Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Paul is saying that if the old covenant had its glory, and it did, just imagine how glorious the new covenant is. The law was wonderful because, although it condemned us, it pointed us to Christ. But in the new covenant, the law and the promise are fulfilled. Christ has come; by faith we can be made right with God.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is far superior to the Old Testament system of sacrifice (Hebrews 8 and 10). Christianity is superior to the Judaism of the Old Testament and to any other religion on earth. Because God’s plan is far superior by comparison to any other, we dare not reject it or treat it casually.
Those who were trying to be saved by keeping the Old Testament law were soon tied up in rules and ceremonies. But now, through the Holy Spirit, God provides freedom from sin and condemnation (Romans 8). When we trust Christ to save us, he removes our heavy burden of trying to please Him and our guilt for failing to do so. By trusting Christ we are loved, accepted, forgiven, and freed to live for Him. Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, He gives freedom.
When Moses came down Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face glowed from being in God’s presence (Exodus 34). Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face and from seeing the radiance fade away. This veil illustrates the fading of the old system and the veiling of people’s minds because of their pride, hardness of heart, and refusal to repent. The veil kept them from understanding references to Christ in the Scriptures. When anyone becomes a Christian, the veil is stripped off, giving eternal life and freedom from bondage. That person can then be like a mirror reflecting God’s glory.
The glory that the Spirit imparts to the believer is more excellent and lasts longer than the glory that Moses experienced. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like Him. In the Gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ’s life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what He is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience (Romans 8; Galatians 4; Philippians 3; 1 John 3). The more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like Him.