2 Corinthians 3:10

2 Corinthians 3:10 says, For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  Paul said that even though the law was made glorious, since it was given by God, that it had no glory in its ability to save.  He then stated that this was true because of the glory of Christ, which excelled over the law.  God's word would now be written in the hearts of His people, and not on tablets of stone.  Verse eleven adds, For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.  Through the fulfillment of the law by Christ, the requirement to live up to every aspect of the law was done away with.  This does not mean that God's law is no longer valid, but that the requirement for salvation is simply faith in Christ.  This new covenant is indeed move excellent than the law.  Verse twelve continues, Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:  Paul wanted his message to be easily understood by all.  When we are witnessing for Christ, we need to keep the message simple.  Paul preached Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord.  This is still our message today.  We cannot explain every aspect of God, but we can proclaim the gospel clearly.  Verse thirteen states, 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:  Paul said that the children of Israel could not look openly at God through the law.  Just as Moses veiled his face before returning from the mountain, people were prevented from having unrestricted access to God.  They were still under the law and could never follow it completely, so sin always separated them from being able to look at God freely.  There was always a separating barrier, but Christ removed all barriers.  Verse fourteen adds, 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.  This is what Paul declared in this verse, that Christ removed the veil between people and God.  Verse fifteen continues, But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.   I believe that Paul was saying that when we attempt to approach God through the law that our will is always a barrier between God and us.  Though we are given free access to God through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the sin in the world still keeps us from seeing all of God's glory.  Verse sixteen declares, Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  There is coming a day, when Christ returns, when we can see God in all His glory.  Verse seventeen adds, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  Just as the law brought bondage due to the inability of people to live up to its requirements, Christ brings liberty because we are under grace and not the law.  Verse eighteen continues, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  Paul said that as we look at God as though seeing His image in a mirror, that we are changed into that same image of God by faith.  We are to reflect God to the world by our faith in Christ.  We can only do this by living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.