II Corinthians Chapter 3
Paul viewed his life as an instrument of Jesus Christ to be used for His purpose to further the gospel. He in fact was commissioned by God to do so. The proof that the message that Paul was proclaiming was of God, was in the changed lives of the people he ministered to. Paul was not bragging in the sense of gaining attention to his own accomplishments, but he was bragging on Jesus and what He had done through Paul and others who allowed their lives to be used as vessels for the proclamation of the gospel.
In Paul’s time when a speaker wanted to be heard he would carry with him letters of commendation, a sort of resume that would give him credibility. What the church at Corinth may not have understood about Paul’s declaration was that he was giving Jesus all the glory and not himself. Paul said that he didn’t need letters of commendation because the evidence of his credibility was in the changed lives brought about by their faith in Jesus Christ.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul did not need to write about what Christ had done with pen and ink. God Himself had written a change not on tablets of stone but where?
2. Paul reminds them of one of the most important documents ever written – the ten commandments written on tablets of stone. This document was law that pointed out man’s sin and sin led to death. The new message of God written on the hearts of men by the Holy Spirit leads to what?
3. Paul then makes a comparison between the glory of God that was evidenced on the face of Moses versus the glory of God evidenced in the Spirit living in each and every believer. The giving of the law brought condemnation to the people, yet they saw God’s glory in that. What is the glory of God like in the ministry of righteousness?
4. The glory of the law was temporary, but the glory of the Spirit is what? See verse 11.
5. Moses covered his face because the glory of God shone on his face and the people could not look at him otherwise. Paul implies that the veil was used in a sense to cover what was going to fade in the people’s eyes. They only were awe struck by the glory of God for a short time and then they turned their backs on God. It was as if they kept a veil up between themselves and God, not wanting to see the true God. What happens in the New Covenant when one accepts Jesus Christ as Savior? See verse 16.
6. There is a separation between the sinner and God, this is the veil. When the veil is lifted by the Spirit of the Lord, there is freedom. What are we free from?
7. As free humans what can we now behold?
