Text:
2 Corinthians 3:12-18:
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Theme:
Beyond The Veil
Introduction:
- Second Epistle to the Church in Corinth, Second Corinthians, was written by the Apostle Paul.
- Written in reaction to the good report that Paul got from Titus and Timothy concerning the church in Corinth.
- Probably written at Philippi, or, as some think, Thessalonica, early in the year A.D. 58, and was sent to Corinth by Titus.
- Addresses not only to the church in Corinth, but also to the saints in all Achaia, i.e., in Athens, Cenchrea, and other cities in Greece.
- This epistle, it has been well said, shows the individuality of the apostle more than any other.
- The epistle can be described as having the distinct sections. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
- (Chapters 1-7) Paul speaks of his spiritual labours and course of life, and expresses his warm affection toward the Corinthians.
- (Chapters 8-9) Paul gives specific directions regarding the collection that was to be made for their poor brethren in Judea.
- (Chapters 10-13) Paul defends his own apostolic claim, and justifies himself from the charges and insinuations of the false teacher and his adherents.
- Our text is found within the first section of Paul’s labors.
- The 3rd chapter highlights the unique life quickening power of the Holy Spirit through which the preacher is called and stablished.
- 2Corinthians 3:6, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:8, “How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?”
- Paul instructs them to not be worried about the losing the glory of the Letter of the Law. The Spirit WILL provide an even greater, everlasting, glory.
- Do be scared to live in this “new thing”
- Isaiah 43:19a, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?…”
- The 3rd chapter highlights the unique life quickening power of the Holy Spirit through which the preacher is called and stablished.
- Paul begins our text with the statement of clarity
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:”
- With this “new thing”, there also comes CLARITY!
- As it says in Mark 15:38 (Matthew 27:51, Luke 23:45), “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
- We are now BEYOND THE VEIL!!!
Body:
- Paul refers to Moses wearing a veil when going before the children of Israel after being in the presence of God.
- What is the veil?
- “Veil” is a used differently in the Bible
- Mantle or shawl for a man or woman
- Covering, as with an object or a person’s face (e.g. Moses in our text)
- The curtain at the entrance of the temple
- The curtain between the holy place and the most holy of the temple
- Exodus 34:33-35, “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.”
- A veil was put over the face of Moses so that “the children of Israel could not stedfastly look” at the Glory of God which was reflected in how Moses’ face “shone”.
- It was not time yet for the people to “stedfastly” behold the Glory of God!
- Verse 13, “And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:”
- They got a glimpse but not a “look”J
- The Savior had not come yet!
- “Veil” is a used differently in the Bible
- So, what is our excuse???
- What is the veil?
- Just like the children of Israel, we suffer from “veils” even today:
- The Veil of Ignorance
- 2Corinthians 3:14, “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.”
- They literally did not know…were ignorant (not know)
- The Word of God was read to the children of Israel by the priest
- The people depended upon the priest to interpret the Word of God
- They could not read or interpret on their own. L
- The Veil of Unbelief
- 2Corinthians 3:15, “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
- Our other veil is that of unbelief:
- A father came to Jesus because of his son, and Jesus said to him,
- Mark 9:23, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
- We suffer from unbelief while oftentimes under the delusion of faith.
- Unbelief blocks our blessings!
- We must go to God like this father.
- Mark 9:24, “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
- A father came to Jesus because of his son, and Jesus said to him,
- In summary, The Veil of Bondage
- The people of God are restricted from fully experiencing a relationship with God
- Hebrews 2:15, “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
- The bondage is SIN
- Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- The Veil of Ignorance
- Therefore, it is the duty of the minister to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech à CLARITY
- God’s Word is clear and plain à KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
- 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
- The preached Word should be clear enough for any to understand
- As confirmed in Luke 24:45, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”
- God’s Word is clear and plain à KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
- Through Jesus, the Christ, the veil has been lifted! IT IS TIME for us to behold the Glory of God
- Jesus is the ONLY way of being freed from our bondage!
- Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
- The Word of God (doctrine of Christ) removes the “veil”
- Verse 14 says, “which vail is done away in Christ.”
- Wisdom and Understanding are key
- Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
- Jesus dying for us on the cross has freed us to KNOW
- As mentioned before, “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
- Now we are FREE!! We are BEYOND THE VEILS!
- 2 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
- Wisdom and Understanding are key
- Verse 14 says, “which vail is done away in Christ.”
- Jesus is the ONLY way of being freed from our bondage!
Conclusion:
- We can now behold His Glory!
- We can have a “right”, intimate, relationship with God.
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- On top of that, we should even have a light that shines from our countenance JUST LIKE MOSES!
- Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
- I can see His Glory in ….
- A child’s smile
- A mother’s care
- A father’s protection
- A friend’s concern
- A new convert’s tear!
- We can have a “right”, intimate, relationship with God.
- But there’s MORE!!!!
- We will see Jesus!!
- 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
- I want to see Jesus!!!
- The one who died for me
- The one who set me free
- My rock in a weary land
- My shelter in a time of a storm
- My wheel in the middle of a wheel
- My water in dry land
- My bread in a starving land
I WANT TO SEE JESUS — Beyond The Veil!!!
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