2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Unveiled Faces

Feb 27, 2022

In this morning’s sermon text, Paul continues his contrast between the Old and New Covenants. Because of Jesus’s coming, the veil that Moses used to hide the evidence of God’s glory is removed (v. 16), and we can behold the glory face to face (v. 18). But we don’t merely see it, we are transformed to be like it. This imagery of veils and faces can be found in many of the hymns we sing this morning. In the first half of the service, we confess that the Lord’s glory is so bright, it must be “hid from our eyes” (Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise). Though we rest on His grace, at times “darkness veils His lovely face” (My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less). But we also look forward to Christ’s coming in beauty, when “we His face shall see” (The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns). Receiving assurance that our sins are forgiven, we can “look full in His wonderful face,” making the cares and follies of this world grow “strangely dim” (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus). We are invited to the table as a foretaste of the day when we will “stand in glory” face to face with our Savior (There Is A Redeemer), experiencing in full the “beauty of holiness” (The Voice Of The Lord Is Over The Waters—Psalm 29). Our service concludes with a vision of eternity, when we ascend to Heaven “on eagles’ wings” (The God Of Abraham Praise). There we will “behold His face,” and join with the angels, archangels, and all the saints that precede us in death, singing “the wonders of His grace forever more.” —Henry C. Haffner & Emma Marsh

Key Words: Face, Covenant, Spirit, Glory, Hope, Minds, Hearts, Moses, Christ
Keystone Verse: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Bulletin

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 12
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.