“The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭18‬ ‭

One of Paul’s purposes in writing this letter to the Corinthians was to clear up confusion that was being created by the Judaizers.

The Judaizers were a sect of Jewish Christians who believed and taught that the laws of the Old Testament needed to be obeyed by all Christians. Thye had planted themselves within the Corinthian Church, and were trying to discredit Paul and the ministry he had begun there.

I can imagine when Paul heard this was happening he felt so much like a parent who needed to warn his children of the dysfunctional doctrine that was being presented. With a heavy heart Paul wrote a letter to them. Paul wanted them to know that they were free in Christ and that no other authority could outdo what Jesus had already done for them. The payment of His own blood was, and forever will be, more than sufficient.

The law was glorious as it was spoken by God to Moses. The law revealed sin, but it had no power to transform the believer into a new creation. That is exclusively the work of the Holy Spirit, a more glorious way that Paul had referred to. The Holy Spirit changes us. He keeps us.

If we submit to Him, we will continuously be changed in order to reflect His glory to a world that is lost.

It is not a glory to hide as Moses had to do, but to share so that others can experience the love of God through us.