True Liberty

2 Corinthians 3:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 This passage shows the contrast between the law and the covenant of Christ.

When there is a veil between God and I, I cannot have a deeply personal relationship with Him.

My relationship with another person should be governed by the relationship I have with God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, including the liberty to make true friends.

There are two kinds of relationships: “I and it” and "I and thou."

Revelation 22:20

1 Corinthians 11:29

How do I see God? He is “Thou” when I am in a love relationship. He becomes an "it" when the love relationship doesn’t exist.

“It” relationships exist and are normal in everyday life, but they should not be with God or another person.

Exodus 32:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 I am meant to love another as God loves us. If I change the nature of our relationship and make that person an “it,” it becomes very difficult to express the love of God to that person. This is what Israel did when they created the golden calf idol.

Romans 8:14

I may value the “it” of God and have an awareness, but He wants communion with me and to be known as “Thou.”

Psalm 139:1,2

John 21:15,16,17