have not turned to the Lord. Paul’s point is that, by being in Christ, Christians have had the veil removed and can see clearly the glory of both the Old Covenant (that it points to Christ) and the New Covenant. Such is why Paul begins 4:1 writing, “Therefore, since we have this ministry …” He is building off this truth described in chapter 3 and is preparing us for the truth of 4:6. However, before we get to the beauty of 4:6, allow me to highlight some things that must be understood first.
Paul writes in verses 3-4, “And even 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, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.”
Therefore, let it be clear to all of us that men are not completely free to examine the truth from an objective point of view. Men are fallen and are therefore bound to sin and under the power of the evil one (e.g. 1 John 2:18, Ephesians 2:1-3, etc.). Their will is bound up with sin, and they are lovers and darkness of haters of light (John 3:18-21).
Therefore, it is not that they seek God, behold and understand the truth, and then think objectively that something else is better. Rather, there is none who understands, none who seeks God, and none who can lay aside his pride to behold the Creator (Romans 3:10-11; Romans 1:18-23). They are all blinded by their sin and consequently Satan has blinded their eyes.
This is the state of man. He is blinded from the truth because there is a veil over his face. This is why the Jews (and any other unbeliever) don’t see Jesus as the Christ even though the whole of Scripture points to this truth (2 Corinthians 3:15).
It is important that we understand this because it necessitates the power of God intervene if one is to behold and delight in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without understanding that men are veiled and under the power of the evil one and in the bondage of sin, we would be led down a road whose end is an appeal to the rationale of man, a rationale blinded by sin. Instead, we should realize the state of man and seek a power greater than any we possess, untainted by human sin, namely, the gospel.
I think this is clear from the text simply by the fact that Paul can write that Satan has blinded the hearts of the unbelieving “that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:4). That is to say, the reason that they are unbelieving (and therefore perishing – 4:3) is because they have been blinded from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. However, Paul shows us this truth again in saying, “God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,” … has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ” (4:6).
Therefore, what Paul is saying in verse 6 is that for man to become a New Creation, God has to do the same work that he did in creation. So for someone to become a believer, God must shine into their hearts and create new life. That’s why Paul can later say, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The question now becomes, “How is the veil removed from men’s eyes so that the light can shine into their hearts?”
The answer, I believe, is rooted in creation. If God must create life like he created in the beginning, then we must ask how he created in the beginning. And the answer is that God created with the spoken word. God said let there be light and light was created. God creates with his spoken word.
God communicates with his people by speaking, and his word contains life. That’s why John can call Jesus the word of God. Jesus is God’s self-expression. Jesus communicates to us God. This is why the book about God and his work, the Bible, is called God’s word. God speaks.
The veil over men’s eyes is removed so the light of the gospel may shine in and create life by its proclamation (i.e., by speaking it).
That is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (emphasis added). Yes, it’s most definitely through the gospel that men are saved, but it is more specifically through the message preached that men are saved. It is through the message spoken.
Therefore, in a real way we are privileged to speak the creating power of God to men who need to be made alive and created anew. This is humbling, isn’t it? And that is why I think Paul writes in verse 7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.”
As we proclaim the gospel, this treasure of the power of creation is in us through the Holy Spirit. What power we are privileged to have and responsible to proclaim. Such is why Paul, after writing of the glory of salvation in Ephesians 1-3 (e.g., that though once dead, we have been made alive, etc.) writes in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (emphasis added). The power of creation is within us as we have been given the message of the gospel.
So we are God’s mediators to speak with creative power into men’s lives, removing the veil and bringing about new light. The light shines in as the truth is proclaimed, and we have been given the responsibility to proclaim that powerful message. Paul writes one chapter later, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
We are mediators of the New Covenant. What a privilege that we have received as children of God. And that’s why Paul can say in verse 1 that “since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.” Nor should we lose heart as we understand how privileged we are to speak this message as mediators of the message powerful to create new life – the gospel.
Therefore, let us ensure that we strive with persistence to speak this message to men and pray that it produces the removing of the veil and the creating of life. We should not doubt the power of this message proclaimed. It is through this message preached that God has chosen to save, therefore, do not worry too much about getting a perfect method of proclamation before you speak to your lost neighbor, co-worker, or family member. Rather, speak and pray that God’s creating power is made evident in their salvation.
Proclaim the gospel, by his grace, for his glory, in his power. Amen.