"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S PLAN AND DESIRE IS FOR YOU"
2nd Cor 3:18 But 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.
Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:
1. Paul tells us here, right off the bat, what is going on in the lives of those who have come to faith, and are following Jesus Christ.
He describes our faces, what we are able to see, and what God is doing in us, and how He is doing it. Please take another look at the verse 2nd Cor 3:18 But 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. Here is the same verse in the NLT 2nd Cor 3:18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
3. Let's break this down bit by bit, to see just exactly what the Lord is doing in our lives, and what He wants to do, and how He is doing it.
(1) But we all, is a reference to the NT believer, as compared to the OT believer. And, God has been saying through Paul that God has given us freedom, freedom from the guilt and the punishment of sin, and are now relating to God based on His grace, and not under, and through the law. And, that there is nothing between us and the glory of God.
We are not like the unbelieving Jews who cannot see or understand the Word of God. We can, and we do as we peer into the life giving, life changing Word of God, looking unto Jesus Christ. We have turned to God, believed in Jesus, and are now in a true union with Him, and have fellowship with Him.
(2) We also are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. What does this mean? We touched on it a little just above a minute ago. What it simply means, is that we are like a mirror that are brightly and clearly reflecting the glory of the Lord. When Moses was up on Mt Sinai, he was affected by God's glory, and when he came down his face shone very brightly.
But, the glory on his face began to fade away, so he put a veil over his face, so the people would not see the glory fading. Not so with us. that glory is not fading. Christ does shine in and through the lives of those who have been born again by the Spirit of God. God works in us and through us to reveal Himself to the world around us.
(3) We are not only beholding the Lord, ( we know Him, we are in fellowship with Him, we have access to Him etc, ) but, He is transforming our lives into the same image, that is the image of Christ, and He is doing this from Glory to Glory. Or we are becoming more like Him. We are bearing the fruit of the Spirit. This is what Christian maturity is all about, growing in the grace and the knowledge of Christ.
Being like Him, in His love, truth, grace, mercy and compassion for people, wanting them to know about the good news of Jesus Christ, and that they can be saved. Serving God, even as Christ served the Father by coming to the earth, and dying for our sins.
(4) " just as by the Spirit of the Lord." Here Paul is saying, that this transformation is not by the law, but by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, dwells within us. And, we by faith, trusting in Jesus Christ, then become those whom the Holy Spirit, is working to make us become more and more like Him, and be reflectors of His Glory.
4. So, God's Holy Spirit is working in us to make us reflectors of the glory of God. We call this being witnesses, of Christ, being used of Christ, testifying of Christ, being living epistles of Christ, being the light of the world, being God's servants. All of those terms refer to the same thing.
That God through His Spirit, wants to show a dying world His love, and He wants to call a dying world to Himself, so that He can save them, and give them eternal life. Forgive their sins and rid them of guilt. Live within them, bless their lives with Himself, and the fruit of His Spirit, cause them to have His peace, and His joy, to rejoice in Hope of one day being with Him, etc, etc.
5. So, may we be all be the best and brightest reflectors of Jesus that we can be. When People see You, may they see Jesus Christ. In the way you talk, live out your life, use your time, resources, talents, finances, and the way you are a steward of the truth of the Gospel of Christ.
We could almost say, instead of saying, "God bless you today", we could say, "Good reflecting today" So, that's my wish and prayer for you today, "Be a good reflector of Jesus to the world around You"
A prayer:
Father, You have sent Your Son, we have received Your Son, and now You desire to use us to reflect Your Son. Truly Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ is the center of all things. He is the focus You call us to focus upon. He is the one that You are transforming us into, and He is the one You want us to reflect. It's not hard to be a reflector of what you are. You just are. Draw us close to You, and may we shine brightly. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
