Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #81

Being Transformed into the Image of Christ (3:18)

3:12-18 "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. 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; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 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."

It is by seeing the glory of God as it is reflected in the face of Jesus Christ, the image of God, that we are ourselves transformed into this same image, becoming increasingly Christ-like.

The "beholding as in a mirror" should not be taken as similar to "now we see in a mirror dimly" (1Cor.13:12) where the idea is that our view of things in this age is partial and obscured. One Greek word is translated here as "beholding as in a mirror." The idea is one of viewing something that is a reflection. What Paul seems to have in mind is that we do not see the glory of God directly but rather reflected in the humanity of Jesus. He is the image (i.e. the reflection) of God.

It is through this beholding of Jesus, without the barrier of the veil of blindness, that the Holy Spirit ("just as from the Lord, the Spirit") does His work of transforming us into Christ-likeness ("we are being transformed into the same image").

This is a process and not a one-time event: it is "from glory to glory":

"The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day." (Prov.4:18)

So, those who have had their eyes opened to see the glory of Christ must strive to continually keep their eyes open to His glory. In other words, this beholding Christ’s glory must be cultivated daily.

Believers in Christ are those who supposedly have "unveiled faces." We behold the glory of the Lord Jesus. This is the secret to our transformation into His image, where we bear the qualities of godliness. And yet we can forget what we have seen and known and become blinded again:

"Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins." (2Peter 1:5-9)

Through His word, through viewing the creation as an expression of His glory, through beholding the face of Christ in His people, through earnest participation in the means of grace (such as public worship and the Lord’s Supper), through prayerful reflection upon His nature and His gracious treatment of us, we constantly keep opening our eyes to His glory. Otherwise, we will close our eyes, fall asleep, and become blinded by sin.

Dear Lord, show me Your glory. Open the eyes of my heart to behold the breadth and length and height and depth of Your powerful love. And may the sight of Your glory make my face to glow, as Moses’ did, so that others might inquire as to the reason for the hope that is within me. Help me every day to press through the crowd of worries and cares in order to touch the robe of the Master and behold His glorious face.