The Light Shines in the Darkness

Because St. Paul has been called into the apostolic ministry by God’s mercy, he does not lose heart, nor does he stoop to underhanded methods. Rather, his ministry is done openly in the truth of God’s Word. Only to those who are perishing is this Gospel veiled, for their minds are blinded by the works of the evil one. St. Paul and his coworkers, in contrast, proclaim the light of Christ, who is the image of God. As God once spoke light into being at the beginning, so now He has shone the light of His glory into our hearts through Jesus. Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. “A Letter of Comfort” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle of 2 Corinthians. St. Paul writes again to the Christians in Corinth to bring them the ongoing comfort of the Gospel in the midst of the attacks of false doctrine from so-called “super apostles.” He seeks to give confidence to the Corinthians—and to us—that the good news of Christ crucified and risen proclaimed by His called ministers will accomplish all that He intends.