Preaching is not the same as Bible study. The goal of preaching is not to dig down into the text and mull over every nugget of truth. The aim of preaching is to declare the word of God, centered on Jesus Christ, in order to feed the flock and hopefully save the lost. So there will be plenty of times when a pastor preaches through a text and there are applications or subjects left on the table. Here is but one. When God said “Let there be light,” we see a picture of conversion.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul addresses the rejection of the gospel. When unbelievers reject the gospel, there is a temptation to lose heart (2 Cor 4:1). There are two options when this happens: 1) change the message to try to get people to respond favorably, or 2) keep preaching the open statement of the gospel of Jesus crucified and resurrected. Paul, obviously, suggests we take the latter route.

More importantly, he gives theological reasons. Why not change the message of the gospel? Why not dress it up? Why not hold some offensive parts back? One of the reasons has to do with their ability to see the glory of God in Christ. Explaining why we should not tamper with the message of the gospel, Paul says (and look for Genesis 1):

2 Cor 4:3-6 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The difference between those who are responding in faith and those who do not is the difference between darkness and light in creation. God said, “let there be light.”

The problem in the unbeliever is the gospel is “veiled”, the hearers are “blinded,” and “kept from seeing the light of the gospel.” They are in the dark. They cannot see. What is it unbelievers cannot see? “The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (v 4). They cannot see the glory of Christ! Sure, they hear about Him as a man in history. They hear the message with their ears. They contemplate the facts in their minds. But they cannot see, not spiritually. They are, in that way, entirely in the dark. They cannot see God’s glory.

But the believer is different. The difference is in the phrase “let there be light.” Paul compares the unbeliever with the believer this way, “For God, who said, “let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts (Paul, fellows ministers, and believers) to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Believers can see the glory of God in Christ. Unbelievers cannot. The difference is God, “has shone in our hearts.” Notice Paul's comparison. The act of creating light. Paul compares believers, their faith, and conversion, to the moment God said, “Let there be light.” It is not merely to identify God. Paul is referring to the action of God: creation of light. 

All unbelievers are in a state of veiled darkness, blinded by the god of the world -- like the world before there was light. Conversion happens when God says, “let there be light” in the heart -- just as light came into the world. Here it is not the darkness of the world which is dispelled, but the darkness of each heart.

This is not merely identifying God in creation and conversion, but God’s action in creation and conversion.

One more fact that may be worth noting is the means to “knowing” in your mind that Christ is the image of God. Paul has a clean conscience (his mind), because unbeliever’s minds are vieled, but knowledge of the glory of Christ comes from the light of Christ first shone in the heart. In this passage, the means to the mind/knowledge is light in the heart.

So…

Do not change the gospel message!
And do not lose heart! 

This doctrine of conversion is not meant for scholars and academics to argue over. It is meant to encourage every Christian who has ever shared the gospel and been rejected. Simply preach the open statement of the gospel of Christ! Those who do not believe are those who are perishing, blinded, and veiled. Believers are those to whom God has said, “let light shine in their hearts.”

What an incredible thought! To be a believer in Christ, to see the glory of God in Christ, is to enjoy the act of creation in our hearts. Just as God said in the beginning, “let there be light” so seeing the glory of Christ is for God to have said, “Let there be light” in our hearts.