Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Nature of This Spiritual Discernment – Continued

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

From last lesson: Again you might ask, doesn’t Paul fear that his office and his influence will be jeopardized? Wouldn’t he rather be the lonely mountain climber that has seen something no one else has seen in order to boast of visions and revelations? That’s not the Paul of the Bible, so no, he would not.

He would take them all to see what he has seen. There remains enough for him to do. As the minister of Christ to them he will point out the beauties of the scene. “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end” (2 Corinthians 3:12-13). Moses had put a veil on his face because there was a veil on the faces or hearts of those to whom he was speaking. As a minister of the old covenant he could not speak plainly. He could not proclaim the whole counsel of God to them. They would have been further confused by it. The brilliance of the objective redemption had to be dimmed because of the poor eyesight, the spiritual obtuseness, of those to whom it came. But Paul speaks plainly and fully and doesn’t need to worry that such speaking is in vain. He has fed them with milk but he will also feed them with solid meat.

It also means that he doesn’t have to worry about people understanding once and then fall into not understanding in the next moment. He is not speaking of moments of high spiritual attainment to be followed by descent into the valley of the mists below. The veil, he intimates in his form of expression, is not lifted so that it may at any time drop again. The veil has been entirely and permanently removed. If you approach a distant mountain peak gradually your vision may from time to time be obscured. There are foothills and smaller mountains that obstruct the view of the highest mountain toward which you climb. But Paul thinks of the whole party as having arrived at the top of the mountain, and each of the party has a spiritual telescope (as it were) of their own. They see and they see constantly and continuously.

Yes, we may speak of ups and downs in our Christian life. Paul is not trying to teach perfectionism. Yet as we are holy in Christ, as we are without sin in Christ so also we see constantly in Christ. The Church of Christ Jesus is an object of faith. But it’s an object of faith that is gradually being realized. Therefore, Paul’s labors are not in vain in the Lord. They are most abundantly fruitful! He can speak to them as spiritual men as opposed to speaking to them as carnal men.

Such is the nature of the spiritual discernment of the New Testament believers. Through the power of the Spirit the congregation of Jesus Christ, old and young, equipped with the spiritual telescopes of faith, are led by the servant of the Lord to see, and to see without interruption, the glory of the Lord.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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