What Does God's Glory Mean For Christians?

Sometime afterward (c. A.D. 55), Paul left Ephesus, traveling north to Troas (a port city). There he had arranged to meet Titus and hear how the Corinthians had responded to the severe letter (2:12). Not finding Titus there, Paul crossed over to Macedonia to await him in that location. Eventually Titus arrived, reporting the Corinthians’ response to the recent letter and bringing news of other developments in Corinth (7:5–7). The book of 2 Corinthians (actually his fourth letter to that church) was Paul’s response to the news brought by Titus.

Biblical Text -

2 Corinthians 3:7–18 NKJV

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - God’s Glory Changes Us & Frees Us!

Life Point- God’s Glory Changes Us

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 3:7–11 BSB

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it. For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

Homiletical -

Glory is mentioned several times here, so we know its’ important.

Glory in the Greek here means remarkable appearance.

When you think about God’s glory, it is definitely beyond what we can ask for or think of, so this simple definition would be the best definition.

Why?

Because God’s glory is something that must be experienced to truly understand. You don’t truly understand God’s glory unless you experience His glory.

How does one experience God’s glory?

If you are born-again by the Spirit of God, then you should have experienced God’s Glory on that day.

If you have ever had a true unction of the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the anointing, then you have experienced God’s Glory.

But understand this about God’s glory. We as humans in these bodies cannot experience all of God’s glory. It is impossible.

The unsaved person cannot stand to be in the presence of any of God’s glory without one of two things happening.

1) They surrender to God and receive salvation by faith in grace

2) They have a severe negative reaction. They run from God and get truly angry.

why?

Because they don’t want to be held responsible for their sin

They made Moses wear a veil when before them because of the Glory of God that still resided on his face after seeing God’s glory on the mountain.

Exodus 33:18–23 BSB

Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.” “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Exodus 34:29–35 NKJV

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

Let me tell you something, when you have been with the Lord your face may not glow as Moses, but others can surely tell you have been in prayer before the Holy One.

Romans 8:9–11 NKJV

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

It is Jesus who brings life

It is Jesus work on the cross that allows your sin debt to be erased and it is He who brings peace between you and the triune God.

He seals us with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit dwells within the believer and when you pray, God the Holy Spirit is there. He hears and He listens and brings life to our souls and yes people can tell when you have been with Him.

With the law came the sting of death. The law has God’s glory. But oh how much more awesome is the new covenant established in Christ’s blood once for all the saints?

How much more glorious is this new covenant than the Old way.

You can’t keep the law perfectly, it is impossible.

But thanks be to God that we don’t have to, that we can be made right because there is one who did keep it perfectly and His name is Jesus. He is the saviour of the world today.

No matter how bad it looks in our culture, no matter how irreverent our culture gets we can stand on the Word of God that says we can have peace before the living God and see just a small part of His glory!

Life Point - God’s Glory Frees Us

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 3:12–18 BSB

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Homiletical -

You see the Glory on Moses’ face was slowly fading as He was further and further removed from that event.

The Glory for the Christian doesn’t have to. It just requires a humble heart and a life full of praise and worship to God.

Hebrews 11:6 BSB

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Have you been seeking God?

Not because you’re in need or you want something, but because your soul cries out to Him and says “Jesus, I need you!”

When was the last time of that for you? Has it been a while? Has it been never?

I can tell you in my life, it has been many times that all of my being has sought Him in prayer. Each and every time that my soul has gotten there I was not disappointed. His glory filled my soul and my inner being until it felt like Fire shut up in my bones.

I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I will tell you this, if you seek God He will show up in ways you can’t imagine.

Matthew 7:7–8 BSB

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Paul writes here that there is veil still on the hearts of the sinner to the Gospel. This is why they are so resistant until they come to the place where God has prepared the ground for the work of Salvation.

This is also why when someone tells me they try to read the Bible and can’t understand it even after I have counseled and given them a Bible they can understand, that I start to ask probing questions to see if they are saved or not.

Because if you’re not truly saved you can’t understand the scriptures properly. There is a veil on their hearts, their hearts can’t understand it deep down in their bones. There may be a mental ascent but not a true spiritual ascent on the inside of them.

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 NKJV

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Freedom from Sin

Freedom from works based salvation

Freedom to be in God’s glory

Freedom to be transformed to be more like Jesus day-by-day. from glory to glory all by the Spirit of the Lord.

Before I came to Christ and experienced His presence like this, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But now I know. Now I desire the freedom of Christ. Especially when I yield to sin and temptation.

I don’t want to be bound in sin, I want to stay in that freedom. Thank God that according to his Word, I can stay in that freedom.

How?

1 John 1:9 BSB

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The choice to be in the freedom of God then for the Christian is on us, because we have to confess our sins. Like confessing to a crime in a court of law. But that is all we have to do.

Why?

Because HE is faithful where we are faithless

Because HE is just where we want to escape justice. Our sin was poured out on Christ so He is just to transfer our sin to Christ and transfer Christ’s holiness to us.

We have been justified. Just if I had never sinned.

What is He faithful and just to do?

To cleanse us from all unrighteousness

We get all those benefits so long as we confess our sins.

Life Principle– God’s Glory Changes Us & Frees Us!

Call to Action – altar call….

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