One of the key passages in scripture not only for ministry, but for understanding the true gospel is 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 where Paul says, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as bondservants for Jesus sake. For God, who said, Light shall shine out of darkness, is the One who has shown in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” I have been blessed to be a Christian engaged in ministry at various levels for more than 50 years. During that time I have repeatedly had to refresh my own thinking and bring clarity to others of the Bible’s true definition of the gospel. Nothing to an individual carries more importance than correctly understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ which we as Christians embrace.

In this section of his second letter to the Corinthian church Paul is defending his apostolic ministry which has been infiltrated with false teachers who are seeking to undermine him and more importantly God’s message. In defending his ministry to the Corinthian’s, he reveals to us what every ministry (every church) should be about, and with it he provides for us the clarity of essentials of the true gospel. He begins his defense with, “For,” which attaches what he says to the context where he has already stated, “But we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 4:2). The key word in this verse is truth. Then in verses 3-4 Paul explains that Satan is behind and promoting false messages that detract from and misdirect away from the gospel. He is seeking to blind minds from knowing God’s true gospel.

Because Paul is defending the true message of God to sinners, it is important to note the content of what he declares here. He first states, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord.” Why would Paul make an issue of this? Everything in the world of religion and what people make of religion falls under self, not God! From the beginning, man has wanted to create his own means of salvation. This was seen in Cain, the first man born. All the religions in the world are self-made. Only true Christianity exalts God in salvation from beginning to end. Paul is stating that his message does not originate from man, nor is about anything man can do to make himself right with God. He instead says, “ourselves as bondservants for Jesus sake.” The translation “bondservants” is really bondslaves. The idea is whole and complete devotion to God. Paul is careful that he, as an apostle, contributes nothing of himself to the gospel. He is completely subservient to Christ. Even in what we think of as orthodox Christianity, most people in one form or another want their self prominently placed in the gospel context by hanging onto the idea of their decision, their free-will, or God loves me the way I am. We should see this as a form of self-promotion. In contrast, where is Paul’s confidence? It is not in what he did, but in what God has done and is doing. Then he goes on to add something essential that drives home his argument.

Paul declares, “Christ Jesus as Lord,” which many people who claim Christianity either don’t get, avoid, or dilute. The power of this statement must not be overlooked. This alone tells us that coming to Christ is an issue of being empty handed. Everything is either God-centered by total reliance upon Christ, or man-centered with reliance upon something we do. The idea of “Lord” is that Christ alone holds everything about our salvation. He alone sets the standard of salvation. He alone chooses whom He will save. He alone saves. All is sovereignly accomplished and directed by Him so that we come to Him needy in the entirety of our salvation knowing we bring nothing as “He is Lord!” The word for “Lord” is kurios which means Master or supreme authority. This is given by contrast to us as His slaves. This further means that our salvation is exclusively His work from beginning to end and will be shown therefore in our sanctification. As we are justified by Him and changed, we are to lead lives devoted to Him as our Master. What must dominate our church, and each individual is the glory of Christ. This theme should permeate us in devotion to Him and His Word. He is our Lord! God is moving in history to bring about the Lordship of Christ to be shown by every person. “So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven or on earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). For those who claim Him today as Savior, we are privileged to bow the knee of our heart giving Him our life – for Jesus Christ is Lord!