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2 Corinthians 03:07-18 Removing the Veil – audio
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Text: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Introduction
A veil is typically a piece of cloth cut out to conceal something.
Brides wear veils to conceal themselves before they are married; furniture is sometimes hidden under a veil so it will not attract dust.
Usually something important happens in order for a veil to be removed.
Body
I. Moses wore a veil (Exodus 34:29-35).
God had called Moses to speak with Him on Mount Sinai. After receiving the Ten Commandments, he descended to the people to report all the words of the LORD.
However, being in the presence of the LORD caused his face to shine brightly.
As the people were afraid to speak with Moses face to face, he put on a veil; when he spoke with the LORD, he would remove it.
II. A veil was placed in the temple and tabernacle.
God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle. A veil was constructed to hide the ark of the Testimony, separating the holy place from the Most Holy (Exodus 26:31-33). God specifically said when Aaron could come into the Holy Place behind the veil (Leviticus 16:2).
Similarly, the veil of the temple was construed to serve a similar purpose (2 Chronicles 3:14). The high priest went through the veil once a year to be in the presence of God until Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross.
Christians are a “royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5,9)” and Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16; 5:5-10; 9:6-15). At the time Jesus offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51; Mark 15:37-39; Luke 23:45-47; Hebrews 10:19-22).
III. The gospel is a veil to sinners (2 Corinthians 3:7-18).
The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians of the veil that Moses had while speaking God’s Word to Israel. Now, he explains that God’s Word has come though Christ, which was better than that of Moses.
In former times, people could neither see nor understand what Christ would later do for them (Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:26). Now that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, the veil is taken away (2 Corinthians 3:14).
The veil separating us from everlasting life is removed when one obeys the gospel (2 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 11:23; Isaiah 25:7-9). As Moses was in the glory of the LORD, so we can see the LORD face to face by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 13:12). The mirror we look into is the perfect law of liberty, the Word of God (James 1:23-25).
If the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those that perish (do not obey the gospel). The god of this age (ruler of this world) blinds them (John 12:31, 40) so the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ may not shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:18).
Conclusion
As the veils of the temple and tabernacle have been removed, Moses removed his veil in the presence of God.
Won’t you remove your veil today and be in the eternal presence of the LORD?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Revelation of Christ
Perhaps upon reading the title of this article, you may think that this idea is taken from the book of Revelation. Instead, it comes from Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
He told them that through the grace of God, He revealed His Son (Galatians 1:16). Thus, as Paul went to many places, he preached that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He tried to live a life that was in complete submission to Christ; when people saw Paul, they saw Jesus through him (Galatians 2:20). The life Jesus lived was an example to all, and we must strive to live as He did (1 Peter 2:21-22).
Paul then went on to make reference to the apostles who were before him in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:17). In Acts 2, the apostles were assembled together there at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. They received the Holy Spirit, and began to preach to all nations whereby everyone could hear and understand. Peter said to them, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).” Again, Jesus was revealed through the apostles!
Jesus first revealed Himself to His apostles; His apostles then revealed Him to others. Now, it is up to you and me to reveal Christ in us. Surely, together we can bring many lost souls to Christ. Let the revelation of Jesus continue!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Hebrews 01:01-03 God’s Perfect Spokesman
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Text: Hebrews 1:1-3
Introduction:
1. The Epistle to the Hebrews is unique in its beginning
a. There is no mention of the author’s name, nor the recipients
b. Rather, it starts like an essay – Hebrews 1:1-3
2. We also notice the purpose of the epistle is twofold:
a. To encourage Jewish Christians to remain steadfast in their faith
b. Accomplished by showing the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant
