"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

Transformation By Beholding (3:18)

INTRODUCTION
  1. What is the goal of the Christian life? What is it we are to become?
    1. In Ro 8:29, we learn what is the ultimate goal of the Christian as predetermined by God
    2. It is simply this: "...to be conformed to the image of His Son"
    -- To become like Christ is our ultimate goal!
  2. But how does this take place? How does one become like Christ? Take a look at these words of Paul: "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 Cor 3:18)
  3. In this verse, with the help of its context, we learn how it is possible...
    1. To reach that ultimate goal as predestined by God
    2. To be "...conformed to the image of His Son"

[The passage which serves as our text (2Co 3:18) is not an easy one, but since it reveals important insights into the goal of the Christian life, it is worth taking the effort to carefully consider what it says. For example, we first observe that...]

  1. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ONE OF TRANSFORMATION
    1. "WE ALL...ARE BEING TRANSFORMED..."
      1. The word "transformed"...
        1. Comes from the Greek word metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}
        2. Which means "to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure"
        3. The word "metamorphosis" is derived from this word, which we use to describe the process of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly
        4. It's used to describe Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration - cf. Mt 17:1-2
          1. He was "transfigured before them."
          2. His face "shone like the sun" and His clothes "became as white as the light"
      2. Christians likewise are to undergo a transformation...
        1. Not only based upon our text (2Co 3:18)
        2. But also Ro 12:1-2, where our transformation is so we may "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God"
      3. Note in our text that Paul said "we all"
        1. Transformation is for ALL Christians
        2. Not just for a select few!
    2. "...TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE..."
      1. Here we learn the object of our transformation, which is to become like Christ
      2. As we noticed in Ro 8:29, this is part of God's predetermined plan for those in Christ
      3. Jesus intimated as such in Lk 6:40 ("...everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.")
    3. "...FROM GLORY TO GLORY..."
      1. This phrase suggests that our transformation is progressive
        1. It does not happen all at once, but gradually
        2. As Paul said we are "being transformed" (present tense), not "have been transformed" (past tense)
      2. Transformation therefore involves a growth process
        1. We expect those who have been Christians but a short time to have made only some progress
        2. But we should also expect those who have been Christians a good while to have made much progress!
      3. The Christian life is not to be static, but a dynamic process...
        1. In which changes are taking place
        2. In which a person is becoming more and more like their Savior, Jesus Christ!
        -- Compare this with what Solomon wrote about the just - Pro 4:18

      [When transformation does not take place, something is wrong, and it may be a failure to appreciate and utilize our second point gleaned from this passage...]

  2. TRANSFORMATION COMES BY BEHOLDING
    1. "WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR..."
      1. We must remember the context of Paul's words to appreciate his point
        1. He had alluded to how Moses out of necessity put a veil on his face when speaking to the people - cf. 2Co 3:13
        2. For when Moses had gone to Mount Sinai to receive the commandments of the Lord, being in the presence of God made his face shine brightly - cf. Ex 34:29-35
      2. In like manner our transformation takes place as we "behold..."
        1. Note that we do it with "unveiled face"
          1. The Israelites were unable to behold any of the glory that shone from Moses' face because his was veiled
          2. But Christians are able to look upon the Lord's glory without impediment
        2. "Beholding as in a mirror" is actually just one word in the Greek and has three possible ways to be translated:
          1. "beholding as in a mirror (or glass)"
          2. "reflecting as in mirror"
          3. "beholding" (with no necessary reference to a mirror)
          -- In view of the context and the comparison with Moses, the main idea seems to be the "beholding", without any particular reference to a mirror
        3. "Beholding" suggests contemplation and meditation, not a momentary glance
      3. Thus the Christian life is to be one of contemplation, if transformation is to take place
        1. That Christians are to engage in contemplation is evident from several passages
        2. Such as Php 4:8; Col 3:1-2
        3. Sadly, our fast-paced lifestyles often discourage the kind of contemplation needed to adequately "behold"
        -- Without contemplation (beholding), however, there can be no transformation!
    2. "BEHOLDING...THE GLORY OF THE LORD"
      1. Here is the object of our contemplation: the Lord's glory!
        1. It is not just the act of contemplation, but the object of our contemplation that transforms us!
        2. Just as it was the "glory of the Lord" that caused Moses' face to shine, so it is "the glory of the Lord" that transforms us!
      2. What is "the glory of the Lord" we are to behold?
        1. It would involve the glory He manifested while on earth - cf. Jn 1:14
        2. For the glory of the Lord is reflected in every aspect of His birth, life, teaching, miracles, good deeds, death, resurrection, ascension, and current reign as our king and high priest!
        -- Thus the Scriptures (especially the gospels) are the tools we use to "behold His glory", as we read on...
    3. "...JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD"
      1. This phrase reminds us of the role the Spirit has in our "beholding"
        1. What we know of Jesus came through the ministry of the Spirit
          1. The Spirit's ministry was to glorify Jesus - Jn 16:12-14
          2. He reminded the apostles, and inspired their writings - cf. Jn 14:26; 1Co 2:12-13
        2. So as we contemplate upon the Word, we are able to behold the glory of the Lord by virtue of what the Spirit has done!
      2. Indeed, this may explain what Paul meant in saying "Now the Lord is the Spirit..." - 2Co 3:17
        1. In verse 16, he had said "...when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away"
        2. But how can one "turn to the Lord" today?
          1. Only through the Spirit Whom the Lord Jesus sent to continue His work
          2. Paul had already spoken of "the new covenant...of the Spirit" which "gives life" - 2Co 3:6
            1. One finds "liberty" (from sin, the Old Law, death) where "the Spirit of the Lord" is found - 2Co 3:17
            2. For it is the new covenant of the Spirit that offers such things
        3. In this context, the Spirit is therefore "the Lord" (verse 17) before Whom we must stand with "unveiled face" in order to be transformed
        4. Of course, the "ministers" of this "new covenant...of the Spirit" were the apostles and inspired writers of the New Testament - 2Co 3:5-6
          1. Thus when we turn to their writings, we are turning to the Spirit!
          2. And when we turn to the Spirit, we are turning to the Lord!
          3. And when we turn to the Lord, we behold Him in all His glory!
          4. And when we behold His glory, we are gradually changed "into the same image from glory to glory"!
CONCLUSION
  1. In Col 3:9-11 we are told...
    "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all."
  2. This verse by Paul is yet another reminder that the Christian life is one that involves a transformation...
    1. In which we are being "renewed"
    2. And that the object of our "renewal" is to become like Jesus!
  3. From our study, I hope that we been impressed with the importance of "beholding" the glory of the Lord if we wish to be transformed
    1. The Christian life must include contemplation and meditation upon the glory of the Lord as revealed by the Spirit through the apostles and writers of the New Testament
    2. We cannot be transformed by infrequent and casual glimpses of the Lord's glory!

Are you "beholding...the glory of the Lord"? Do you take the time to contemplate upon the glory of our Lord as revealed by the Spirit of God in the Holy Scriptures?

Consider what time you spend in studying the Bible as you seek to answer these questions...