Free Indeed

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
2 Corinthians 1	2 Corinthians 2	2 Corinthians 3	Leviticus 18	Leviticus 19	Psalms 47

Paul states in 2 Corinthians 3:16 that, "whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." In verse 15 he said, "whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts." This veil Paul speaks of hides God's full glory from us, and it is "set aside only in Christ." (2 Cor. 3:14)

What was true of Judaism is true of any religious system by which a person tries to come to God through his own efforts. Even the most devout Jew had this veil between them and God as does anyone who attempts, no matter how religiously, to come to God through good works or acts of appeasment. But in Christ there is freedom from all this. The veil is removed, and not by anything we have done. Only by what Christ has done on our behalf. Our part is only to accept by faith what He has done for us, considering it to be for us and trusting in His suffering to gain access to God rather than anything we might do.

The Old Covenant, on which Judaism was based, was a covenant of works and bondage. One was ever offering sacrifices for atonement of sin, for the offerings only covered past sins and there were always new sins that needed to be atoned for. One was never in a continual state of being right with God. One was only in that state of being right with God for the short period between when they made offerings to atone for their sins and when they sinned once again.

In Christ, our sins are atoned for "once for all." As Hebrews 7:27 tells us, "He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do--first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself."  Therefore, as we keep our eyes on Jesus as our sin offering, our sins, past, present, and future, are forgiven. We are forever free from the never-ending effort of trying to atone for our sins. Instead, we abide in Christ Jesus.