![]() ![]() We wear masks to hide our inadequacies from others, to avoid the rejection we feel our inadequacies will bring. ![]() This is primarily due to the basic human need to seek acceptance and avoid rejection. So what exactly does it mean for a believer to live with an “unveiled face”, to live life without wearing the veil? We remember that the veil is generally worn in order to hide our inadequacies from others. It is living with an unveiled face that is crucial toward growth in the Christian life, for it is only with unveiled faces that we increasingly “reflect the Lord’s glory”, that we are “transformed into His likeness from glory to glory” (verse 18). The freedom which Paul refers to here is freedom from the veil, freedom to live with “unveiled faces”. We then find, in verses 17-18, what true freedom truly is, for only through the Spirit of the Lord can true freedom be found. It is this acknowledgment of them which then allows the Holy Spirit to help us deal with them and be free from them once and for all. Our inadequacies will only fade away as we openly acknowledge them, as we remove the veils and masks we wear to hide our inadequacies from others. This growing relationship then serves to make them ever more aware of their flaws and shortcomings, which allows the Lord to be able to deal with them. They are also accepted by Christ flaws and all, and begin to grow in their relationship with Him. ![]() Those who come to Christ have been confronted with their flaws and shortcomings (the ministry of the Law), have admitted them, and have come to Christ flaws and all. We now find, in verse 16, that “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away”. All of this merely sets the stage for the highlight of Paul’s message to us. These veils are intended to hide their inadequacies from others in an attempt to be accepted by others and avoid rejection, to avoid others having a negative opinion of them. What he means by this is that they are unwilling to acknowledge their flaws and shortcomings, and they wear veils which are intended to protect them but ultimately lead to their destruction. He has just told us that a “veil covers the hearts” of those who do not accept Christ. Therefore, let us praise God for His life-giving Spirit and the simple truth that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.As we conclude our examination of this passage in 2 Corinthians, we now come to the climax of Paul’s explanation of the surpassing glory of the ministry of the Spirit as opposed to the ministry of the law. Rather, it means that we are at liberty to be in the presence of God without fear. However, as we’ve already seen, this is not necessarily the meaning and context of this priceless truth.įreedom in the Spirit does not mean that we can do whatever we want. This is amazing and quite a gift! Some translations used the word liberty instead of freedom which has caused many people over the generations to use this verse out of context as biblical backing to do whatever they want-after all the Spirit of the Lord gives freedom or liberty. The old covenant of bondage promised death and eternal punishment for our sins, but with the new covenant of the Spirit there is freedom which brings spiritual life. However, we, under the new covenant, can look fully upon the Lord with unveiled faces and can stand before His presence without shame. When the old covenant was given to Moses with incredible glory, he had to cover his face so that the impure Israelites would not unfittingly gaze upon the glory of the Lord. ![]()
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