Glory to Glory
But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 JND
Glory to Glory
This chapter contrasts the effect of the principles of the old and new covenants: “the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens” (v. 6). And yet when Moses received the letter of the law on mount Sinai, he experienced a wonderful effect from being in the presence of God: his face shone (v. 7; see Ex. 34:30).
The apostle uses this to illustrate the effect of the ministry of grace—the principle of the new covenant—on us today. God will enact the new covenant with Israel and Judah in the future (Jer. 31:31), but believers in the Lord Jesus are experiencing the abundance of grace in Him already (Jn. 1:16).
Moses’ face shone in a physical and temporary way, but he had to hide this behind a veil when he spoke to the people because it made them afraid to approach him (Ex. 34:33). In contrast to the glory of the law, which faded, the glory of grace is an inward matter, and is both attractive and increasing.
Paul explains this in verse 18. As we are occupied with the Lord Jesus where He is in glory now, we are changed in a spiritual way so that we become increasingly like Him: “from glory to glory.” He is the engaging image above, the beautiful object for our hearts, while the indwelling Holy Spirit is the enabling power who effects a change within us that corresponds with Him.
Paul writes “we all” because this is normal, not super-spiritual Christianity. One day we shall all be like Him in every respect “for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2), but we can anticipate this now in a moral way through communion with Him. There is no veil on His face as there was on Moses’, and to borrow words from the Song of Songs, He invites us to look up to Him: “Let me see thy countenance” (2:14).
-- Simon Attwood
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