2 Corinthians 3:18
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 by the Spirit of the Lord.
Here are a couple of other translations, just to help us see this particular text better:
Message Bible: Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 {TPT}
'We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. '
{The source of our transformation is Christ’s glory—and our destination is MORE glory.}
Here in this chapter, we can also see ten aspects of New Testament ministry given by Paul:
(1) It is based on the triumph of Christ over every power of darkness (2:14).
(2) It diffuses the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere (2:15–16).
(3) It refuses to water down the Word of God (2:17).
(4) It produces living letters of Christ (3:3).
(5) It is not based on the clever abilities of men but God’s empowering presence (3:6).
(6) It imparts life (3:6).
(7) It flows from the Holy Spirit (3:8, 17–18).
(8) It imparts righteousness (3:9).
(9) It contains a greater glory than the law (3:10–11).
(10) It brings the transfiguration of believers into greater levels of glory (3:18).
One of the things I would like to discuss before moving away from the subject of Identity, is how we might tie our understanding of New Covenant—and specifically—GRACE, into our understanding of IDENTITY.
- How do they relate?
We could attempt to define the “word” Grace, as we all have heard so many definitions of what it is and what it is not. {Unmerited favor, divine empowerment or enablement, divine gifting, etc.}
- Instead, what I want to do is define the concept of grace—and I believe it can be defined in this statement;
“The heart of the Father for humanity, as revealed and demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ.”
A few points I believe we need a clear understanding of are:
· Seeing Christ in the Scriptures
(Not just finding Him in every Book, but allowing Him to becoming the hermeneutic or filter that all Scriptural understanding flows through)
· Seeing Christ as He is
(Getting our meditations off of an Old Covenant concept of God, and off of seeing Jesus on a Cross, and shifting it to seeing Him as ascended, seated and reigning victoriously)
· Seeing Christ in us
(Embracing New Covenant Theology and New Creation Concepts)
· Seeing Christ in others
(To understand and operate in mature, Agape love as HE does, we must be able to see everyone around us “in the image of Christ.”)
As much as you did it unto the least of these…you did it to ME…”
In a day and time when the phrase “express yourself” has taken hold of so many parts of society—and through the influence of music & social media—has infiltrated and changed culture, I just want to remind you that we’re not told anywhere in Scripture to “express ourselves.”
- In round about ways, we discover our identity and purpose, but those are both intrinsically tied to Christ…
…so we're not told to 'express ourselves' but we were created to be an expression of HIM.
Your identity is anchored in Christ—so then your understanding of identity ‘best’ expands as you explore and uncover things like purpose & destiny—as they relate to HIM.
** In other words, apart from Him, you’ll never have the greatest clarity possible on your journey.
In fact, I’ve known so many people through the years, who are determined to walk away from God – and exclude Him from their lives; only to realize that every path they take, inevitably leads them to an encounter with Him – only at a later time.
Your destiny is not just discovered…it’s also developed…as you partner with God in the journey that is your life!
Even the prophetic words we receive over us…are not inevitable as much as they are invitational!
-Genesis tells us we were created in His likeness and image, and then in John 1, we see a 'new creation' begin to take place, one in which the Spirit of God eventually begins to tabernacle in man, empowering us to not only look like HIM, but to think like HIM, talk like HIM and act like HIM...
…because we died and were buried with Him.
But wait…there’s more! 😊
~Amazingly we were also raised {and seated} with Him so that it's no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives "in" me; living HIS life "through" me.
"Jesus was not offering a teaching that could be compared with that of other teachers--although His teaching, as it stands, is truly remarkable. He was not just offering a moral example, though if we want such a thing, He remains outstanding. He was claiming to do things through which the world would be healed, transformed, rescued and renewed. He was, in short, announcing good news, for Israel and the whole world."
- Professor NT Wright {world renown scholar, theologian, Anglican Bishop and presently Lead Researcher at Oxford University.}
We do the Gospel a great disservice when we reduce it from being "good news" to simply "good advice."
Good advice can only address how to live but good news is about something significant that has happened...that changes everything.
When you discover the magnitude of what Christ has done, it goes far beyond telling you ‘How to live'.
It gives you a reason to live AND announces "in whom you now live, move and have your being!"
Jesus is not our example; He is our identity!
~If He were only our example, we would know how to 'act', but since He is our 'identity'...we know how to BE!
The difference is crucial because knowing how to act...doesn't always empower us to act right.
However, knowing who I am in Christ, renews my mind and transforms my life...and right living flows from that right believing!
"For I through the law, died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:19-20