3. That superiority is demonstrated through a number of contrasts
a. The very first contrast begins in these first three verses
b. In which Jesus is contrasted with the prophets of the Old Testament
Body
I. GOD’S SPOKESMEN IN TIME PAST
A. THE EXPRESSION IN TIME PAST
1. Refers to the period of time prior to the coming of Jesus
2. That period of time described in the Old Testament (Genesis-Malachi)
B. GOD SPOKE TO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS
1. The fathers would be the ancestors of the Israelites
2. The prophets would include great men like Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
a. The Hebrew word for prophet means one who boils over
b. It refers to one who is inspired by God to speak for Him – 2 Peter 1:21
3. At times, the prophets themselves were unsure of what they spoke – 1 Peter 1:10-12
C. GOD SPOKE AT VARIOUS TIMES AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS
1. His revelation did not come all at once, but progressively at different times
2. His methods varied as well, using visions, dreams, symbols, etc.
D. So God has clearly revealed Himself as One who speaks; that is, He communicates His will to mankind!
II. GOD’S SPOKESMAN IN THESE LAST DAYS (Hebrews 1:2-3)
A. THE EXPRESSION IN THESE LAST DAYS
1. The Old Testament often spoke of the last days – Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1
2. As such it often special reference to the age of the Messiah
a. The apostles spoke of their time as the time of this fulfillment – Acts 2:16-17
b. Thus it denotes the final phase of history, brought on by the first coming of Christ, continuing until His second coming and the consummation of all things – Hebrews 9:26
B. GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON
1. God has spoken once again, but note the contrast!
2. In time past it was through prophets; but in these last days it is by His Son!
a. God has sent His own Son to speak for Him!
b. As wonderful as the prophets were, how can they compare to God’s own Son?
3. There is no contrast, especially as we read on and notice
C. THE EXCELLENCE OF GOD’S PERFECT SPOKESMAN
1. Jesus is the appointed heir of all things!
a. The author may have had Psalm 2:8 in mind, for in verse 5 he quotes from Psalm 2:7
b. As the beloved Son, it is only natural that He would be the appointed heir
c. What does all things include?
1) All that the Father has! – John 16:15
2) The authority to raise and judge the dead – John 5:26-29
3) The authority to rule in heaven and on earth – Matthew 28:18
4) This authority Christ has even now! – Acts 2:36; 10:36; Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 1:5
2. Jesus is through whom He (God) also made the worlds!
a. Not only the Heir, but also the Creator!
b. For it was through the Son that God created the universe – cf. John 1:3; Colossians 1:16
1) All things were created by (or through) Him (He is the Creator)
2) All things were created for Him (He is the rightful Heir)
3. Jesus is the brightness of His (God’s) glory!
a. In Jesus we see the very radiance of the glory of God!
b. As John wrote, we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father… – John 1:14
c. When we behold Jesus, we see an extension of the glory of God!
4. Jesus is the express image of His (God’s) person!
a. He is the exact representation of God’s being and character! – Colossians 2:9
b. Therefore Jesus could say:
1) To Thomas: If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. – John 14:7
2) To Philip: He who has seen Me has seen the Father; – John 14:9
5. Jesus is upholding all things by the word of His power!
a. Not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer of the universe – Colossians 1:17
1) By His word the universe holds together!
2) All He has to do is say the word, and the universe is no more!
b. Note well:
1) This illustrates the power of His Word
2) Shall we not listen when He speaks? – Luke 6:46
6. Jesus has also by Himself purged our sins!
a. A clear reference to His death on the cross for our sins
b. This speaks to His role as our Redeemer, a theme that will be prominent later in this epistle – Hebrews 2:17; 9:26,28
7. Jesus has also sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high!
a. This Jesus did when He ascended to heaven – Ephesians 1:20; 1 Peter 3:22
b. Sitting at the right hand of God is a place of honor, but for Jesus it is also a place from which He reigns!
1) As indicated in Ephesians 1:21-22; 1 Peter 3:22
2) It is true that He is waiting for the His enemies to be made His footstool (Hebrews 10:12-13), but He is reigning until that time! – 1 Corinthians 15:25-26
3) As stated in Psalm 110:1-2, from which the author to the Hebrews quotes, the Messiah was to rule in the midst of Your enemies
c. Thus Jesus is truly the ruler over the kings of earth – Revelation 1:5; 17:14
Conclusion
1. The sentence does not end with verse three
a. It continues on into verse four, with a declaration of Jesus’ superiority over angels
b. But that verse and the rest of the chapter we shall save for the next study
2. But what have we seen in this lesson?
a. God is clearly a God who speaks, He makes His Will known to mankind!
b. And now He speaks through His Son, Who is:
1) The appointed Heir of all things!
2) The Creator!
3) The brightness of God’s glory, the express image of His person!
4) Our Sustainer, Redeemer, and King!
3. How can one turn their back on Him? Especially when the Majesty on high proclaimed at the Mount of Transfiguration: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! – Matthew 17:5
4. Are you heeding the words of the Beloved Son, God’s Perfect Spokesman? – Matthew 28:18-20
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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