12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, 13 and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective. 14 But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Earlier on in this chapter, Paul affirms that through Christ, he has confidence towards God, and that the Corinthians are living proof that the ministry of the Spirit has been at work in them.

Today’s passage is a continuation of that theme. Paul compares the ministry of the gospel of Jesus with the ministry of Moses under the old covenant.  When Moses preached God’s word, both the message and Moses himself were veiled. Veiled towards a people whose minds were closed.  When Paul preached the news about Christ, both the message and the preacher are unveiled.  Unveiled because when people hear the gospel and turn to the Lord Jesus, the Spirit opens their minds to know God and his glory in Christ.  And unlike Moses, whose face was temporarily transformed to reflect the glory of God, those who are in Christ have now been transformed, and continue to be transformed, into the image of Christ himself, thereby reflecting the true glory of God to all.

I love how Paul describes this state of being in Christ as having ‘freedom’.  Freedom to access the Lord. Freedom to have unveiled fellowship with God himself.  Freedom to reflect the glory of the Lord to the world around us.  And all of this through the Spirit who is the Lord, and who is with us, and continues to transform us. 

If I could remember this reality, and have this truth dwell with me as I go about the business of doing life, then I feel like my words to people with veiled minds would not be so timid, and my words to people with unveiled minds would be more encouraging, all the more as I rest in the grace of being transformed to be more like Christ.  What might this freedom in Christ mean for you today?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.