We Are Changed Into His Glorious Image
He Takes The Veil Away
2 CORINTHIANS 3:12-18
“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
II Corinthians 3:12-18 NKJV
Those who believe they are saved by keeping the The Old Testament Law soon get tied up in religious ceremonies and rules that quite frankly, find impossible to keep.
Furthermore, by the time they make that decision, they have already committed sin, so it’s too late, they are already in need of a Saviour.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
I John 1:8-10 NKJV
When Moses came down Mount Sinai, his face was glowing from being in the presence of God so much so, that he had to cover his face with a veil because the people were afraid of him. But whenever he went into God’s presence he removed it, and then put it back on whenever the children of Israel saw Him (EXODUS 34:29-35).
This veil illustrates the fading out of the Old Testament system, religious ceremonies, and the veiling of people’s mind because of their unbelief, hardiness of heart, pride, and refusal to repent.
The veil keeps unbelievers from understanding the Scriptures. But when one gives him or herself to the Lord in total submission, the veil is removed; they become free to understand the Scriptures, serve God, and they themselves shine for Christ as they become more Christ-like in their actions, responses, and behaviours.
Paul told us, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Colossians 1:9-18 NKJV
When we turn to Christ in repentance, He removes the heavy burden of religious ceremonies and the keeping the Law.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV
The truth is, the only religious ceremony to be kept regularly is communion, because Jesus Himself instructed us to do so (1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26).
Does that mean we can do as we please? No, of course not, we must live our daily lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (see JOHN 14:16-18).
So the Spirit gives us not just the desire to do God’s will, but the power to do it (PHILIPPIANS 2:13).
However, He does not take away free will, so we have to make a firm decision to cooperate and live our lives according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The burden of sin only falls on those who deliberately choose to go their own way.
Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
II Corinthians 3:16-18 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
