2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone 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 freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
4    Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory! Dear brothers and sisters.

The Glory of the Gospel Is No Secret!
A.     Throughout history– and even today– there have been “mystery religions.” The main workings of a mystery religion were like this. “Our people know all the secrets of the universe, secrets that will be beneficial to all mankind. If you want to know these secrets, you have to join us. If you work your way up the organization, you may get to know most of the secrets.” The worship and teaching of mystery religions often involves people whispering in strange languages in hidden inner rooms. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it. Mysterious. Everyone wants to know a secret. But it’s not much fun for those outside– for those who are left out.

B.     Christianity is not such a mystery religion. St. Paul says so in today’s lesson. “We have renounced secret and shameful ways; ... On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” If you want to know the secrets of the Christian faith, pick up a Bible. If you want it condensed for you, pick up a catechism. We publish these books freely so anyone can pick one up and know the truth of God. We don’t mumble these things in secret inner rooms. We preach and teach them freely.

C.    At St. Paul’s time, there were people who thought the Christian faith was a mystery religion. There were others who were trying to make Christianity into a mystery religion. Paul’s message was, “The glory of the love of God in Christ must shine forth.” Paul wrote about Moses. If anyone knew the deep mysteries of God, it was Moses, who received revelations from God and spoke with God one on one. On Mt. Sinai, God revealed his glory with a display of power and might. Earthquake. Thunder. Lightning. Fire. Smoke. A blinding white light. That’s what made the Israelites afraid. When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, his face somehow kept reflecting the glory of God. The people saw Moses and were afraid of him because of God’s glory reflecting from his face, so he put a veil over his face. Not like a bride’s veil, but a thick piece of cloth to hide his face completely.

D.     God has revealed his glory to us in a much different way. No thunder, lightning, fire or smoke. God has shown us his glory in his love. That’s why the angels sang “Glory” on Christmas night, because God was displaying his love by sending his Son to earth to bear our sin and be our Savior. Jesus showed his love by living his life in perfect holiness, reaching out to the poor and the sick, by helping people when no one else could, raising the dead. And the highest expression of love... laying down his life for lost sinners so that we could be called the children of God. Rising in glory to proclaim his victory. We see the glory of God in the life and work of Jesus Christ. There is no need to veil or hide this glory of God. His message is clear.

E.    Still, some people try to pull a veil over the glory of God. Sometimes I have heard people say things like this: “The Bible has been retranslated and rewritten so many times nobody knows what the Word of God is anymore.” Or this: “Everybody has his own interpretation. You can make the Bible say anything you want.” Really?!?  The reason people continue to translate the Bible into our language and others is to help people understand the message clearly– not to rewrite it to our tastes. I am fearful that people who say such things are uncomfortable with what the Bible says. It is too clear for them. It says something they don’t want to hear... condemning their favorite sin. ... or perhaps they don’t like the Bible telling them that they need a Savior... that they aren’t good enough for God on their own and can’t save themselves. The message is too clear for them, so they pull a veil over it, claiming it doesn’t mean what it says or claiming that it has no meaning at all.  The Bible says “God is not a man that he should lie” (Numbers 23:19). He has no reason to lie to us. He has nothing to hide. He is not like a politician who says something slippery that you can take one way or another. He doesn’t speak in strange, secret, hidden ways. He sends prophets, apostles and preachers to tell his people:  “This is what the Lord says.” He clearly says, “Here I am. Hear my promise. Believe and be saved.”

F.     Some try to veil the glory of God in other ways, changing Law for Gospel and Gospel for Law.  Their message is “God is great. If you live right, God can be great for you, too.” Really? God does want me to live right, but my failure to do that doesn’t change his greatness. It doesn’t change the way God has mercy on me. He comes to us when we are sinners. He doesn’t wait for us to clean up our act. In his great love and mercy, he reaches out to you and me and shows us his mercy first. “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8). If he waited for us to change our lives or make a decision to love him first, it would never happen. God gives us that promise first. A changed life is what follows as our response— our expression of thanks— our fruits of faith.  When the main message is “Here’s how to make God love you,” the preacher is hiding God’s grace. There is no Gospel anymore.

G.    “We have this hope,” St. Paul says. “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God” (3:4). We stand before God because we have Jesus. We live set apart from the world because Jesus has set us apart. We live in hope because Jesus gives us this hope– declaring our sins forgiven by his blood– declaring us the children of God by putting his name on us in Holy Baptism– connecting us to the new covenant in his blood through his Holy Supper. It’s his work, not ours. When we read the Bible, Old Testament or New, without keeping Jesus in mind, it is as if a veil covers our hearts. Without Jesus, it will seem as if salvation depends on us– and then we will always be in doubt. “Why should God love me?” “Have I done enough?” “Where can I find the strength to live and to please God?” In Christ the veil is taken away. “Why should God love me?” Jesus!  “Have I done enough?”  Jesus has! “Where can I find the strength to live and to please God?” Jesus!  There is no need to torture your soul any longer. Jesus has freed you.

H.    “Since we have this hope, we are very bold.”  “With unveiled faces we reflect the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.” God’s glory is in his love. St. John wrote “We love because he first loved us.” That is how we reflect that glory of God. We forgive as we have been forgiven (See Matthew 18:21ff). We proclaim the message of freedom in Jesus that has freed us. Not with fear. “Oops. I’m sorry. I’m a Christian.” But with boldness that comes from the hope and joy and freedom that are in Christ alone. We are children of the King because of Jesus. He has shown us the glory of his love. Shine like lights in the darkness of the world.

© 2010 Pastor Paul C. Stratman
St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam WI
http://www.saintstephen.org
pastorstratman@saintstephen.org
pcstratman@gmail.com