A Glimpse of Glory

When we look in the mirror what do we see? Do we see someone hopelessly lost in sin, or a repentant sinner, forgiven and being transformed into God’s image from glory to glory every day? Let’s look at Paul’s discussion of being remarkably transformed in 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2.

To understand Paul’s metaphor, we must read the background in Exodus 34:29-35 where, when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai, his face shone because he spoke with God. People were afraid to come near him, so Moses’ face was hidden because he put a veil over his face.

Veiled

2 Corinthians 3:12-13 “Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.”

Paul spoke plainly, compared to mysteries concealed under the old covenant. He adds a metaphor that the veil prevented Israel from seeing that the glow on Moses’ face was fading away, as the veil on their hearts prevented them from seeing the glory of the old covenant was fading too.

2 Corinthians 3:14-15 “But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart”

This is the only time Paul refers to the Hebrew scriptures as the old covenant, testament, will, or set-agreement with God. Not just Jews, but also many Christians have a veil on their hearts. The Greek is clear, the veil is the old covenant and it is lifted in Christ.

That does not make the entire old testament now irrelevant, but the covenant or agreement is now replaced in Christ with a new covenant. The phrase “whenever Moses is read,” means the first five books of the Old Testament. The veil on Moses face becomes a veil on people’s hearts.

Unveiled

2 Corinthians 3:16 “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Turning to the Lord is an Old Testament expression for repentance, and there is a day coming when the sons of Israel will turn to their Lord and the veil will be lifted.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Father, Son and Holy Spirit are called the Lord. The Nicene Creed reminds us that the Holy Spirit is also “the Lord and Giver of life.” Notice the liberty of the new covenant, liberty from the guilt and slavery of sin, not the veil of the letter of the law.

The Eastern Orthodox Church calls this “being transformed” theosis, purification from God and being filled with God’s light. Roman Catholics call this “being transformed” divinization, being made after the image and likeness of God. This has similarities to the Protestant idea of sanctification, the process whereby God makes us holy.

Christian males need no Tallit, covering head and heart when praying. We are to gaze on God’s face, as mirrored in Jesus, and we mirror or reflect Christ, with our faces and hearts unveiled. Moses had his temporary glow covered. Christians are a permanent light, uncovered and letting it shine.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

The very best of us would not be able to sit in ministry of the new covenant except for God’s mercy. We are all sinners, but repentant sinners may engage in the ministry because of Jesus and the cross. We don’t promote or condone sins, but humbly and gratefully repent.

Take a look in the mirror and see a child of God, a person being transformed into God’s image from glory to glory. Let’s give God thanks for what He is doing in our lives. Thank God that a repentant sinner has been given undeserved mercy.

Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Suffering and Hope

Intro

Have we ever been ostracised by family? Have we ever been falsely accused even by a few religious people? Do we suffer in other ways? Purpose: Let’s learn to appreciate the majority of our church family that shares our suffering and our hope. Plan: Let’s look at Mark 3:20-35 and 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 and the eternal hope that unites Christians as a family.

Our Christian Suffering

Mark 3:20-22 says, “Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebub [Beelzebul],’ and, ‘By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.’” The disciples were so busy with the crowds, they didn’t have time to eat. Jesus’ own family thought he was crazy and the scribes revealed their hearts by accusing Him of using the “lord of dung” (the devil) to drive out demons.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Mark 3:23-27 says, “So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.’” Jesus is not afraid of puffed up religious authorities and reveals how illogical their accusations are. In fact Jesus binds the devil.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our Accusers

In Mark 3:28-30 Jesus said, “‘Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation’— because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” Quite simply put, because they falsely accused the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus as being that of the devil, they were dangerously close to the unforgivable sin. That’s a warning for any who are tempted to join them in falsely accusing the Work of the Holy Spirit on earth, including what the Holy Spirit is doing in us.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our Christian Bond

Mark 3:31-32 says, “Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.’” In the culture of the time, the word “brothers” could encompass all the meanings that today’s Christian churches attach to them. Some see them as half-brothers with the same mother, Mary, others see them as step brothers with Mary having married an older Joseph as widower with children. All such meanings are possible. It seems that Mary was also seeking him, thinking like His brothers that He was crazy.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Mark 3:33-35 says, “But He answered them, saying, ‘Who is My mother, or My brothers?’ And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Christ bonded more with His disciples than physical family. Our human families may not understand the spiritual bond we Christians share. That is why it is so important to choose a Christian spouse (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14). If already married to an unbeliever, they are made holy by the believer (1 Corinthians 7:14).

