The Glory of the New Covenant

The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could
not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading
away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way,
which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact,
that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which
has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face
so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were
hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot
understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’
writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.
And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.