2 Corinthians 3:15-18
From Glory-to-Glory
March 15, 2026
(TLB) Even now when the Scripture is read it seems as though Jewish hearts and minds are covered by a thick veil, because they cannot see and understand the real meaning of the Scriptures. For this veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings their hearts are blind and they think that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to be saved. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins, then the veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where he is there is freedom [from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God]. But we Christians have no veil over our faces; 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.
In this text Paul has us to look at the Books of Moses to show us that we were far from the Glory of God. Then calls for the believer to look in the mirror and notice that the image we see is the Glory of the Lord. We should notice a transformation in our image as we walk in Christ becoming more like Him from Glory to Glory.
The Veil – when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. V.15
ILLS. The Motorcycle Lean – The Department of Motor Vehicles has already tested the curve and has posted a safe speed for travel. Moses wrote down the first 5 books of the bible and Paul is teaching that they did not understand that everything he wrote was for us to get a better understanding. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
• When I need a measure of grace, I remember that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
• When I need to strengthen my faith, I remember that righteousness was imputed to Abraham because he believed God.
• When I need to stand up to my government, I remember Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego) and their words that God is able to deliver them from the fiery furnace.
• When I need to find the courage to lead, I remember that God said to Joshua, as I was with Moses so I will be with you.
• When I wonder if prayer makes a difference with God, I remember Hanna and her prayer for a son and God gave her Samuel a great judge of Israel.
• When I come into the house of God burdened by the hardships of ministry, I remember David and his Psalms of praise.
• When I think that the Lord has been really hard on me, I remember the wise words of Solomon, saying that the Lord will chasten whom He loves.
• When I think that I am alone and no one is there to help me, I remember what the Lord said to Elijah, “I have 7000 that have not bent a knee to Baal”
• When I feel unworthy for the service of God, I remember Isaiah, He I am send me.
• When I get tired and want to give up, I remember Jeremiah as he said “it is like fire shut up in my bones.”
The Victory – where the Spirit if the Lord is, the is liberty. V.17
ILLS. Objects in the Mirror – On your car you have two side mirrors, right and left, and on the passenger mirror near the bottom edge of each there is an inscription that reads “OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR” Verse 17 teaches that when one turns to the Lord the veil is taken away and we can see clearly now because we are no longer blinded by the ways of the world: Now the things behind you make sense, because OBJECTS IN ‘this’ MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Now we understand why God has been keeping us in our lane, because OBJECTS IN ‘this’ MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, [God said] I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, [God said] they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
It is beginning to all make sense now! Because where the Spirit if the Lord is, the is liberty! And because we have the victory in Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37
The Vision – beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord we are being transformed. V.18 Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… (KJV)
ILLS. Hubble Telescope – In 1990 a telescope was launched into space named after an American Astronomer. Edwin P. Hubble died in 1954 but in 1990 a Space Telescope that used a variety of mirrors to project an image to a laboratory on earth was launched. No man has ever seen with his own eyes the images that the telescope has shown him. It works by reflecting light through a series of mirrors to show the viewer an image of that which is beyond his ability to see on his own. It originally had a 15-year mission but it’s still reflecting powerful and beautiful images today. We ought to be like that telescope reflecting Jesus more and more each day. From Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord. I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. (KJV)
1 Corinthians 15:49-51 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (KJV)
Paul shows us a mystery. He says that we shall not all sleep. This means that before Jesus comes again, we do not know who will be in Glory and who will be on Earth. But there is something we do know and that is that we shall all be changed when we see Him face to face. But now we are being transformed into His image! Little by little. Step by step! Day to day. From glory to glory. We are being changed to the image of Jesus by the Spirit of the Lord!
