Unveiled – What Does That Mean?

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18

This passage is from a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth 2000 years ago. He was describing the main problem of many of his fellow Israelites – their minds were hardened and their hearts were veiled. The reason they couldn’t see that their old law of works had no power to save them was because “a veil lies over their hearts.”

Many of us, by nature, want to be a “good person”, and we might even hope that if we’re good enough, our creator God will find us acceptable when we stand before him.

The veil keeps us convinced we can be good enough.

Paul wrote earlier in the same letter that God’s code of conduct (“the law”) was indeed wonderful, but because no one can live up to it, it brings condemnation, not life. Good laws bring condemnation to the law-breaker (that’s all of us).

Jesus, the perfect son of God, came to Israel to fulfill the law for them. His death on a cross was for their wrongdoing. In exchange, those who would receive him would be forgiven of their law-breaking. His law-keeping would be theirs.

And Jesus died and rose again not just for Jews, but for law-breakers around the world.

Turn to Jesus and see that he has done something that we could never do on our own. Look away from your own good works and look to him.

Then, as the veil is removed, you will see Jesus as ever more wonderful, and you will begin to become like him as you learn to serve God from your heart.

I would love to talk to you about this.

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