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2 Corinthians 3:18 - More and More Like Jesus!2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) 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.INTRODUCTION The more we know Christ, the more we reflect his glory. The glory that the Spirit imparts to the believer is more excellent and lasts longer than the glory that Moses experienced. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like him. In the gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ's life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what he is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience (see Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philip. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). The more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like him. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL Powered by Beholding A solar panel is an assembly of solar cells that captures sunlight and converts it into electric energy. Solar power is the most abundant source of energy on earth as well as the fastest-growing, most popular form of new electricity generation. However, pollution is impeding solar power's progress. For example, the air quality in Delhi, India, blocks about 12 percent of the sun's rays. Christians are powered by the Holy Spirit, who, the Bible promises, converts, or transforms, lawbreakers into believers with the sinless character (1 John 3:5), or "glory" and "image," of Jesus Christ. In Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church, he explained that the Old Testament types and symbols which pointed forward to Christ were like the veil worn by Moses after he beheld God on the mount (2 Corinthians 3:13, 14). At Christ's first coming, the veil of shadows and types was removed because people could see face to face the glory of God in His Person. (See also Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45.) All who accept Christ are to remove that blanket of smog and "with unveiled face ... [behold] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord" (emphasis added). Then, like a solar cell keeps absorbing the sun's rays, we are to keep absorbing the radiant light of Jesus. As the Holy Spirit fulfills the promise to convert our character, we, like a mirror reflects light, are to reflect Christ's character to others. Imagine when the Holy Spirit charges us up fully - we will power the whole world with the glory of God! Holy Spirit, work in me continuously that I may shine forth Christ's glorious character to a world polluted in sin. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] COMMENTARY Look to Christ, behold the attractive loveliness of His character, and by beholding you will become changed into His likeness... Sin hides from our view that matchless charms of Jesus; prejudice, selfishness, self-righteousness, and passion blind our eyes, so that we do not discern the Saviour. Oh, if we would by faith draw nigh to God, He would reveal to us His glory, which is His character... Those who behold the Saviour are changed from glory to greater glory. When men will consent to submit to Christ's will, to be partakers of the divine nature, their crooked, human peculiarities will disappear... It is not by looking away from Him that we imitate the life of Jesus, but by talking of Him, by dwelling upon His perfections, by seeking to refine the taste and elevate the character, by trying--through faith and love, and by earnest, persevering effort--to approach the perfect Pattern. By having a knowledge of Christ--His words, His habits, and His lessons of instruction--we borrow the virtues of the character we have so closely studied, and become imbued with the spirit we have so much admired. Jesus becomes to us "the chiefest among ten thousand," the One "altogether lovely" 6BC1097-1099 Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ... So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. AA560-561 Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed. . . Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God. More and more we enter into fellowship with the heavenly world, and we have continually increasing power to receive the riches of the knowledge and wisdom of eternity. COL355 Transformation of character. This is the sure result of union with Jesus. When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Christ's Spirit, His love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, and raises the thoughts and desires toward God and heaven... When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence it is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life's cares and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults and imperfections--to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind ... Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears... When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie--to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. SC71-73 There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord's promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people "to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. DA671-672 LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 3:18 - More and More Like Jesus! Sunday, February 25, 2024 https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230609-0854.html 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 - Shine Jesus Shine! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150909-1125.html Romans 1:16, 17 - Power of the Gospel. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200924-1151.html Proverbs 23:7 - What You Think - - You Are! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230930-0941.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |