INTRODUCTION

1. The Hope we have in our faith in God

a) It is not a human hope

b) It is not a vain hope

c) It is not a dream

2. The Hope we have been given

a) It stems from faith

b) It is emboldened as we understand Scripture

c) It is made stronger as we grow spiritually

12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—

13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.

14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in

the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into

the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

 

THE RADIANT FACE OF MOSES

29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand

when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.

30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them.

32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them

as commandments all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.

34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out;

and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.

35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone,

then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. Exodus 34:29-35

1. Moses radiated with the glory of God

2. The glory caused the children of Israel to be afraid of Moses

3. A veil was used to cover his face

 

THE FADING GLORY OF THE MOSIAC COVENANT

1. That glory was transient

2. It was never meant to be permanent

3. Few have understood this reality

 

THE PROBLEM OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

1. It is compared to a Veil that covers the heart

2. Thus, when the Scriptures (Old Testament) are read many can’t go beyond the Old Covenant

3. Spiritual blindness is not easily cured

 

THE REMOVING OF THE VEIL THAT BLINDS

1. One must turn to the Lord

2. Faith in the Lord Jesus leads us to enter into the New Covenant

3. The Veil is then taken away and enlightenment comes

 

SEEING THE LORD WITH UNVEILED FACES

1. The Involvement of the Holy Spirit

a) He is actively involved

b) He gives true spiritual liberty

i) Liberty from spiritual blindness

ii) Liberty from being trapped by fixed traditional ideas

iii) Liberty to understand and appreciate what we have in the New Covenant established by the Lord Jesus Christ

 

A GREAT TRANSFORMING PROCESS

1. Looking into a spiritual mirror

a) We see the Lord Jesus in His glory

b) It is this glory that we must see

2. The Mirror will also reflect

a) The great work the Spirit of God is doing in us

b) He is transforming us

c) This transformation is a glorious work of the Holy Spirit

3. Transformed from glory to glory

a) It is a glorious day when we first come to faith in the Lord Jesus

b) That was only the beginning of this Transforming work

c) As we grow in knowledge and faith, further transformation takes place

d) The final part comes when we are taken home to be with the Lord

e) That is the climax of this process of being transformed from glory to glory

 

CONCLUSION

1. Personal Transformation

a) It is the story of our redemption

b) From sinner to saint

2. Application to the Church

a) It may have a humble beginning

b) It continues to grow

c) It continues to be transformed into a Golden Lampstand