Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Nature of This Spiritual Discernment
A. New Testament Versus Old Testament Believers
The nature of the spiritual discernment of which Paul speaks appears first and foremost in the fact that it is the direct fruit of the liberating work of the Holy Spirit. “We all” says our English translation. That brings out at once the contrast with the Jews of the old dispensation. Still there is a more immediate connection of our verse with the verse just preceding. It is because the Holy Spirit has made us free that we now see with an unveiled or open face. Those who don’t have that Spirit are still in darkness. They retain the veil upon their faces. The Spirit has lifted this veil from the face of those that believe. That has made them free.
The liberty here intended, is the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21). It is the liberty for which Christ has made us free (Galatians 5:1). It includes freedom from the obligation to fulfill the law as a condition of salvation. Therefore, it includes also freedom from a legal, subservient spirit. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). It includes freedom from the dominion of sin and from the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14). It includes freedom from the bondage of corruption, not only as to the soul but also as to the body. (see Romans 8:21, 23). Incidental to this liberty is freedom from all ignorance and all subjection to the authority of ungodly men, except so far as it represents the authority of Christ.
The Old Testament saints did not enjoy the fulness of this liberty. We must however, distinguish carefully here. There were true believers in the Old Testament times; and there were those who could not enter because of unbelief. The contrast of our text is primarily concerned between believers in the old and believers in the new dispensation. The believers in the old dispensation did have a portion of the Spirit. If they had not had this they would not be believers. They “all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). Yet it was not until Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came to dwell with His people in the fulness of His power. Then the sons and daughters began to prophesy, the young men saw visions and the old men dreamed dreams (see Joel 2:28).
But Paul also contrasts the New Testament believers with those who don’t have the Spirit at all. Even after Christ had come there were Jews who refused to see in Him the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. In Corinth the Jews blasphemed. They were therefore in principle no different from the Greeks. Plato spoke deeper than he knew when he gave us his analogy of men in the cave. “Men are prisoners,” Plato said, “They sit in a cave with their faces toward darkness. Their heads are chained. They cannot behold a single ray of the sun. At best they see shadows of things upon the wall of the cave.”
To these Jews and Greeks alike, enchained in dark prisons, Paul preaches Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God. Those who were called, both of Jews and of Greeks, had been set free. These were the ones who now could see. No longer did they sit in the darkness of a cave. They saw the light of the sun. Paul rejoices greatly in the fact that they do now see.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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