seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Corinthians 3:7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is from the commentary this morning.So that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away: From reading the account in Exodus 34:29-35, one might first get the impression that Moses wore a veil after his meetings with God so that the people wouldn’t be afraid to come near him; the veil was to protect them from seeing the shining face of Moses. Here Paul explains the real purpose of the veil: not to hide the shining face of Moses, but to hide the diminishing glory of his face because the glory was fading. The passing glory of the old covenant contrasts with the enduring glory of the new covenant.
Are being transformed: As we behold the glory of God, we will be transformed. God will change our lives and change us from the inside out. Though the old covenant had its glory, it could never transform lives through the law. God uses the new covenant to make us transformed people, not just nice people.
Are being transformed: This work of transformation is a process. We are being transformed; the work isn’t complete yet, and no one should expect it to be complete in themselves or in others. No one comes away from one incredible time with the Lord perfectly transformed.
By the Spirit of the Lord: With these last words, Paul emphasizes two things. First, this access to God and His transforming presence is ours by the new covenant, because it is through the new covenant we are given the Spirit of the Lord. Secondly, this work of transformation really is God’s work in us. It happens by the Spirit of the Lord, not by the will or effort of man. We don’t achieve or earn spiritual transformation by beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. We simply put ourselves in a place where the Spirit of the Lord can transform us.
All this talk of being "transformed" has me thinking of "Transformer" the toys. You know the ones... They look like toy cars but with a couple of twists and turns they become robots ready to rock'em and sock'em. Way back in the days of Moses.... There really weren't any laws. Moses brought back the 10 Commandments. When he arrived with the tablets, he was changed. People could visibly see the change. He was glowing! Now, if Moses came back to camp with two rocks and no glow... The people would have taken the rocks and thrown them away. But Moses was glowing! There was something spectacular about Moses so there must be something spectacular about the rocks he was carrying. Moses was glowing.... So, this had to be the next new thing!
After a while though, Moses' shine began to mellow out. Everyone was used to the glow. It wasn't as bright and spectacular. So... Moses put on a veil. That way no one would notice the glow was fading. Everyone would see the veil and remember the glow and assume it was still there. The rocks were fading too. Wind, sun, and rain weathered the rocks over the decades. Over time, the glow would subside and time would dull the commandments written on the rocks. People would call them "them old things". People would poo-poo the law as "them old rules" and say they don't apply to this brave new world. So, the rocks were stored away... That way everyone would remember them as new. Moses wore a veil so people would remember the glow.
That was the old way. Moses was putting on a show. He was letting the people think he still had his glow. Moses had a physical glow the people could not miss. Some would, no doubt, be put off by the guy with a glow. They would not follow Moses because he was strange. Humans don't glow! Remember, people still thought the world was flat back then. A glowing man would have blown their minds, right?
Jesus is different. Jesus causes us to glow from the inside out. Our glow is not affected by weather or time. It's there forever. It's not something we have to put make up on to cover up.... It's natural and beautiful. We become kind and loving. Jesus was kind and loving and we become like Jesus. We change... from the inside out. It's not visible at first but then as we continue on with our new life in Christ, it starts to warm and becomes even more lovable.
One of my friends just sent me a picture of her daughter and new granddaughter. Oh, it's a beautiful picture of a beautiful woman and a beautiful baby. I almost didn't recognize my friend's daughter. I hadn't seen her in years. And then it hit me.... I used to make doll clothes for her American Girl dolls when she was just a little thing. Wow... what a beautiful loving transformation.
Moses brought us rocks that just hung around and dulled.
Jesus brought us a Rock that would transform.
