2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 16-18

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, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:7-8

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

In the Old Testament, God defined the Hebrew people as His own by separating them from the other nations. He did this by giving them (through Moses) the Law. This law served to highlight the peoples’ inability to absolutely adhere to it. Its intent was to showcase their need for atonement. Yet the Israelites instead first turned to idols and later molded the Law into an idol itself by following it as the means to their salvation even while ignoring their blatant inability to fulfill it. In this way, the Law only served to keep the people of Israel from the Lord and His glory rather than draw them to the reality of their depravity and need for atoning mercy. This idolization of the Law was most prominently visualized by the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. This physical cloth separated the Lord’s glory from His people. This curtain, dramatically, was torn in two at the death of Christ, who through His death and resurrection removed the barrier between man and his Creator.

Today, through the work of Christ, there is now no separation between the Lord and man. The veil has been torn away (literally and figuratively). The glory of the Lord can now be experienced in the lives of all His people. This is why Paul can state that: “and we all, with unveiled face, behold[ing] the glory of the Lord.”

Now all of this is very well and good from a historical and theological perspective, but what does it mean for us practically? What bearing does it have upon our lives? I can see three:

1.       Through Christ’s sacrifice there is no barrier between us and the Lord. We can approach the throne of God confidently because of Christ’s atoning work. We need no intermediary to approach the Lord. There is only one mediator between God and man --- Jesus. We don’t need any ‘greater’ or more holy spiritual leader to speak to God on our behalf. Our prayers are heard by God unimpeded.

2.       We can experience and reflect the glory of God. We do not live lives devoid of the Lord’s presence. His Spirit works in us and through us. Not only are our lives changed, but we also, like Moses, reflect the glory of God to others. The glory of God does not only dramatically reorient our own lives, (see point #3) but also changes the lives of others.

3.       “and we … are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to another.” Our exposure to God’s glory, made possible by Christ, cannot help but to change us. The Spirit He has given us begins the process of transforming us into the image of Jesus. We cannot be mere spectators in the Christian life. We cannot simply agree with some theological creed and return unchanged. It. Is. Not. Possible. If we have been exposed to God’s glory; if we have repented and experienced forgiveness, our very natures have been changed and are being changed. It is inevitable. We need to examine ourselves honestly and ask: Have we truly repented? Have we truly experienced forgiveness? And if we have experienced this new birth, is there corresponding change? Does our life bear the evidence of that transformation? Are our motives changed? Perhaps most dramatically and poignantly: Do our lives look more like Jesus’ than they did a year ago? Five years ago? Ten years ago?

Let us praise the God that He has given us access to His glory through Christ. Let us come before our Lord boldly. Let us reflect His glory to others. Let us look for and pray for that His transformation in our lives.