Day 1,109: 2 Corinthians 3- Glory To Glory

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 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, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 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. 14 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. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.
 
Meditation
The gospel frees believers to be formed more like Christ, moving from one degree of glory to another, as a foretaste of our glorious eternity with Jesus. Just as Christ is the fullness of glory for the Old Testament covenants, so we can be sure the fullness of God’s glory will one day cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
 
Anchoring imagery in Old Testament narrative and prophecy, Paul emphasizes the hope believers have in Christ and deepens our celebration of transformation that comes through Jesus’ work.
 
This letter was authored by Christ, delivered by Paul, and inked on the Corinthian Church’s hearts by the Holy Spirit (3). Using New Covenant imagery from Jeremiah 33 and Ezekiel 36, Paul celebrates the sufficiency Christians have through God’s work (4-5). God’s seal of sufficiency is satisfactory for His servants and sons! In Christ, we are enough.
 
God’s servants have a sure hope to experience greater glory through beholding Christ and His work. The veil of glory worn by Moses after he met with God (Exodus 34) is “taken away” by Christ, that we might behold God’s glory in Christ (7-15). “When one turns to the Lord (Jesus), the veil is removed” (16). Beholding Jesus’ glory is central to God’s redemption story.
 
The promised Spirit writes on the hearts of all God’s people, giving freedom (17) for formation (18). By the Spirit’s power, Christians behold God’s glory in Christ to be transformed more into the image of Christ, moving from one degree of glory to another.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading? For me it is the depth Paul sinks the surety of God’s promised glory into the story of Scripture?
 
-Do you behold Christ and depend on the Holy Spirit to be transformed more into the image of Christ? If you have to think about it, probably not… Why not?
 
-Beholding Christ and stewarding His Spirit in sanctification is the only way to be more conformed into the image of Jesus. Take a moment to behold Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to transform you more into His image.
 
Key Verses
18 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.