Glimpses of Glory

Intro: We have come out of some hard chapters of Exodus. Spiritual adultery, consequences of sin leading to the potential of losing God’s presence, and the pleading and interceding of Moses. A realization should come upon us that this is the result of sin. This is what sin does. The bad news is clear and bold in the Scriptures. God is the only God, only He is worthy of our worship, and only He is enough for us. Yet sin has broken us and enslaved us, making us spiritual idolaters. Yet…goodness, it’s the grace of God that enters and gives us glimpses of His glory here in this text, pointing us the greater glory found in His Son.

CTS: Behold God’s glorious grace! (We get a glimpse of the glory of God when we…)

I. Understand His Grace(1-10)

A. Grace is another chance (1-4) Moses commanded to make two new stone tablets. The broken covenant is about to be restored. Where we have broken God’s law, there is another chance for restoration. Remember, you are never too far from God (if you’re breathing…)

B. Grace is God’s nature (5-7) God fulfills his promise to Moses and declares his name and nature. This is repeated numerous times in Bible (Psalms, Joel, Jonah) His glory revealed in who He is: Double Yahweh (emphasis on his eternality and importance), merciful (not getting what you deserve), gracious (getting what you don’t deserve), slow to anger (God’s patience), abounding in love (overflowing love that given to unlovable creatures), faithful (never fails), loving to many (global and generational), forgiving (all aspects of sin), just (sin will be paid for, generational curse must be undone).

C. Grace causes worship (8-10) The immediacy of worship. Quickly causes Moses to humble himself and to worship. Response of personal and corporate asking of the Lord to do this very thing for them. God does it as He promised he would, because of His nature. God’s nature and desire is to save sinful and broken humanity.

II. Obey His Commands(11-28)

A. Remember His promise (remember God’s promise of life, freed from slavery, freed from sin and death)

B. He alone is to be worshiped (there is no other God, exclusivity of the Gospel)

C. Do not mix with the world (unequally yoked, don’t mix God with worldly things)

D. Don’t replace God with other things or images (Don’t commit spiritual adultery)

E. Celebrate His grace (baptism, Lord’s Supper, everytime we gather to worship)

F. Everything is God’s (all things belong to God, submit everything to him)

G. Rest in God’s grace (rest in Christ’s work, rest in His grace, The Lord’s Day)

III. We Gaze Upon His Face (29-35)

Moses’ face, a friend of God, in communion with Him, reflected the glory of God to the Israelites. They were fearful of it because they did not understand.

Jesus, the true and better Moses, is the glory of God revealed to us. “It is through the mediator that God will display His glory to His people (Sailhammer). He tears the veil between us and God, making us able to approach God and His glory.

CONCLUSION: As we gaze upon His face, we then reflect His glory as the church.

READ 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1 – 4:6 Now we have the ministry of reconciliation, a glorious Gospel that outshines the old covenant, the Law that bounded us to the judgment of God. We are bold, shining the glory of God, because we have the Spirit who indwells us. The church is free, and we all, with unveiled faces are being transformed into the image of Jesus. Merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, faithful, loving to many, forgiving, just.

We don’t lose heart. When refuse to tamper with God’s Word and proclaim it boldly. It will face opposition, it will be veiled to those that are perishing. Satan is working to stop it. He wants his church to stay dark. To focus on itself and not the gospel. But we do not proclaim ourselves, but proclaim Christ. Let light shine out of the darkness, as we give knowledge of Christ to the world.

We can only do this if we understand the Gospel, believe the Gospel, live the Gospel, and obey His commands to proclaim it. Does the world get glimpses of glory when it sees Macedonia Baptist Church?