Liberty Is At Hand for All

At our Core Team meeting on Sunday I shared a bit about one of our core foundational scriptures. We desire to be about what Jesus was about, setting people free and II Corinthians 3:17-18 is the scripture that holds up all that we want to do with the ministry of The Compass. As we consider offering people freedom in Christ I thought that it would be good for us to have a clear understanding of some of the things that we are freed from.

Verse 17

There is liberty ...
When a person becomes a Christian, receiving the Holy Spirit as an earnest of redemption, there is given at the same time freedom:

(1) Freedom from the law (Galatians 4:18);

Cross-references:
2 Chronicles 13:9; Isaiah 37:19; Jeremiah 2:11; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 10:20

(2) Freedom from fear (Romans 8:13);

Cross-references:
Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14,17; 4:15; Luke 1:6; Romans 2:26

(3) Freedom from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)

Cross-references:
Romans 7:20; John 3:6; Romans 7:25; 8:3; Romans 7:15

(4) Freedom from sin (Romans 6:18)

Cross-reference:
Revelation 1:18

(5) Freedom from corruption (Romans 8:21).

Cross-reference:
Galatians 5:18




Verse 18

But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

Unveiled face ...
All Christians, not just one man, as in the case of Moses, behold the glory of the Lord; and no veil is required (we noted that this veil is one that we put on). This has a transforming effect on all who do it (behold the glory of the Lord). It is in the looking of the believer upon the Lord, as invariably entailed in the worship of him, that a miracle of transformation is wrought in his life. Here Paul revealed the secret of how to "be ... transformed" (Romans 12:2).

Beholding as in a mirror ...
The word "beholding" in classical Greek means "looking at one's self in a mirror"; "But that requires steady looking when mirrors are metal, and so the word came to mean simply, to gaze steadily.”

From the Lord the Spirit ...
 "Now Jesus is that Spirit, or new covenant of which I have been speaking II Corinthians 3:3, 6, 8; and where that new covenant is, there is liberty, especially the liberty of seeing (without a veil). We should understand that what the believer beholds is the manifestation of Christ's glory which is made in His word and by His Spirit, whose office is to glorify Christ by revealing Him to us.”

We all ...
The notion has persisted in history that only certain special persons could be transformed in Christ; It is evident that Paul is speaking of an experience that is common to all believers. Under the old covenant, only the face of Moses shone; only the high priest went into the Holy of Holies; only the priests might serve at the altar, etc., etc. But in the glorious new covenant, "All who are Christ's, whether great or small, whether known or unknown, have this blessed privilege of beholding and being transformed."

As you reflect on the study of 2 Corinthians please feel free to share any of your thoughts in the comment box below. Here is some homework for you.

1) Continue to hold this scripture up in prayer.
2) Pray for the place that God would have us minister from.
3) Prayer and invite to our next informational gathering on July 27th @ 7: 00 PM.

Peace, Pastor T.