2 Corinthians 3:17 – April 27, 2019

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NABRE     

Paul is writing to the Corinthians and sharing about the work of the Spirit. The Spirit is sent by God to be Advocate for God’s people and to bring new life. We know that in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul writes, “whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” This new creation in Christ comes from the Spirit, we have the Spirit of Christ in us once we believe and accept Jesus. When we read, now the Lord is the Spirit, we know that Christ too is transformed by the Spirit. It is the role of the Spirit to create the connection between God and Christ, between Christ and church. The Spirit is the relationship that makes the connection. With the Spirit in us we are connected to Christ and we are connected to the church. With the Spirit of the Lord in us we are also free. Freedom for Paul is being able to remain away from sin, which enslaves us. The Spirit helps keep us from sin and therefore we have freedom to do the will of God, to serve others, to live selflessly and put others first. The Spirit is the One that gives us strength and knowledge to be like Christ who lived for love.

We don’t speak much of the Trinity, one God in three natures. But the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity providing inner inspiration, inner movement and the divine presence making it possible for us to be dedicated follows of Jesus, serving as Jesus served. We cannot be self-giving, other loving and die to self-people without the grace that comes from God in the form of the Spirit. It takes more than will power to always think of others first, we need the gifts of the Spirit that we receive when we are in Christ.

Do you feel free to serve others? Do you recognize that you are a new creation?

It takes more than will power to always think of others first, we need the gifts of the Spirit that we receive when we are in Christ. Click To Tweet

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