2Corinthians  ◦   Chapter 3

1Don't think that we are starting to market ourselves or that we need, like some people, letters to promote our ministry.2The letter that promotes our message is you! The healing of your hearts and characters, known and read by everybody you encounter,3reveals that you are a message from Christ–the result of our bringing you the truth about God–not tattooed upon your skin, but written in your characters by the Spirit of the living God; not on stone but upon human hearts and minds!

4We say this because we have absolute confidence in God to perfectly heal through the Remedy procured by Christ.5We do not claim that we created the Remedy or possess the ability to heal, but our effectiveness comes from Christ and what he accomplished.6He has made us competent members of His spiritual health-care team to distribute his Remedy–not merely the diagnostic tool of the law but the healing power of the Spirit; for the law diagnoses us as terminal, but the Spirit restores us to life.

7Now, if the agency that diagnosed mankind as terminal (the agency written on stone) was inaugurated with the brilliance of divine fire radiating from Moses’ face so intensely that the Israelites couldn’t gaze upon him because of the terrible agony in their unconverted hearts caused by the already fading splendor of fire of God’s presence,8will not the mighty agency of the Holy Spirit be even more brilliant?9If the agency that diagnoses people as terminal is glorious, how much more glorious is God-the-Spirit who brings the Remedy that Christ achieved and restores us to righteousness!10A candle is brilliant in a dark room, but it has no brilliance in comparison to the brightness of the sun.11And if what was written on stone (like a fading candle) came with glory, how much more glorious is it when the living law of love is eternally restored into the heart!

12Therefore, since we have such a certain outcome, we are very bold!13We are not like Moses, who covered his face with a veil to hide the fading glory from the Israelites.14Sadly, their minds were dull: even to this day a veil of misunderstanding obscures their minds whenever the symbolic teaching system and diagnostic code is read. The veil of confusion has not been removed because they misunderstand or reject Christ; and it is Christ who reveals the true meaning of it all.15Yes, even today, when the first five books of the Old Testament are read, a veil of confusion and misunderstanding covers their hearts.16But whenever anyone accepts Jesus and the truth he has revealed, the veil of confusion is taken away.17We experience Jesus through the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom from confusion, fear, and selfishness.18And we, whose minds are not veiled by confusion, and who reveal the truth about the Lord's glorious character, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord and is applied in us by the Spirit.