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our Christian Hope

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Accusations are trials. We look upon all trials as our servants, helping us grow in grace, and as spiritual fire purging us of sin. This is not to minimize our present suffering, but to encourage us to look forward to our hope and contrast our trials with an eternity of utter joy, where they will seem but a light affliction.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18-5:1 says, “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Let’s take our minds off what we see, our worldly worries, and focus on that which is unseen. Our perspective changes. Everything in this world is temporary and our eternity waits. Meditation on this invisible hope is a necessary Christian habit.

The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Outro

Whether we are ostracised by family, falsely accused by a few religious people, or suffer in other ways, we look around at our church family and realize that most are our brothers and sisters and mothers who share our hope. And that hope transcends the trials of this world, as we meditate together, and encourage one another about our eternal hope, when all the present suffering will seem but a momentary pain in time.

For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Mark 3:20-35; 1 Corinthians 7:14; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; 2 Corinthians 6:14

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We Preach Christ not Ourselves

Prelude

How are we to understand the New Testament? Are some of its instructions now irrelevant to us? Should we preach ourselves, our denomination, or popular opinion which contradicts the New Testament? Purpose: Let’s examine the popular notion that we can ignore or reinterpret clear New Testament teachings. Plan: We will look at 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 and Paul’s loyalty to teaching Christ, not himself.

2 Corinthians 4:5 Preach Christ

2 Corinthians 4:5 says, “For [indeed] we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus [as] the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” Paul did not preach about how great our human efforts are, but how great God is. This is a troubling thing in any church, bragging about ourselves, our denomination, our fallible human doctrines. Paul expressly did not preach himself as Lord, but Jesus, and spoke of himself only in the context of being a servant of Jesus. Jesus is the only infallible teacher for the Church, and our only Savior. Faithful Christians get their doctrines from Jesus as did His Apostles, not from themselves or the world.

Christians are taught to interpret the Old Testament in the spirit not the letter, because the letter kills, but the spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). The New Testament is different. It contains the teachings of Christ and the Apostles in the spirit, not the letter. It's easy to understand if we take them at their word. We should not interpret the New Testament like the Old. We turn circumcision into a matter of the heart, but we should not turn plain New Testament teachings into historical irrelevancies. This approach can be very dangerous, and lead to heresy. We should not twist the plain words of Christ and His Apostles.

2 Corinthians 4:6 Light in Hearts

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Why did Paul and the other Apostles not preach themselves or their own doctrines? Paul explains that it was because of the light from God. What they preached did not come from people, human reason, science, or un-illuminated traditions. Paul seems to imply the same for future generations that it is the light of God’s glory that gives us impetus to preach Jesus, not things that neither Jesus nor His Apostles taught.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 Fallible Apostles

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed”. Paul readily admitted his faults (Romans 7:15-25) and also knew the suffering of being out front as an apostle (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). All who love God are humble and will suffer to some extent in a world going the opposite way. In four pairs of contrasting statements, Paul is near to defeat but never forsaken by God. 

2 Corinthians 4:10-12 Danger for Apostles

2 Corinthians 4:10-12 says, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” Paul was constantly in danger of losing his life. This he did willingly so that others might receive salvation. Yet the life of Christ was manifest in their ministry. Apostles faced danger, but not necessarily average church members, who were often not in similar perils.

Postlude

We preach Christ; not our denomination, not our human doctrines, not our prejudice, not our culture, not our political party, not our human efforts, not our bragging, not smooth things, not our watered down reinterpretations, not our nationalism, not populism, but Christ, what He taught and what the Apostles taught about Him, unfiltered, unaltered and as pure as humanly possible.
2 Corinthians 4:5-12; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6; Romans 7:15-25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

King James Version (KJV) Public Domain