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Glory to Glory Part
I (a
sermon about the salvation process)
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For a major part of my ministry, I have been teaching and preaching the subject of the Salvation Process.
I have been showing the contrast between the Law and Godly Principles. Between keeping the Law and manifesting the power of the Holy Spirit.
In several sermons I have shown how the Law was not the end of faith as the Pharisees thought but only the beginning. I have demonstrated how the Law is an element of condemnation while the Spirit of God is an element of Righteousness.
Law is unto death and the Spirit is unto life. One is veiled while the other is not.
I have been emphatic in stating that the Law is NOT done away but rather guides us to the deeper and more powerful Principles of God.
In all of my teaching on this subject, I have never offered the definitive verse which best describes this Salvation Process.
I am going to do this now.
SPS: My purpose today will be to show you that The Salvation Process is a step-by-step process which leads us from glory to glory until we become the express image of Jesus Christ.
…Step by Step …Glory to Glory …Until we become like Jesus Christ.
All of this is summed up in one single verse. This entire sermon will be the exploration of that single verse.
In doing so, we are going to see that each verse of the Bible is actually a portal to vast knowledge and wisdom. It is as if each verse were likened to the title page of a book and each book had thousands of pages and tens of thousands of words. This is one reason the word of God will endure for ever and we will still be exploring its depths long into the Kingdom of God. After all, the Word of God is Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). God’s Spirit has no limits.
Now, before I read the one specific verse we will be discussing, I want to set the context in which this verse was given.
The story picks up at a time when Paul was very much involved with his ministry of going about the countryside establishing churches and preaching both Christ and the very Spiritual process of Salvation.
However, also on the scene were the Jews who were against Christ and His Word. They took every opportunity to cause Paul trouble and to disrupt his ministry.
They were trying to give themselves creditability by producing letters of commendation from Jerusalem. Paul had no such letters. He did not need them. Paul had something better than these letters. Let us pick up the story in Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Note: Paul is speaking of the false teachers he was talking about in the last verse of Chapter 2 and their use of letters of commendation to get a foothold among the congregations. Paul did not need these letters. Notice verse 2…
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Note: Paul is known by Christ working in and through the members of the churches he started up. Notice 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 2
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Continuing in 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 3
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Note: This image is clear. The members are of the Spirit. They have it and Christ lives in them. His law and truth are written in their hearts.
The reference to “not in tables of stone” is clear reference to the Law written on stone by God and given to Moses. This Law was misapplied by the Jews but Christ had set the record straight.
Continuing…verses 4 and 5
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Note: Here Paul is giving God and Christ all the credit for bringing the members to the truth and converting them. No boasting in Paul.
Now verse 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Note: Paul is saying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the ministry has been made sufficient to the job—not able, or learned or talented but sufficient.
The rest of the verse is speaking to how Christ had set the Law back to what it was designed to do.
Now verses 7 through 11
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Note: “that which is done away” is referring to the shine on the face of Moses and the sacrificial system which ended with the death of Jesus.
That which took place on Mt Sinai was glorious. It will always remain one of the great glorious events of Biblical history. The face of Moses shown brightly in that glory. Paul is saying here that with the addition of the Holy Spirit to each member we have even greater glory. Now, instead of a shine on the skin which fades, Christ shines through us forever.
Continuing now in verses 12 and 13
12 Seeing then that we have such hope (of the whole salvation process), we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
Note: The children of Israel could not see to the “end” of what the Law and the rituals were pointing to, namely Jesus Christ and the Salvation Process, the manifesting of Godly Principles.
The children of Israel could not take nor understand the brightness of God. Moses had to put a veil over his face. We, on the other hand, having God’s Spirit, understand the Process of Salvation. Not so with them, they were blinded. Notice as we continue in verse 14…
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read,
the vail is upon their heart. Note: The Jews, to this day still do not understand the Process of Salvation. They continue in the codification of the Law and the use of endless ritual. And now verse 16…
16 Nevertheless when it (Israel—the Jewish People) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Note: “Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty.” “Liberty” here means clearness of view, clearness of understanding. We see the whole picture.
