In my studies I came across this gem. Actually Jonathan Edwards and John Piper helped me to see the various connection that is plainly there in scripture. Notice:
II Corinthians 4: 4″…the light of the the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Do you see the three levels?
- The light. There must be a divine illumination that comes from God. In fact, Paul compares this light to the light spoke out of darkness in the creation account found in Genesis 1. Humans left to themselves will love darkness and are blind in original sin. A person must be born again to even see the kingdom of God. A sinner must have the light from the Spirit to quicken, to open eyes and ears before any progress can be made. This is the introductory level. The first level or tier.
- The Gospel. What is the Gospel? In short it is the doing and dying of Jesus Christ as seen in the scripture. The Gospel is not a sap story, it is not a pep message, or a message of self affirmation. The Gospel is the story of Christ based in the Scriptures I Corinthians 15. The light shines upon the Christ in the scripture so the sinner can see Him. The sinner sees Him, sees his work, His purpose, His substitutionary death, His mercy, His justice, His holiness, His wisdom, etc. This is the Gospel
- The glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Christ is God, Christ has glory. This can only be seen by the sinner when light comes in, when the Gospel is proclaimed. Then one sees how glorious Christ is . Christ is the end all. His beauty is the objective, to know him is the aim. The glory of Christ is the end of salvation. This glory is seen in the Gospels by the illumination of the Spirit. This glory is everlasting satisfying. The sinner is completely satisfied in the Glory of Christ.
I hope this short devotion may bear fruit.
Sowers Pouch 