Micah 6:8 what does God require of us? We have to be fair, forgive others and be humble knowing it is nothing to do with us as individuals but everything to do with Jesus…our risen Savior.
Gratefully, our identity is not tied up with any need to perform or impress or demean others... or distance ourselves.
Being “somebody” (becoming whole and letting our authentic self breathe) is not about winning and losing. There’s something bigger here...
And when the label wins, we become encumbered, and we cede our identity and our power; which means that we give up our ability…
to choose,
to create sanctuaries,
to be intentional,
to be generous,
to be big-hearted,
to be empathetic,
to include those left out,
to be compassionate,
to forgive and to be willing to grow and to change. Sabbath Moments
2 Corinthians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. The New King James Version
Paul bases the boldness of his apostolic ministry in the permanence of the new covenant and the hope it provides in the resurrection of Jesus. The veil covered the radiance of the glory, but it also concealed its fading quality. The transitory nature of the glory corresponds to the transitory nature of the old covenant. The veil represents God’s judgment. He hardens the minds and hearts of those who suppress His truth and revelation.
Many Israelites rejected God’s word in the law and the prophet. Paul encountered opposition from Jews who denied the gospel message as the fulfillment of the old covenant. He concluded that their hearts were hardened. Jews typically heard the Law read every week in the local synagogue. This refers to the law that God gave to Moses. Moses covered his face with a veil because of the radiance of God’s glory. This veil represents the Jews’ hardened hearts and their inability to grasp the gospel message and refusal to obey God. In conversion and the reception of the Spirit nothing stands between believers and God. Through Christ, God has reconciled the world to Himself, bringing freedom and forgiveness. Similarly, when Moses returned to speak with Yahweh, he removed the veil from his face. Paul may be identifying Christ with the Spirit—particularly in terms of their roles—while also distinguishing between them.
Jesus and the Spirit are elsewhere identified with each other. It also is possible that where “the Lord” refers to God the Father. In this case, Paul’s point is that the Lord of the old testament is the Spirit of God. Either way, the Spirit’s role in lifting the veil is central to Paul’s message.
The ministry of the Spirit brings freedom from the power of sin and death—those things that the law could not free people from. Faithlife Study Bible
Paul used boldness of speech, a phrase that means “freedom of speech” or “frankness.” Instead of being fearful or reluctant, Paul was frank and courageous. The veil on the face of Moses reminded Paul of another veil. As Moses’ veil concealed the fading glory of his ministry, so there is a veil on the hearts of people concealing the fading away of the old covenant. Whenever Moses turned to the Lord, he took off the veil. Likewise, we find freedom in Christ by looking to Him. The Lord is the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God Himself, like the Father and like the Son. The Spirit gives us freedom from sin, death, and the condemnation of the law. The NKJV Study Bible
It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey, are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified, is made as plain as human language can make it. Those who lived under the law, had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God’s commandments. They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and improve these privileges. We should not rest contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and into union with Him. We behold Christ, as in the glass of his word; and as the reflection from a mirror causes the face to shine, the faces of Christians shine also. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Exodus 34:29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
Exodus 34:33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.
Exodus 34:34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.
Romans 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
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