By the power of the Holy Spirit we see plainly the entire Process of Salvation. We can speak boldly about it.
So now we come to the key verse I told you about. After saying all that Paul did, he gives us the verse that fully defines what the Salvation Process is. Let us begin by reading it in verse 18…
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
34 Words and 7 separate phrases. These are the words which define what we are doing on this earth before the great and almighty God. This is the Salvation Process. Let’s explore each of the phrases as I read from the commentaries:
[But we all] All Christians. The discussion in the chapter has related mainly to the apostles; but this declaration seems evidently to refer to all Christians, as distinguished from the Jews.
[With open face] compare note on 1 Corinthians 13:12. Tyndale renders this: "and now the Lord's glory appeareth in us all as in a glass." The sense is, "with unveiled face," alluding to the fact (2 Corinthians 3:13) that the face of Moses was veiled, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look on it. In contra…distinction from that, Paul says that Christians are enabled to look upon the glory of the Lord in the gospel without a veil-without any obscure intervening medium.
[Beholding as in a glass] The word used for “glass” is Strong’s 2734 and means “to mirror oneself, i.e. to see reflected.” Macknight renders it, "we all reflecting as mirrors the glory of the Lord." Doddridge has it as, "beholding as by a glass." Locke renders it, "with open countenances as mirrors, reflecting the glory of the Lord." This word, “2734” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means to look in a mirror; to behold as in a mirror. The mirrors of the ancients were made of burnished metal, and they reflected images with great brilliancy and distinctness. And the meaning is, that the gospel reflected the glory of the Lord; it was, so to speak, the mirror---the polished, burnished substance in which the glory of the Lord shone, and where that glory was reflected so that it might be seen by Christians. There was no veil over it; no obscurity; nothing to break its dazzling splendor, or to prevent its meeting the eye. Christians, by looking on the gospel, could see the glorious perfections and plans of God as bright, and clear, and brilliant as they could see a light reflected from the burnished surface of the mirror. So to speak, the glorious perfections of God shone from heaven; beamed upon the gospel, and were thence reflected to the eye and the heart of the Christian, and had the effect of transforming them into the same image. This passage is one of great beauty, and is designed to set forth the gospel as being "the reflection" of the infinite glories of God to the minds and hearts of people.
[The glory of the Lord] The splendor, majesty, and holiness of God as manifested in scripture, or in Jesus Christ. The idea is, that God is clearly and distinctly seen in the Word of God. There is no obscurity, no veil, as in the case of Moses. In the Bible we are permitted to look on the full splendor of Godly Principles---the justice, goodness, mercy, and benevolence of God---to see Him as He is with undimmed and unveiled glory. The idea is, that the perfections of God shine forth with splendor and beauty in the gospel, and that we are permitted to look on them clearly and openly.
Note: The glory of God and Jesus Christ are in everything they touch and say. When we took the Holy Spirit of God into our minds, we took into ourselves this glory.
When Jesus spoke to Moses, his face shown with that glory. When we manifesting the principles of God, people see the glory of God. When we overcome a sin or work through a trial (something only possible through God) there is glory.
With every “glory” we become more like God. Notice…
[Are changed into the same image] (Words of the Commentary) It is possible that there may be an allusion here to the effect which was produced by looking into an ancient mirror. The reflection from them would be intense. If a strong light were thrown on them, the rays would be cast by reflection on the face of him who looked on the mirror, and it would be strongly illuminated. And the idea may be, that the glory of God, the splendor of the divine perfections, was thrown on the gospel, so to speak like a bright light on a polished mirror; and that that glory was reflected from the gospel on him who contemplated it, so that he appeared to be transformed into the same image. Locke renders it: "We are changed into his very image by a continued succession of glory, as it were, streaming upon us from the Lord." The figure is one of great beauty; and the idea is, that by placing ourselves within the light of the gospel—the Word of God; by contemplating the glory that shines there, we become changed into the likeness of the same glory, and conformed to that which shines there with so much splendor.
