July 21, 2023 | Be On Mission
Unmasked by the Spirit
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3(NIV)
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Devotional
The Jews in the time of the early church were all about keeping the law of God as revealed through Moses in the Old Testament. The most famous parts of the law were the Ten Commandments, written by God on two stone tablets.
Exodus 34 records the account of Moses returning with them: “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord… When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord” (Exodus 34:29, 33-35).
Paul referenced this practice of Moses from 1500 years earlier to contrast the old covenant given by him and the new covenant given by Christ. He said that the old covenant of law was transitory, brought condemnation, and ended in futility. But the new covenant of grace is enduring, brings righteousness, and offers complete freedom. The Bible without the gospel of Jesus is a veil over our hearts. “But whenever anyone 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 freedom” (v. 16-17).
What great news this is! In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul said that Jesus far surpasses a conquering Roman Emperor leading a triumphal parade. Here in chapter 3 he said that Jesus far surpasses Moses offering the Ten Commandments to the people of God. It’s all about Jesus!
How do you see Jesus? Think of a comparison in modern culture. How does Jesus far surpass our current political, military, and entertainment leaders, heroes, champions, and icons?
Poem
Credentials
Show me your awards
Show me your trophies
Show me your medals
Show me your degrees
And I will show you
My baptism
My congregation
My ministry
My Savior
You tell me
Who has the greater
Credentials?
I already know
