Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Nature of This Spiritual Discernment – Continued

B. “ ‘We All’ . . . With Unveiled Face” – Continued

Continuing on, we need to remember that In context, Moses kept warning the people not to come near unto Jehovah; Paul keeps inviting the people to come right into His very presence; that is the contrast Paul has in mind.

However, doesn’t Paul fear for his own authority and standing with the people? For instance, didn’t the people stand in awe before Moses the man of God just because it was he alone that went to the top of the mount to speak with the Lord? Yes, it’s true. But consider how gladly Moses and the prophets would have seen it otherwise. The true prophets of God, even in the old dispensation, did not rejoice in the spiritual ignorance of the people. They lamented it. They were as lonely giants walking in a valley full of dwarfs. “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets” (Numbers 11:29) was the burden of their prayer. However, now all the people are prophets. That prayer of Moses has been heard. And now all God’s people are priests. The veil has been rent, torn, from the top downwards; God’s people may all come into the presence of the most high God.

What joy this was for the true servants of God! Is their office jeopardized? Is there no need now for ministers of the gospel? Does denominationalism now replace the sacred ministry of the word? Not in the least. Paul presupposes the permanence of the ministry. He rejoices in its greater fruitfulness because of the spiritual vision of the people. As a great artist would rejoice in an increase of artistic appreciation on the part of the people, so this great artist of the gospel, who had so often openly set forth the crucified and risen Savior, rejoices that now there are those who really understand with opened spiritual eyes.

So then, did Paul mean that in Corinth things were actually ideal? Not at all. There was at Corinth a great lack of true spiritual discernment. The Corinthians were still very carnal. Paul spoke unto them as he would to babes. There was factionalism; they doubted the resurrection; there was lack of discipline and on the other-hand there was discipline that was too severe. Things were not what they should to be. For the Apostle Paul he church of the Lord Jesus Christ was first of all an object of faith. But he knew it was gradually being realized in small degrees.

Paul, therefore, did all he could to have the Corinthians live up to that which they have in Christ. He would have us as ministers of the gospel do all we can to bring the people the Lord’s people to that level of spiritual discernment which is theirs in Christ. Our special gifts are to be at the service of the church as a whole. There is not supposed to be a separatism between so-called “clergy” and “laity.”

To Be Continued

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