2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. NIV
Two obvious
questions come to mind when reading this verse. First, where is the Spirit of
the Lord? Second, what kind of freedom are we talking about? Knowing the
answers to these two questions and living in light of that knowledge, will
bring about a life filled with hope, peace and joy, so let’s look closely for
those answers.
Question
one, where is the Spirit of the Lord? In the context of this chapter, Paul has
been comparing the ministry of the Holy Spirit with the ministry of the Law. He
explains that though the Law is righteous and Holy, it results in death because
no one is able to fully keep it. The ministry of the Spirit, on the other hand,
is working to bring us into a glory (life with God) that lasts eternally (v11).
The key in discovering where “the Spirit is” though, is found in verses 2-3.
Paul explains that these Corinthians are a “living letter” to the world because
the Spirit Himself has written on “the tablet of their hearts.”
The Spirit
then, is to be found in the life of a believer in Christ. Every one who has
trusted in Christ for their salvation has received the Holy Spirit into their
life. If you are a Christian, you need look no further for the Spirit. God has placed His Spirit inside you, for His own purposes. He is
there to provide comfort in times of trouble and to teach you (Jn 14:16, 26).
He comes to give you power (Ac 1:8). And, He lives in you to bring you freedom.
Freedom from what? From the power of sin and
death! To really understand this concept, it is good to go to the book of
Romans, chapter 8. In that chapter, Paul makes it very simple. There are two
types of people he describes in this chapter. Those who are still in bondage to
the law of sin and death and those who are free from that law, based upon of their
acceptance of Jesus Christ for salvation.
Here is how
he describes those who have not received Christ, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on
what that nature desire…” (Rom 8:5) “… the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can
it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Rom
8:7-8) The person who has not received Christ as their Savior and Lord, is
controlled (a slave to) by their sinful nature. They cannot please God. They are not free.
The
believer in Christ however, is set free
from bondage to the sinful nature and its resulting death. We are free to live
under the control of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Rom 8:9, “You, however, are controlled not by the
sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also
give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (Ro 8:11)
What an
amazing truth! If you are a believer in
Christ, the Spirit of the Lord is in you and you are free! This is what
Jesus was talking about all the way back in the book of John 8:31-32, “To
the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,
you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free." “…everyone
who sins is a slave to sin.” (V34) “So
if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
So
Christian, live your life in the light of this truth. Follow Paul’s instruction
in Gal 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit.” Surrender your life daily, even moment by
moment, to the control of the Holy Spirit living inside of you. That is where
freedom is found!
God bless
you
Coach
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