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He has shone the light of the knowledge of God’s glory into our hearts.

  He has shone the light of the knowledge of God ’ s glory into our hearts.   2 Corinthians 4:6 – 7: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God ’ s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure (*thesauros*) in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power (*dynamis*) is from God and not from us." Light is the image of God and is eternal life (resurrection). Those who lack this resurrection life cannot know the glory of God; only those who possess resurrection life can comprehend God ’ s will. God ’ s will is that people recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came into the world to save all humanity. *Thesauros* refers to a treasure, which signifies Jesus Christ, while the "jar of clay" represents the physical body. Although the jar of clay is insignificant, the great power of God emanates from the treasure contained within it. *Dynamis*...

Christ is the Image of God

  Christ is the Image of God   2 Corinthians 4:1-2: "Therefore, having received this ministry (diakonian), we do not lose heart (enkacumen) in the face of mercy. We have renounced the hidden shameful works (aiskenes), and do not walk (periparentus) in deceit (panurgia) or distort (doluntes) the word of God, but in displaying the truth (tanerosei tes aletheias), we commend ourselves to the conscience (syneisin) of every man before God."   This speaks of the criteria for selecting those entrusted with God's work.   Diakonian means ministry. The ministry given by God is given according to His mercy. Enkacumen means not good, "not bad." In other words, it refers to those who live according to God's word.   Aiskenes ( α ἰ σχ ύ νη ς ) is the act of hypocrisy. It refers to one who pretends to be holy on the outside while committing shameful acts. Paul tells us to abandon such a life. Panurgia means cunning. Perifaluntes means "to walk." It...

Written on the tablets of the flesh

  Written on the tablets of the flesh   2 Corinthians 3:3-5: "You are a letter from Christ, written not with ink (diakonedeisa) but with the Spirit (pneumati) of the living God; not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of the flesh (sarkinais). And since we have this conviction toward God through Christ (dia tou Christou), we are not self-satisfied (hikanoi) as if we were of ourselves, but our satisfaction (hikanotes) comes from God."   "Diakonedeisa" ( διακονηθε ῖ σα ) means "through our service." To serve means to establish others as people of God. The Spirit of the living God signifies Immanuel. It becomes the living Logos within the heart of the saint right now. It is not believing in Jesus Christ of 2,000 years ago, but being united with the Logos, who is alive in the hearts of the saints now. Pneumati means the Holy Spirit. Sarkinais means flesh (fresh).   Dia tou Christou means "through Christ." When one enters into Christ, a...

(3) The Predestination and Election of Christ Before Creation

  (3) The Predestination and Election of Christ Before Creation   The part regarding the predestination of Christ before the creation of the world can be understood through the content of John 1:1-2. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." There is a difference in translation between the Greek Bible and the Revised Korean Version. Translated again, Ἐ ν ἀ ρχ ῇ ἦ ν ὁ λ ό γο ς , κα ὶ ὁ λ ό γο ς ἦ ν πρ ὸς τ ὸ ν θε ό ν , κα ὶ θε ὸς ἦ ν ὁ λ ό γο ς .   "And in Him who was first was Christ the Word, and Christ the Word was with God, and God became Christ the Word." (Greek translation) Chapter 1, verses 1-2 are divided into three parts. First, in "In Him who was first was Christ the Word," the First One is God the Father. And in the third part, "God became Christ the Word" — in other words, it means that God became Christ. This is also evidenced in Philippians 2:6: "He, being in ...

Written solely by the Spirit of the living God

  Written solely by the Spirit of the living God   2 Corinthians 2:4-5: "I have written to you with many tears, with great distress (thlipseos) and worry (synoches) in my heart, not to grieve you, but to let you know that I have overflowing love (agapen) toward you. And if anyone has grieved (relypeken), he has not grieved me, but has grieved all of you to some extent (melus). I say 'to some extent' so that I do not speak too highly."   Thlipseos means "push" in English. It signifies the pressure to enter the Holy of Holies within the heart, due to the difficulties encountered in the process of preaching the gospel. Synoches is a compound word of "shi" (together) and "noches" (to possess). It means being of one mind with God. Paul intended to go to the Corinthian church to rebuke them, but because God prevented him, he resolved that even if he went, he would not rebuke them. It means that God pressed Paul ’ s heart to bring him in...