Proclaiming The New Covenant (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

Introduction: In Chapter 3:7-18, Paul contrasts the Old and New Covenants. He calls the Old Covenant a ministry of death, while he calls the New Covenant a ministry of the Spirit. Paul does nothing to take away the glory of the Old Covenant, instead, he does the opposite. He tells of the glory of the Old Covenant, a glory that when Moses descended Mount Sinai, he had to cover his face, because of the glory that shone as he had been in the presence of God. But whatever glory the Old covenant had is far surpassed in the New. This is why, Paul says, "We use great boldness of speech." Not like Moses, who hid the glory of the Old Covenant by the veil over his face, but by the clear preaching of the Gospel. And as the Gospel is preached we are beholding the Glory of the Lord, and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.
I. The Open Proclamation Of The Gospel 1-2

A. The Privilege Of Proclaiming
B. The Renunciation Of Trickery
C. The Commendation Of Truth

II. The Veiling Of The Gospel 3-4

A. Those Who Are Perishing
B. The God Of This Age Matt 11:25, Rom 11:8-10, 1 John 5:19, Eph 2:2
C. What Is Hidden? The Glory Of Christ

III. The Revelation Of The Gospel 5-6

A. We Preach Christ
B. A Supernatural Work
Just as God has called everything into existence ex nihilo, He has called His elect out to be a kind of firstfruits of His new creation. He has called those whom He foreknew, not based upon their good works, because they are fallen creatures, and incapable of any sort of works that are pleasing to Him, but out of the nothingness of our fallen selves He has created us unto good works.
We may express our wonder at the created order, the galaxies and wideness of creation, or the glory of God that is seen in the smallest insect in the minute detail and complex order that exists within it's small shell. But for the Christian, the work of redemption is every bit as breathtaking, every bit as glorious, every bit as lovely as any other supernatural work of God. We intend to give God as much glory in this supernatural work of salvation as we give Him for His equally supernatural work of Creation.
C. The Goal Of The Gospel
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" (Isa 40:1-9)

Conclusion: We gaze intently upon the glory of God as we look into the face of Christ by reading (devotionally), hearing (preaching), seeing (in the ordinances), and speaking (meditating upon) the Gospel. The Gospel is not a commendation of our own selves, but the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Christ. This leaves no room for boasting, for, "Salvation is of the Lord."