“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
– 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
You’re likely familiar with this verse. It’s a verse that we often reference in churches for the purpose of using it to speak of all kinds of freedom. And while the Spirit of Christ in us does bring freedom of all kinds, like shame, fear, oppression etc. The context of what Paul is talking about in this section of Scripture is in reference to a far greater freedom.
The type of freedom that Paul is referring to is in direct contrast to the type of slavery that humanity has been under since the Garden of Eden. Slavery to sin has hindered us from the presence of God, but through Jesus – who fulfilled the law – the veil that has hidden us from God’s glory, is revealed to us through the Spirit of Christ that lives in all who follow Jesus. This is what happens whenever someone turns to Jesus as Lord and Saviour over their life - the veil has been removed from their eyes. Removing the veil invites us into His Glory.
The Spirit brings Freedom.
Freedom from sin.
Freedom to follow Jesus and obey His commands.
Freedom from the veil…the separation that once was...
Freedom from God’s Glory being hidden from us.
“The Lord is the Spirit.” This is the same Lord – Yahweh – who met with Moses inside the Tent of Meeting. (ref. Exodus 33). The Lord is the Spirit that dwells in all followers of Jesus. We have the same opportunity as Moses did. The same freedom to be in the presence and Glory of Yahweh. The same freedom to hear God’s words and to speak freely to Him. The same freedom that shows the world around us, that we have been in the presence of God. Moses’ face shone from being in the presence of God, and the evidence of being with Yahweh was visible to all those around him.
Freedom reigns in God’s Glory and Presence. Our time with God changes us! From the inside out, the Spirit reveals to us that which was once hidden - understanding of God’s plans for us, individually and corporately as a Church, as taught to us by the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit illuminates Truth and wisdom to us.
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.– 1Corinthians 2:12.
We have the freedom, daily, to behold the glory of God. So today, may the residue of God’s goodness and Glory reign over us, so that the world around us will see and know that we have indeed been in the presence of the One True God. May our lives be a representation of the freedom that’s available to everyone who would receive Jesus.
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