Background to passage: Paul in his third letter to this troubled, but eventually triumphant church, has spent the better part of the first two chapters giving some information about his travel plans and the changes that had come unexpectedly. He notes how God has used these frustrations to open doors of ministry. Then he proceeds to remind them of the gospel by comparing in to the law of Moses and the glory of the Old Covenant being exceedingly passed by the New Covenant. The reference we must understand for context is Moses’s blinding face as he comes down from the mountain in Ex 34. The specific reference and application in chapter three is that we can look upon the unveiled glory of the Lord. The subsequent application in chapter four is that God has opened our minds to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ/God in the face of God/Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:7–18 ESV
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Opening illustration: New Year’s resolutions? Anybody make any? Anybody still holding to them? Top three according to a study from the University of Bath in the UK in 2019: 1) to live healthier (23%), 2) to improve lifestyle routines for more happiness (21%), 3) to lose weight (20%). About 80% fail according to US News and World Report, Dec 2023
Main thought: Last week we explained the importance of and examined our own motivation for this month of fasting and prayer. Motivation is huge, but the goal is also huge. I am going to put forth that there are two major ones that we must consider, and they may lead to a third. This week we will look upon the ultimate goal — 1) seeing the face of God. We will also look upon the penultimate goal of 2) transformation from one degree of glory to another into the image of Christ through the Spirit as we look upon the face of Jesus.
1) The Blazing Internal Center (2 Cor 3:18a, 2 Cor 4:4, 2 Cor 4:6)
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1) The Blazing Internal Center (2 Cor 3:18a, 2 Cor 4:4, 2 Cor 4:6)
Explanation: As we go through days of fasting and prayer, as much as we give thought to the individual attributes of God, as much as many of you have expressed how much these devotions have meant to you and empowered your prayer, we must consider the goal.
Our minds and our hearts are to be seeing the light of the gospel in the glory of the face of Christ.
Psalm 34:8 ESV
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Hebrews 10:34 ESV
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Hebrews 11:24–26 ESV
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Illustration: that Food Network show where they got a basket of random ingredients and 30 minutes to make the three courses, then the judges tasted all their food, and commented on it. They often noted how they could or couldn’t taste the individual ingredients required, or how they blended so well. They would often smell the entree and take in the full aroma of the dish. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states in Question #1: What is the chief end of man? Answer: To glorify God and enjoy him forever!
Application: We need to take the fullness of who God is, all these attributes, and do our best to breathe them in. We take the gospel, its facts and results, and we let it pass through all the blankets of the person of God as we have been seeing. For example: We take the holiness of God and see the places it bursts through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as well as its effects in the lives of believers. The perfect holiness of God is displayed in the life of Jesus. The holiness of God required justice to be employed. The holiness of God required wrath to be spent. The holiness of God required righteousness to be given.
Striving to see the glory of the gospel in the face of Jesus makes the other aspects of the gospel truly good news. As one pastor/scholar said, “This is the highest and best and final good that makes all the other good things promised in the gospel good. Justification is good news because it makes us stand accepted by the one whose glory we want to see and savor above all things. Forgiveness is good news because it cancels all the sins that keep me from seeing and enjoying the glory of Christ who is the image of God. Removal of wrath and salvation from hell are good news because now in my escape from eternal misery I find eternal pleasure beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ. Eternal life is good news because this is eternal life, Jesus said, that they know me and him who sent me. And freedom from pain and sickness and conflict are good news because, in my freedom from pain, I am no longer distracted from the fullest enjoyment of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” -Piper
The heart of man longs for glory, we have Christ, we have seen his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the father, the radiance of the glory of God, the exact image of God’s nature, the image of the invisible God, the glory of him who is in the form of God and later given the name above all names to which every human being from all time would confess that Christ is Lord to the GLORY of God the Father.
As you walk through your fasting and prayer and the guide, go back and forward to breathe it all in. As you walk through your Christian life, be plumbing the depths of the gospel, its facts and applications, for greater light and greater transformation and greater freedom.
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2) The Living External Display (2 Cor 3:18)
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2) The Living External Display (2 Cor 3:18)
Explanation: The second goal is transformation. If we are able to see the glory of the gospel in the face of God, the Spirit of God that dwells inside of us will transform us. He will transform us from one degree of glory to another. Progressive sanctification. God frees you by the Spirit through the Word from temptations that have reign over you, 2 Cor 3:17. He frees you to do willingly and desirously what he commands and desires.
Romans 8:29 ESV
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Illustration: “The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of the Lord—has one main task, to glorify Jesus (John 16:14). To help us see him and show him. Therefore when we turn to the Lord and set our hearts on Jesus, the Spirit works to help us see him. He opens the eyes of our hearts to apprehend and appreciate and savor and cherish and treasure the glory of the Lord. And then by that means he changes our inner drives and desires and longings so that we want what Jesus wants, and are free.” -Piper, St. Augustine and his great disagreement and debate with Pelagius regarding the ability to change your life.
Application: I do not want to create the confusion that this applies to every person in general. This only applies to genuine Christians who have the Spirit and have their eyes opened to the unsearchable riches of Christ. Those that have, will see the character of Jesus formed in their lives. They will see the fruit of the Spirit being formed in their lives. They will progressively see the glory of God developed in them.
So, pursue the glory of God. Look for it like gold, seek for it like silver. Bathe yourself in the bible. Commune with God in prayer. Set your gaze upon him, and it will become increasingly a joyous task rather than a laborious discipline. The Spirit will set you free to obey and be conformed to Christ.
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Closing illustration: The goal of those 40 percent of New Year’s is to lose unnecessary weight for joints and pain, trim down tone up to look better, be healthy, reduce fatigue, avoid future health problems (diabetes, cholesterol, or heart disease), happiness, mental health and clarity, and be freed up to live a full and active life.
The parallels for church life are similar. The book of Hebrews says that there are sins that weigh us down and hold us back. Paul tells us that whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Apathy and neglect toward God himself will render you ineffective. If we fix our gaze upon God, the promise is to transform us. We will be a healthier church, one that expresses love more deeply and consistently, one that forgives more quickly, one that is more generous and effective in our community, one that loves the nations as Christ does. We will be a holier church, heading off future problems, developing unity and avoiding dissension.
Often, people hire a personal trainer, but we have the Holy Spirit to transform us from one degree of glory to another. What a key to discover that fixing our eyes upon Christ, looking deeply at God will bring about those and so many other advances in the kingdom. Do we want 2024 to be a banner year at WHBC?
The third goal, not insignificant, but most assuredly behind the other two is the growth of WHBC. It will come because of our satisfaction in the Treasure, and the display of a transformed life. Those two things are winsome and attractive. We may deal with that in two weeks.
