Everyone does not enjoy this revelation of a New Covenant. Sometimes this glorious truth hits the intellect of some whose minds are hardened to it and they refuse to see it because they demand something different.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
There it is clear as day. Those whose minds are hardened have a veil over their face and cannot see clearly because of it. It specifically refers to Law lovers. They are hardened in their thinking towards anything that even hints of replacing what they have known, or what they think they know about the Law given through Moses.
But if through the preaching of the gospel they are turned to Christ, the veil is taken away and they begin to understand the freedom that is theirs through Christ and the life of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
But what freedom is spoken of here?
The freedom spoken of here is freedom from the veil!
Freedom from legalistic living and thinking! Freedom from Old Covenant death and condemnation brought on by attempting to adhere to the law. Freedom from the spiritual death it produces in man.
Galatians 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
Behaving well will never make someone a son, but a son will behave. Knowing Christ changes us, we do not change ourselves and then claim Christ. It is by faith we are made righteous and enabled to receive. This is the beauty of the New Covenant, Christ made a covenant with God the Father. Now we stand in what He did apart from the empty man made promises of better behavior.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
