“The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom ” (II Corinthians 3:17), New International Version
This message from the Bible has been haunting my mind for the past few days. Each time I review the verse, a persistent question is what is the freedom we are talking about here and whether I am free ?
To understand this better, I had to go into the chapter of II Corinthians, wherein St. Paul talks about the pursuit of Holiness. The Lord is the Spirit, St. Paul writes. He could be referring to the Holy Spirit is God or the Lord (Jesus) is Spirit, even as God is Spirit or St.Paul could be saying that Jesus is the true meaning of God’s law. St. Paul then speaks about the freedom that God’s Spirit gives us.
On reading the first letter to Corinthians (I Corinthians 11:2-16), he writes about misconception that because the Holy Spirit was working in their lives; they consider themselves free to do whatever they wanted.
It is here that we understand what “freedom” really is. True freedom is not the right to do whatever we want. True freedom is when we turn to Christ; the Holy Spirit frees us from our evil deeds and from the devil’s power. However, that is just the beginning of God’s work in our lives. By His Spirit, God has given his people the freedom to become his children, to understand His Word and removes the veils covering our mind. God’s spirit frees us from the sticky web of sin which entangles us, trapping and blinding those who live in it.
So, the answer to what is freedom is clear ? Now, to find it, we have to change so as to embrace the Spirit of the Lord and be free to serve God to our capability.
15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory,are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:15-18, Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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