2 Corinthians 3:18 CSB – We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
John 10:10 CSB – Jesus promises, I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Our Hope of Increasing Glory: The Power of Jesus
2 Corinthians 3:7-9 CSB – Now if the ministry that brought death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to gaze steadily at Moses’s face because of its glory, which was set aside, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory.
- 7. “ministry that brings death, chiseled in letters came with glory
- 9. “the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory
Romans 7:7,12 CSB – Paul writes, Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good
2 Corinthians 3:7 & 9 CSB – …the ministry that brought death, chiseled in letters on stones came with glory….For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory.
Romans 3:20 NLT – For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Learning about Glory from Moses’ Experience
2 Corinthians 3:7 CSB – the Israelites were not able to gaze steadily at Moses’s face because of its glory,
His face reflected God’s glory.
Exodus 34:30 CSB – When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
2 Corinthians 3:13 CSB – [Moses] used to put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from gazing steadily until the end of the glory of what was being set aside
2 Corinthians 3:12-13 CSB – Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face…
Two Reasons the New Testament Glory is Superior
1. While the Old Testament reveals our problem, the NT reveals the solution!
2 Corinthians 3:10-11 CSB – In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was set aside was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.
Hebrews 9:14 CSB – how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
2 Corinthians 3:12 CSB – Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.
2. While the O.T. glory is external, the N.T. glory is internal
2 Corinthians 3:6b CSB – For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
4 Concentric circles
- Worldview
- Beliefs
- Attitudes
- Behavior
2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV – Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
The Obstacle to Experiencing God’s Glory: Close-mindedness
2 Corinthians 3:13-16 CSB – We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from gazing steadily ….14 but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ. 15 Yet still today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
Romans 1:21-22 CSB – For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 CSB – …the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God… 20 and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile.
Romans 1:18-27 CSB – For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.
2 Corinthians 3:16 CSB – but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
The Veil is Lifted Whenever We Turn to Jesus
The first step? An act of the Will.
2 Corinthians 3:16 CSB – but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
1 Corinthians 2:13 CSB – ….not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people
The Result: Increased Glory Brings Increasing freedom
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 CSB – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
John 8:34,38 CSB – Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
Matthew 6:25ff CSB – Jesus teaches how to overcome anxiety
Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Matthew 6:33-34 CSB – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.
Matthew 6:24 CSB – “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Romans 6:16-18 CSB – Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
2 Questions:
- Which Master is truly interested in your freedom?
- Which Master has the capability to set you free?
Settle the Freedom Question for Yourself
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 CSB – Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
John 17:3 CSB – This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent —Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 CSB – Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
