The Veil: Dr. Stevens
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Key Passage – 2 Corinthians 3:13–18
Key Passage – 2 Corinthians 3:13–18
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.
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.
But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
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.
Moses placed a veil over his face so Israel could not gaze upon the glory that was fading.
Their minds were blinded (v.14).
To this day, a veil remains over the heart when the Old Testament is read apart from Christ.
The veil is removed only in Christ (v.14,16).
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (v.17).
With unveiled face, we behold the Lord’s glory and are transformed from glory to glory (v.18).
What does it mean to be transformed from glory to glory thats means we are becoming more like Christ.
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Why Did Moses Wear a Veil?
Why Did Moses Wear a Veil?
So Israel would not look at what was abolished / fading.
Their minds were blinded — spiritually closed.
They did not want to see Moses without the veil (fear of direct glory).
Like Exodus 20:19 – They preferred man as mediator, not God directly.
“Don’t let God speak to us — YOU speak to us.”
The veil symbolizes man's desire to avoid a vertical relationship with God.
The Ongoing Problem in Israel
The Ongoing Problem in Israel
A veil still lies over their heart when reading Scripture.
They read, but do not behold.
They can memorize the text without ever meeting the Person.
Example: They cannot see Isaiah 53 clearly because of the veil.
The veil produces confusion and distance from God.
The Solution
The Solution
Turning to the Lord removes the veil (2 Cor. 3:16).
The Spirit brings liberty, clarity, and transformation.
The Gospel doesn’t just reveal truth, it unveils Christ.
The Fruit of the Veil Being Removed
The Fruit of the Veil Being Removed
Seeing His Glory
Seeing His Glory
2 Cor. 4:6 – God shines light in the heart, revealing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
God is the origin of His own image.
The Father is the source of what Christ reflected.
We now bear His image because we bear His initiation (Christ in us).
Our New Identity
Our New Identity
Matt. 5:14 – We are the light of the world because we bear His image.
Grace is always active — not passive.
Ontologically, Christ was grace before creation.
Grace empowers us to reproduce the life of Christ.
Grace & Power
Grace & Power
Hebrews 9:14; John 1:16–17 – Grace is substance and power, not sentiment.
Any “grace” that does not empower is cheap imitation.
Cheap grace is used merely to pacify my old nature, not transform me.
The Love That Flows From Grace
The Love That Flows From Grace
2 Cor. 5:14 – The love of Christ constrains (motivates) us.
We know no man after the flesh:
Not by human viewpoint
Not by natural standards
Not by moral excellence
We know Christ as a glorified man, not a historical one.
The Finished Work & Rest
The Finished Work & Rest
Hebrews 4:3 – Those who believe have entered rest.
Romans 8:29 – The work is finished from the foundation.
We do not work our way into heaven — we believe and God imparts righteousness.
Outside His righteousness we are spiritually bankrupt.
Grace Finishes What It Starts
Grace Finishes What It Starts
1 Peter 5:10 – God of all grace establishes us.
1 Cor. 8:6 – Grace finishes you.
Evidence of the finished work:
The love of God perfected in us (1 John 4:17).
It expresses itself outwardly.
The love of God becomes not just doctrine but demonstration.
What Does “Finished Work” Look Like in Practice?
What Does “Finished Work” Look Like in Practice?
James 2:8 – Fulfilling the royal law of love is doing well.
The finished work = loving your neighbor as yourself.
Grace means:
Christ fulfilled the work at the Cross,
and we now live in response through love.
