![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paul reminds his readers that Moses wore a veil not to cover the glory that shone on his face but to cover the fading of that glory (2 Corinthians 3:13). Paul compares the glory of the two ministries (death and life, and the two covenants for Israel) and asserts that the ministry of the Spirit comes with greater and lasting glory, while the glory associated with the Law of Moses faded away. Paul notes that, if the messenger of that ministry (Moses) had glory or a face that shone (2 Corinthians 3:7), how much more the ministry of the Spirit would be associated with glory (2 Corinthians 3:8). When referring to the letter, Paul was talking about the Mosaic Law, which did not bring life but rather was a ministry to expose death (2 Corinthians 3:7). Paul contrasts the letter and the Spirit, observing that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6b). That the Corinthians had unveiled faces was important for them and also for the big picture of Paul’s ministry. Paul’s proclaiming of the gospel to the Gentiles (which many of the Corinthians were) was all part of that plan to ultimately bring the fulfillment of God’s word and His New Covenant. When that happens, the New Covenant will be fulfilled. Paul explained elsewhere that he thought his ministry was important in part because God’s message of salvation would ultimately make Israel jealous for their Messiah, and they would one day call upon Him and be saved (Romans 11:11–12). If God keeps His word, then He would have to keep that commitment with ethnic Israel and Judah in a literal sense. It is important to note that Paul never suggested that the New Covenant was being fulfilled in the church or among the Corinthians-that covenant was made exclusively with Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31:31). God had made Paul and Timothy servants or ministers of a new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6). They knew that the fruit borne in the Corinthians’ lives was from God and that the ministry God had entrusted them with was reliable. Paul and Timothy had confidence in God and recognized that their adequacy came from God (2 Corinthians 3:4). Their having an “unveiled face” was evidence of that (2 Corinthians 3:18). The letters sent to the Corinthians were not written with ink or on stone but were written by Christ and by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:3). Their new life and fruitfulness are evidence of the veracity of the ministry of Paul and Timothy. Paul explains that the Corinthians themselves are Paul and Timothy’s letter of commendation (2 Corinthians 3:2). The significance of having an unveiled face is unveiled as the chapter unfolds. At the end of the section, he characterizes all who believe in Jesus as having an “unveiled face”: “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” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV). Do you seek the glory of Christ, or are you still in sin? This sermon calls each and every one of us to ask ourselves this question.In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul contrasts the letter and the Spirit as he argues for the legitimacy of his apostleship. It means that all who believe now seek righteousness and holiness in all aspects of their lives. It means to turn away from oneself and trust wholly in Christ. What does it mean to reflect the glory of God? It means to be conformed to the image of God. God is recreating humanity according to the image of Christ Jesus. But in the Gospel, God has sent His only Son in order that the grip of sin upon all of creation might be destroyed and sinners would be adopted into the family of God. While man is still in the image of God, he is nevertheless full of sin and immorality. But man was tempted to sin by the serpent and rebelled against God. He says that man was created good and in the image of God. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on this question. What does it mean to reflect the glory of Christ? In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 3:18, Dr. 18But 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.ġ8But 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. ![]()
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