By contemplating Jesus Christ, we are changed into something of the same image. It is a law of our nature that we are molded, in our moral feelings, by the persons with whom we associate, and by the objects which we contemplate. We become insensibly assimilated to those with whom we have social contact, and to the objects with which we are familiar. We imbibe the opinions, we copy the habits, we imitate the manners, we fall into rite customs of those with whom we have daily conversation, and whom we make our companions and friends. Their sentiments insensibly become our sentiments, and their ways our ways. It is thus with the books with which we are familiar. We are insensibly, but certainly molded into conformity to the opinions, maxims, and feelings which are there expressed. Our own sentiments undergo a gradual change, and we are likened to those with which in this manner we are conversant.
So it is in regard to the opinions and feelings which from any cause we are in the habit of bringing before our minds. It is the way by which people become corrupted in their sentiments and feelings, in their contact with the world; it is the way in which amusements, and the company of the frivolous and the dissipated possess so much power; it is the way in which the young and inexperienced are beguiled and ruined; and it is the way in which Christians dim the luster of their piety, and obscure the brightness of their religion by their contact with the "happy" and fashionable world. And it is on the same great principle that Paul says that by contemplating the glory of God in the gospel, we become insensibly, but certainly conformed to the same image, and made like Jesus Christ. His image will be reflected on us and through us. We shall imbibe his sentiments, catch his feelings, and be molded into the image of his own purity.
Note: Now those are the words of the commentary. This is the way I would say it…
By the power of the Holy Spirit and through the Word of God, we know and become like Christ.
We are the subtotal of the relationships we have, the things we read, the attitudes we hold, the Laws and Principles we hold dear and the Spiritual fruits we produce. The closer we are to God and Jesus Christ the more we become like them.
Notice these verses as I quickly read through them.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Note: We can easily see that it is God’s plan for us to become like Him and His Son. Not only is it a command and an encouragement, He has a specific procedure on how this can take place. Notice the next phrase which is also the title of this sermon.
Reason: The commentaries I referred to seem to think that this glory, these glories, are passive, that is, require very little by us. I do not agree with that.
We become the image of Jesus Christ actively in the form of trials, tribulations, overcoming and conquering sin and in the MANIFESTING of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all Godly principles such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith. He does not just demonstrate these principles, HE IS THESE PRINCIPLES.
When you manifest a principle---in day to day life, in a trial, in overcoming a sin or even in a prayer, you have done a GLORIOUS thing. You have just given Glory to God.
Each instance is a Glory. With each glory we become more like Christ. We conform to His image. Notice the scripture…
Psalm 84:5-7 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them (of God). 7 (first part) They go from strength to strength,
With each glory, we become stronger…more like Christ.
Remember what Paul was saying about the ministry in verse 5 (of 2 Corinthians 3)……that their effectiveness; their sufficiency is of God.
This idea also applies to us as members of the flock. Each glory we manifest is God’s glory BUT in our choice to manifest the glory, we become more like Christ because each glory is Christ IN us and THROUGH us. This is shown clearly in the last phrase of this verse.
[As by the Spirit of the Lord]
Everything a firstfruit Christian does is by the power of the Holy Spirit. As one commentary I read said…
“It was by the Spirit of God alone that the heart was changed even under the gospel, and amidst the full blaze of its truth, Were it not for his agency, even the contemplation of the glorious truths of the gospel would be in vain.”
We have two key verses on this concept and truth:
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One (Spirit), and ye know all things.
We know all things. We know and understand the Salvation Process. Let’s recap these 7 phrases: First the verse itself…
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And now in paraphrase from our discussion.
All true Christians with the Holy Spirit see and know Jesus Christ directly and openly. We see Him reflected in Spirit and through the Word of God. We see His glory in everything He does and says.
We are changed to His image as we persevere in the Process of Salvation---overcoming sin, manifesting Godly principles and putting on Christ in every aspect of our lives…”from glory to glory” by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s all make it to the Final Glory |
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