The Grands Letter (2Co/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on April 2, 2020 7:26 pm (CST)Dear Grands,
2 Corinthians 3:12-14, “Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
13 and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look
intently at the end of what was fading away.
14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same
veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.”
Everything of true significence in the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. Remember
the saying,
“The New is in the Old concealed;
The Old is in the New revealed”?
So it is in the verses previous to ours here. Paul had been talking about Moses and the veil (mask)
that he wore to prevent the children of Israel from seeing the glory of the LORD fade from his face.
Since we have a greater hope than Moses, we ought to have great boldness in speaking of the
LORD.
When people don’t know the LORD Jesus Christ, their minds are hardened. The Jews who read
Scripture today, read it in Hebrew! And in Hebrew, there is greater meaning than in any language into
which the Old Testament has been translated. So, why do they not see “the Old revealed”? Simply,
because they have a veil over their minds. “Well, why don’t they remove that veil?” They cannot
because it is removed only in Christ.
What Paul says about the Jews here can be understood of Muslims, Hindus –any of the religions
of the world—in that salvation in Jesus Christ opens the door of the mind and the heart of all lost
persons. Furthermore, He gives us the understanding of salvation and the courage to make it
known to others.
I received a mailing today from Child Evangelism Fellowship, based in Warrenton, Missouri. A video
showed African children facinated with the bold, colored pictures that helped tell the story of Jesus.
One child was so excited that she shared it with her non-Christian parents. Ultimately, the entire
family came to faith in Christ; and that family founded the only Christian church in that area of Africa!
You have no idea what your witness of Jesus can do! Be courageous! Be bold! Be loving! Help
remove the masks from the minds of those who have yet to meet Jesus! The time is NOW!
Heartily in Christ Jesus,
(Dado III)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America
“We never know that God is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”