Do You Bear the Marks of the Real

Do You Bear the Marks of the Real Deal? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Being led by a sovereign God, resulting in unquenchable optimism Finding promised victory in Jesus, resulting in unvarying success Having influence for Jesus, resulting in unforgettable impact Pleasing God in Jesus, resulting in unimpeachable integrity Empowered in Jesus, resulting in undeniable reality

Do You Bear the Vital Signs of the New Covenant? 1. 2. 3. 4. The purposeful pulse of life marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control A heart written on by the Spirit, producing a spiritual concern for people A righteousness from God alone that frees us from guilt and shame The permanence of eternal values not the pressure and performance of the temporal

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Boldness in the Spirit Veils of the Flesh Unveiling of the Spirit

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Boldness in the Spirit Ø Ø Ø Boldness is the inevitable result of total trust in the New Covenant (everything comes from God). Boldness is the sure hope that is the result of the conviction that God is ready to work in you. Boldness is the freedom that comes from recognizing that God is doing everything and not you.

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Veils of the Flesh Ø Moses hid his fading glory behind a façade, a veil that kept the truth of his soul from being seen. The veil was a symbolic activity of the flesh. The same veil was active in Paul’s day. v In fact, it is still active today! v “all that God says we will do” v v

There is one vice in which no man in the world is free; which every one on the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit; and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility. (Mere Christianity p. 106)

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Veils of the Flesh Ø Why the Veil (our fading glory)? v A deceitful heart – Jeremiah 17: 9

Jeremiah 17: 9 (NASB) 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Veils of the Flesh Ø Why the Veil (our fading glory)? v v v Ø A deceitful heart – Jeremiah 17: 9 Covering the shame that others will see us for who we really are Wearing the veil so long that we actually believe it Ego support Excuses – double meanings Fear of rejection The flesh loves to hide and disguise itself!

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Veils of the Flesh Ø The many veils of Pride v v v Self-righteousness False humility Sensitivity – self-pity, selfishness Self-importance – busyness, center of universe Self-justifying – perfectionism Remoteness – motivated by fear

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Unveiling of the Spirit Ø How can these veils be removed? Only through Jesus Christ – 2 x The key to moving from the old covenant to the new covenant is the Spirit. v The Spirit gives us freedom when we recognize His indwelling and we submit. v v

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Unveiling of the Spirit Ø How do we operate in the Spirit? We must recognize the veil for what it really is through prayer, self-examination, and others. v Then, we must put the veil to death so the old life no longer reigns over us – Rom. 6: 6; 8: 13. v

Romans 6: 6 (NASB) 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; Romans 8: 13 (NASB) 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Unveiling of the Spirit Ø How do we operate in the Spirit? We must recognize the veil for what it really is through prayer, self-examination, and others. v Then, we must put the veil to death so the old life no longer reigns over us – Rom. 6: 6; 8: 13. v Next, we must apply the power of the Spirit through the resurrection of Jesus to overcome, moving from the old to the new. v Jesus’ resurrection has already won the victory over sin in the power of the Spirit! v

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Unveiling of the Spirit This process, repeated over and over again, begins the dying to self and becoming alive in Christ. Ø As this death occurs and newness of life takes over, we begin to reflect Christ in areas of our lives. Ø Others, then, begin to see Jesus in us! Ø

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Application What are some veils that you are wearing? How are you going to put them to death?

Unveiled 2 Corinthians 3: 12 -18 Application What are some veils that you are wearing? How are you going to put them to death? In what areas of your life are you reflecting Jesus to others?