Daily Service: Veils and mirrors

Daily Service: Veils and mirrors

I got most of this in two messages recently at #ABF Guam. 

First point from James 1 – “a hearer of the word” are the ones looking in a mirror and turning away with no perception of a needed change, where doers of the Word find themselves convicted to change when they see themselves as they really are. And from Proverbs an observation from nature used for an analogy about your heart. Imagine the natural man looking in a mirror or his reflection in the water and seeing nothing wrong with who he is.

James 1:21-25 (NKJV) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Proverbs 27:19 (NKJV) As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.

This passage in 1 Corinthians caught my attention also.  Imagine a smoky mirror where you get an idea but not a clear vision of a face.  This is knowing God in part, as we know him now while we are still walking around in this flesh tent.  It also indicates that we should desire to grow in knowledge so that we will be more familiar with Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And last this section of 2 Corinthians 3 and 4.  I was kind of confused when I wrote down the scripture for 2 Corinthians 4:3…our gospel is veiled from those who are perishing. Let’s go back and read chapter 3 verses 12-16 to get who and what Paul is talking about later.  First the Jews who do not believe in Jesus, and also for many people in this world today that are blinded by Satan. 

2 Corinthians 3:12-16 (NKJV) Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech– unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face [Exodus 34:28-35] so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NKJV) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

4:3-4. Of course many people, particularly Jews (3:14-15), did not accept the gospel. To them it was veiled. But Paul would not change it to make it more palatable, as his opponents had done (11:4). The gospel was rejected by people who were unable and unwilling to accept it (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:14). They disbelieved and were abetted in their unbelief by Satan, the god of this Age (cf. Eph. 2:2) who, though defeated by Christ (Heb. 2:14), continues his hold over the present world (1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 5:19). His blinding of peoples’ minds makes it impossible for them to see the light of the gospel.

The gospel, then, is not obscure. In fact, it points to Christ who, as the image of God (cf. Col. 1:15), revealed God the Father by His words and actions (cf. John 1:18; 14:9).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

#Praise the Lord

Please follow my blogs  Guam Christian Blog

Guam views Blog

Bruce’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bruce.dinsman

Bruce’s Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Dinsman/e/B07KDKLGPZ?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Bruce’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/pacislappraisal

Instagram: dinsmanbruce

Younow: https://www.younow.com/BruceDinsman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bdinsman/pins/