2 Cor 3:7-18 Transformation
The Light of the Gospel • Sermon • Submitted
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· 132 viewsBy the ministry of the Spirit, the ongoing work of glorious transformation unfolds in the lives of all who are in Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Transformation
Transformation
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Call to Worship: Pentecost John 16:13
Pastoral Prayer:
deeply burned for our Nation and the world
months of confusion and chaos
callous taking of the life of George Floyd
destruction of cities
Cause us to see our sin individually and as a people
Bring us to repentance…deliver us from evil.
Read Text and Pray
Can a world like this change?
Can someone like me be changed?
Is transformation possibile?
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The Christian faith is predicated on change. Not simply temporary change, but lasting and ongoing transformation.
Main Idea: By the ministry of the Spirit, the ongoing work of glorious transformation unfolds in the lives of all who are in Christ.
Main Idea: By the ministry of the Spirit, the ongoing work of glorious transformation unfolds in the lives of all who are in Christ.
The ministry of the Spirit
The ministry of the Spirit
Review 1 Cor. 3:6 “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Paul continues with a lesser to greater explanation. Comparison of the ministry of the new covenant and the old covenant. (ministry of death and the ministry of the Spirit.
7 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, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
First, let’s make sure we understand the reference to Moses.
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Explain when the veil is on and when off.
Many have suggested that 3:7-18 is a mini-sermon on Ex. 34
repeat v. 7-8 Simply stated, if the law came in such glory, even greater is the ministry of the Spirit.
9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
ministry of condemnation
10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
Made me aware/conscious of my sin and need of Christ.
ministry of righteousness
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
What the law could not accomplish, Christ has accomplished…He is both just(satisfying the wrath of God) and the justifier(giving us a righteousness not our own…his righteousness. Far more glorious.
10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
still a greater to lesser comparison...moon and the sun. Barth: “Because the sun rises, all lights are extinguished.” (Seifrid 159)
11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
comparsion glory that faded and glory that is permanent. The glory of the ministry of the Spirit.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
What does He declare to you…truth, truth of the gospel.
Hearing of the gospel, leading to salvation. (old made new-transformation)
Ongoing revelation of the truth leading to sanctification. (ongoing transformation)
By the ministry of the Spirit, the ongoing work of glorious transformation unfolds in the lives of all who are in Christ.
By the ministry of the Spirit, the ongoing work of glorious transformation unfolds in the lives of all who are in Christ.
What does this ongoing work of transformation look like...
Boldness in proclaiming the gospel
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
We do not cover up or cower back. From hope, we are very bold.
Christ is the only way to salvation. The law has fulfilled its purpose. The light has come. Look to Christ and believe.
Why do some not believe?
14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
The veil represents disbelieving the gospel. Augustine comments, ‘The veil is not there because of Moses but because of their gross and carnal minds.’ (Kruse 132)
Removal of the veil. (opening of blind eyes) Unless God give sight as well as light, and enlighten both organ and object, we can see nothing. (Trapp via Wilson 46)
16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
Amazing Grace: “I was blind, but now I see.” Only the blind receive sight.
Freedom to live for Christ
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Verse 17 makes clear that the “freedom” Paul has in mind is a direct result of a person being “unveiled.” (Guthrie 226)
Freedom is not a freedom of autonomy, as it is usually understood, but a freedom of communication. (Seifrid 177)
God speaks to us through his word.
We speak to God through prayer.
Freedom to live walk in newness of life
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Illus: new life…walls of hostility have been broken down. We are no longer bound by race and class. We are one in Christ and free to love one another.
This transformation in ongoing...
Transformation into the likeness of Christ
18 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.
Speech again remains the fundamental mode of encounter, even as it is taken up in seeing. Here again, even more pronouncedly, hearing and speaking encompass “seeing.” (Seifrid 179.)
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
beholding the glory of the Lord no longer limited to Moses…for all who are in Christ…with unveiled faces are beholding the glory of the Lord and...
are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
The vision of the Lord’s glory is transforming. (Seifrid 183) “We are transformed into the image of the Lord by beholding it, not by reflecting it.” (Hodge via Wilson 48)
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Our whole transformation is the work of the Lord in and by and through the Spirit. (Lenski via Wilson 49)
So What?
So What?
Am I gratefully acknowledging the ministry of the Spirit in the ongoing work of glorious transformation in my life?
For Salvation
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
(repeat So What?)
In the midst of real life.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Illus: Looking at videos this week from past summer camps. Reminded of the ongoing work of glorious transformation in the lives of people.
OR
Illus: people at the end of their lives, reflecting more and more of Christ.
Prayer/Response…red shirts
Offering-
give thanks for North American mission offering.
Joseph Anderson, Pastoral Apprentice, going to Mercy Church in Charlotte as Campus Pastor for their new campus in North Charlotte.
Sending…bold not veiled.
END