Taking Away The Vail

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. Regarding the Statutes of Christ

2. Regarding the Sonship of Christ

3. Regarding the Spirit of Christ

Remarks.

1. In our lesson tonight we are going to be discussing: "Taking Away the Vail." It is abundantly clear in our text that there "still remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ."

2. First, one of the vails which must be taken away is that of the Law of Moses, which many feel today they must keep in order to obtain righteous in the sight of God. But Paul argues: "Which vail is done away in Christ. Nevertheless when it (the people of Israel) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." As Christians, we are not under the old law; but the new law, the statutes of Christ. The covenant of Christ; is also the New Testament. Notice: "But now hath he (Christ) obtained a more excellent ministry; by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises," Hebrews 8:6. The Law of Moses was the law of bondage; the law of Christ is the law of liberty. So believers, "Stand fast therefore in the (law of) liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not again entangled again with the yoke (law) of bondage," Galatians 5:1.

3. Secondly, we must address another vail which covers the eyes of many; that is the Sonship of Christ. Jesus: "is the Christ the Son of the Living God." Not a son, but the Son of God. And as such, he share equally the divinity of the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is not the Father; but the Son. He is not the Spirit; but the Son; the sender of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says: "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father; even the Spirit of truth, he shall testify of me; and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning," John 15:26-27.

4. Finally, we must remove that vail that surrounds the Spirit of Christ. Paul admonishes us: "Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ; he is none of his," Romans 8:9. The vail concerning the Spirit which must be removed is that one can have the Holy Spirit and not have power from the Spirit to perform miracles, signs and wonders; or to speak in an unlearned tongue or prophesy regarding the will of God. And finally, the vail of much contention is that of the Holy Spirit baptism. If the Spirit is of Christ; then we must look to Christ for his explanation of the Holy Spirit Baptism, which he promised to his apostles.

BODY OF LESSON

I REGARDING THE STATUTES OF CHRIST

A. Paul’s makes contrast of two laws. He compares the Old Testament Law of Moses; with the New Testament Law of Christ. In our lesson text, Paul unfolds the differences between these two laws for our consideration. Notice:

1. The law of the letter (Moses) and spirit (Christ); where the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2. The ministration of the Old Testament and the New Testament. One is described as the Law of Moses; the other as the law of Christ.

3. The ministration of death and the ministration of life. One is the ministration of death because it kills; the other is the ministration of life because it promises eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

4. The glorious and the glorious that excelleth. One is glorious (the Law); the other excelleth in glory (the Law of Christ) though the Son.

5. The vail that remaineth over Israel (the face of Moses); has been taken away in (the face of Jesus Christ). The vail over Moses’ face has been overshadowed by the light that shines in the face of Christ, the Son of the living God.

6. Conclusion:

a. First, "And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face; that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ," 2 Corinthians 3:13-14.

b. Further, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us,” 2 Corinthians 4:3-7.