Focus on the Glory of Christ

2Cor. 3:17-18

Theme: The focus of New Testament Believers is our Lord Jesus Christ to experience the freedom of transformation.

Introduction:

2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Now the Lord is that Spirit [Holy Spirit]: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [freedom from bondage and obscurity]. But we all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed [transformed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Clearly this is an unearthly, splendid, advanced—lifelong—alteration wroth from the inside out by the Spirit of God advancing us believers from one level of the unveiled grandeur of Christ to the next superior similarity of Him.  This is the believer’s gradual transfiguration journey.

Message:

I.     The Person of Change—The Image of the Risen Christ is our Focus—"the glory of the Lord” … “are changed into the same image….” (2Cor. 3:18).

A.    The “Image” of the glorious Christ is what we Aim for. 

                                        1.     And note that it is the glory of the Lord that we behold. Here Paul is not thinking so much of the moral beauty of Jesus as a Man here on earth, but rather of His present glory, exalted at the right hand of God. The glory of Christ, as Denney points out, is that:

He shares the Father’s throne, that He is the Head of the Church, possessor and bestower of all the fulness of divine grace, the coming Judge of the world, conqueror of every hostile power, intercessor for His own, and, in short, bearer of all the majesty which belongs to His kingly office.

                                        2.     As we are occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image. Here, in a word, is the secret of Christian holiness—occupation with Christ. Not by occupation with self; that brings only defeat. Not by occupation with others; that brings disappointment. But by occupation with the glory of the Lord, we become more and more like Him.^[1]

                                        3.     The Spirit leads Christians from justification through sanctification to glorification. As believers manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), they are progressively being transformed into His likeness. Christlikeness is the goal of the Christian walk (Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10).–Walvoord

a.      Ephesians 4:20-24, But ye have not so learned Christ; ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

b.     Colossians 3:9-11, Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

B.    Transformation Typically does not Happen Overnight. But God invites us to go with Him on a lifelong journey—an expedition we know brings us, and His Churches, closer and closer to Christlikeness.  The Spirit of Christ is still effectively executing this ministry in each believer.

C.    Focus Your Attention on the Lord Jesus—Conform to Him.

                                        1.     Contrasts the Old Covenant of Moses and its fading glory with the New Covenant of Christ with its brilliant and ever-increasing glory.  Israel could not look on the glory of God not even for a moment, but Christians are privilege to “behold” Him gazing continually upon Christ.

                                        2.     The marvelous hope of conformity is to Jesus Christ; the Son of God (Rom. 8:29). As we are occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image.

 

Conclusion:

We are in a continuing process of transformation into the very image of Christ. Christlikeness is the ultimate goal of our journey (Eph. 4:23–24; Col. 3:10). One of the greatest complements a Christian can receive is, “I see Jesus in you!” or “You handled that situation like Jesus would have were He here.”

Finally, the Cross points to the fact that Jesus is the Savior! As the little chorus goes, “He paid a debt He did not owe, we owed a debt we could not pay.” We have one hope: Salvation through Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Substitute, Redemption, and Forgiveness of sin.

Christ’s suffering at Calvary was God providing payment for our sins. At Calvary sin was paid for in full. Now sinners can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Being born again means we become a part of a new family; God is our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature.

Turn then from your unbelief, rejection of God, freestyle living, and self-willfulness and trust Christ the Savior. Turn from your wicked ways and turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord today. He promised to save whoever will repent and believe on Him (John 3; Rom. 10:8-13). He is God, who came to earth and became a man to die in our place for our sins. Because of that, we can know God and be with Him forever. How wonderful!  

---

^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1831–1832.