"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the

Lord is there is liberty."

2 Corinthians 3:17

     When we think of the phrase "the Spirit of the Lord," our first thought is usually fixed on the Holy Spirit. And this is certainly understandable; after all there are many references in the Bible where the Spirit of the Lord does refer to the Holy Spirit. However, in this instance, Paul makes it very clear that the Spirit of the Lord is directly attributed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, for he begins this verse by saying, "Now the Lord is that Spirit..."   If you read this whole passage in context, you will see that Paul is addressing Israel's own blindness to the far-surpassing glory of the New Covenant. They couldn't see because their hearts had not turned to Christ as Lord. So consequently, this blindness became as it were, a veil upon their heart. "Nevertheless, when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord (Christ), the veil shall be taken away" (2 Cor. 3:16). We could actually read verse seventeen this way: "Now the Lordship of Christ is the ministration of the spirit, and when the heart surrenders to his spiritual Lordship, it finds freedom from the confines of the law, accessing the full scope of his administration."

     Really this freedom hinges completely upon Christ's Lordship! That is the key to this whole passage. If we just assume that Paul is saying, "Wherever the Holy Spirit is there is freedom," then we have to ask ourselves, "Why are so many of God people still experiencing limitations?" Is it not true that we have the Holy Spirit living in us and that we are his temple? If it were just a matter of having the presence of God in us to be completely free, then there shouldn't be any limitations, because we all have his abiding presence! Jesus himself said, "...he would abide with you forever" (John 14:16). But I want you to know and understand there is a big difference between having an atmosphere of freedom because of the presence of the Lord, and access to live out that freedom because of the Lordship of his presence. I truly believe that the key to the unlimited access of our spirit, having the ability to operate in this new administration, rests completely on how deeply we apply Christ's Lordship to our lives.

     Let me explain this in a more practical way. Romans chapter eight says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2). As a believer, this freedom took effect the moment we became born again. However, even though there is a release from the bondage of our old sinful nature, the moment we came to Christ, there still needs to be a release of the limitations we find ourselves facing, because of our unrenewed mind. It is only as we yield our hearts and lives more and more to the Lordship of Christ that we are able to peel back layers of our own limitations. Paul relates it this way: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord..." (Rom. 7:22-25). Here, he is talking about a religious man, one who is not born again, who struggles to live right because he is carnal, sold under sin. He finds his answer in making Jesus Christ the Lord of his life. Then he proceeds into chapter eight, where he explains how our own limitations to living a spiritual life is the result of the struggle we face with our unrenewed minds. In other words, just as a religious man is limited because he remains sold under sin, a carnal Christian is limited because he is still controlled by the appetites of his flesh.  

     The more Christ takes his place in you as Lord, the more freedom you will experience overall. It's very difficult to experience the fullness of what Christ came to bring when your life remains vexed over the carnal appetites of the flesh. That's why he begins this eighth chapter with these words: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1). From the standpoint of being born again, there is no more condemnation over your eternal fate - period! But there is condemnation that comes from a life that struggles surrendering completely to the Lordship of Jesus, where the flesh still holds sway in your life. It is not the kind of condemnation that would send someone to hell, but it is one that will keep a person limited in their ability to make spiritual progress. John explained it this way: "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God" (1 John 3:20-21).

     Our freedom comes through Christ's Lordship. That's why Paul told the church of Ephesus: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord (in his Lordship), and in the power of his might (his dominion)" (Eph. 6:10). It is through his Lordship that we find the power to overcome all our limitations. If there is anything that is hindering your access to living a spiritual life, this is where your answer lies! It rests in the strength that comes from making him Lord of All!