Donald Trump and 2 Corinthians 3:17

Trump speaks at Liberty University.

Yesterday at Liberty College, Donald Trump said this:

"2 Corinthians 3:17. That’s the whole ballgame. 'Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' Here there is Liberty College. Liberty University but it is so true. Is that the one you like. I think it is. I love it. And it is so representative of what is taking place. But we are going to protect Christianity."

Now I am not going to launch into a tirade about Trump saying "Two Corinthians" instead of "Second Corinthians." Honestly, I believe that is just a red herring distracting from the real problem. In fact, I am not going to launch into a tirade against Trump at all. Matt Walsh already did a pretty solid job at that, and I don't see the need to repeat it.

I also do not plan to discuss the dangers of making politics your religion, because I have already written about that.

What I do want to discuss is the true meaning behind 2 Corinthians 3:17, because it is so much more than what Trump used it as. It is a beautiful, wonderful statement about the glory of the new covenant we have in Christ in comparison to the old law of Moses. It speaks of the freedom we have to come into the very presence of God because the veil separating sinful man from Him has been removed for those who are in Christ. It parallels Hebrews 4:16 and 10:19-22. You want liberty? 2 Corinthians 3:17 has your liberty. Just maybe not in the way you were expecting.

Under the old covenant Israel in the wilderness was separated by 2 veils. The first was the outer veil of the tabernacle which separated the general population from the work of the priests in the temple, and the inner veil inside the temple that separated the priests from God's presence. The only time that veil was opened was once per year, and only by the High Priest with very specific instructions and for a very specific purpose: atonement for the nation.

This is not the same set of rules that those in Christ are under. As we are covered by Christ's blood, we are made holy and worthy to come into the very presence of God, in His throne room, to make our requests known. Paul, in 2 Corinthians tells us that because since the Lord is the Spirit, and we have the Spirit in us (Acts 2:38), then we have liberty in being free from the old law and its rules, regulations and separation from God. Instead, "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).

Talk about freedom! Talk about liberty! True acceptance by God because of how the blood of Christ washes away our sins! This surpasses by far any twisting of these words to talk about freedom from government or government interference. We are talking about freedom from the penalty of sin. We are talking about freedom from the death sentence under law. We are talking about freedom in the truest, fullest sense that we could possibly talk about it in.

It is because of that freedom and that opportunity that any lesser use of these verses pales so much as to be useless. There is a great and glorious truth here, and we would do well to see the true beauty in it.

So know, dear Christian, that these words were not penned in order to set you free from something as insignificant as the ruling class in this world. They were penned to show you the freedom you have in Christ to belong to the Father. They were penned to show you the right you have to come before and behold the glory of God in the life He has saved.

And that is true liberty.