Sermon Tone Analysis

I chose this text because it has something today that is incredibly relevent to us today.

The text today shines a light on how:

our lives have purpose

we are susceptible to bad influences

we have a privileged responsibility

we have a specific enemy that has a specific tool of oppression

all of this is overcome by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Outline

We have a purpose (v1)

We have a responsibility (v2)

to reject deceit

to be faithful to the Word

We must realize the schemes of the devil (v3-4)

We proclaim the solution to the problem (v5-6)

Before we get into the text, I need to set up some context.

2 Corinthians was written because:

The believers needed refinement (there was a lot of tension between them and Paul)

Paul was fighting against deceitful teachers who were trying to undermine his authority

We have a purpose (v1)

Paul had a ministry.

But what is it?

To answer, we must leapfrog backward, but before we do, I want to point out the reality that Paul was shown mercy - Paul recognizes his inability.

God’s mercy gave him this mission in the first place (though he previously was a persecutor of the church).

Ministry of the new covenant:

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.

For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:4-6

Old covenant = obeying the law of Moses.

This + sacrificial system brought right-standing with God.

It revealed sin, but could not produce righteousness.

New covenant = right-standing with God and imputed righteousness through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Our works no longer matter concerning salvation & justification (though they matter a great deal concerning sanctification and holy living)

We are fragrance spreaders

Looking back a few chapters, we see one specific aspect of this ministry.

Christ has gained ultimate victory and we are active members in his triumphal procession.

We spread the fragrance of Christ himself, which is beautiful those who are being saved, and a rank stench to those who are perishing.

Note that the fragrance itself doesn’t change.

It is different based on the receiver.

Ministry of Reconciliation - Moving forward one chapter, he will go on to explain that the ministry is one of reconciliation.

So, this is what Paul means when he said “we have this ministry.”

But now, he has to deal with the reality that not everyone handles this ministry in the right way.

We have a responsibility (v2)

To reject deceit

Likely a response to Paul’s adversaries who are trying to discredit him and his ministry.

He has already defended his integrity in 2 Cor 1:12-14

Paul refuses to be secretive or cunningly underhanded and thereby degrading his ministry.

A few of the word choices even suggest a parallel to Gen. 3:

Secret & shameful - eludes to the fall where Adam & Eve hid in shame when they sinned

Cunning - the same description of Satan as he deceived them

The term that Paul uses for “deceitfully” (panourgia; pas-ergeō) implies not only trickery, but the readiness to do anything, even that which is underhanded, in order to achieve one’s aims.

So, in essence, he is paralleling deceit in the ministry of the Spirit to Satan’s cunning in the garden.

Unfortunately, it is far more common that we would like to admit for today’s evangelical preacher to edit God’s Word:

1) by plucking text from its context, and using it to say whatever the you like

2) by moralizing the text, so that it is reduced to an ethical idea that can apply however you like

3) by using the text to promote an ideology instead of letting it dictate one (eisegesis vs exegesis)

We have to be careful what influences we allow into our minds.

In the age of the internet, our culture is filled with bad voices that will do the things stated above.

Spiritualize texts, twist scripture… whatever it takes to build a following.

We - as co-laborers with Paul - who have the same ministry of reconciliation, also have the same responsibility to do the hard work of correctly understanding God’s word so we can rightly divide the word of truth.

To be faithful to the Word

In stark contrast, Paul embraces openness and candor: “but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (v.

2b).

We see that displayed in Paul’s life as well as how he mentored Timothy:

“Rightly handling” is based on the Greek word orthos (“straight”).

So Paul was charging Timothy “to impart the truth without deviation, straight, undiluted” — to get it straight and give it straight!

This is done “in the sight of God,” meaning that he he refuses to pander to the tastes, opinions of men, but is solely concerned about having God’s approval.

He was performing for an audience of one, which allowed Paul preached the undiluted Word of God with bold simplicity and clarity.

With that settled, Paul now explain why this matters.

We must realize the schemes of the devil (v3-4)

The veil is within

The glory of the gospel is not the issue, but rather the internal barrier to it.

A boulder blocking the sun from view doesn’t make the sun any less radiant.

Paul knew about veiled hearts and blind eyes.

He experienced both on the Damascus road.

Paul just fleshed this out in the previous chapter, which is why he is circling back to it now:

Chapter 3:7-18 speaks to an OT veil when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai.

That glory was an inferior glory compared to the glory we have in Christ.

These verses are double-edged

1- Warning for their own congregation

They are in danger of fulfilling the pattern of hardening and blindness that came upon “the sons of Israel” who were prevented from seeing through Moses to Christ (3:14-15).

In a manner very similar to his admonitions in 1 Cor 10:1-13

And again, like verses 3:15-16 say, Yet still today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

Are you blinded to the truths of scripture?

Paul is looking at the congregation and not assuming that they all get it or have that veil removed in Christ, and we shouldn’t either.

This is a call to ensure those within our community see Jesus for who he really is.

2- Reality in evangelism

This is also an evangelical verse.

When we witness to someone, we realize that the enemy has blinded that person.

Our job is be to help them realize the veil exists and pray for its removal.

We want to help them step out from behind that boulder to enjoy the warming and life-giving of the rays of the sun.

And not just any son, but THE SON

The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God

Jesus isn’t just any ol’ deity.

He is the only true God, perfectly representing the Father.

Because Christ was the image of God, he possessed and shined forth God’s glory.

What is interesting here is that Paul doesn’t use the normal word for “light” (phōs) here, but phōtismos, “illumination.”

This word is only found 2x in the NT, both here in chapter 4. So, it doesn’t just speak to physical light and brilliance, but rather to an illumination of understanding… an enlightenment from God giving us a revelatory knowledge of Jesus and this gospel of his glory.

That illumination is what removes the veil!

What is this gospel of glory?

It shows Jesus as: