Pace of Change

Pace of Change

STUDY GUIDE NOTES

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “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”

When the person of God,

comes to the Word of God

and sees the Son of God,

they are transformed into the image of God

by the Spirit of God

for the glory of God

Exploring the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

3:13 Veil is the key concept in vv. 13–18, which Paul now develops as an elaborate and complex image (see notes on vv. 14–18). Regarding “gaze,” see note on vv. 7–9. so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. This gives the reason why Moses veiled his face (Ex. 34:33, 35). Though commentators differ as to what this means, the most likely interpretation is that Moses put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not see that the glory was gradually fading, signifying the temporary nature of the old covenant (the “outcome” was that it “was being brought to an end,” or fading away; 2 Cor. 3:7, 13).

3:14–15 Despite Paul’s boldness, Israel’s minds, which were hardened in Moses’ day (Ex. 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9), remain so to this day. Paul’s description agrees with Deut. 29:4 and Isa. 29:10, which explain why the majority of Israel continued to reject the law and the prophets throughout their history (see Neh. 9:16–31; Ps. 106:6–39; Ezek. 20:8–36; Rom. 11:7–8; etc.). This is evidenced by the fact that that same veil remains unlifted in Paul’s day whenever Moses is read. Here Paul uses Moses’ veil as a symbol for the people’s hardened condition that prompted its use under the old covenant and that now keeps most of Israel from recognizing that the law of Moses itself points to Jesus as the Messiah.

3:16 Just as Moses was able to enter into God’s presence without a veil (Ex. 34:34), so too when one turns to the Lord in faith, the veil of separation from God and incomprehension of him brought about by a hardened heart is removed.

3:17 the Lord is the Spirit. Different explanations have been offered for this difficult and compressed statement: Paul may be saying that Christ and the Spirit function together in the Christian’s experience—i.e., that the Lord (Christ) comes to us through the ministry of the Spirit (though they are still two distinct persons). Another view (based on the reference in v. 16 to Ex. 34:34, “Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him”) is that the “Lord” here refers to Yahweh (“the Lord”) in the OT (that is, God in his whole being without specifying Father, Son, or Spirit). In this case, Paul is saying that Yahweh in the OT is not just Father and Son, he is also Spirit. In either case, Paul’s primary point seems to be that the Christian’s experience of the ministry of the Spirit under the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:3–8) is parallel to Moses’ experience of the Lord under the old covenant—i.e., that the Spirit (under the new covenant) sets one free from the veil of hard-heartedness (vv. 12–15). Paul regularly distinguishes Christ from the Holy Spirit in his writings, and that is surely the case even here, since later in this verse he speaks of the Spirit of the Lord. Moreover, it should not be supposed that Paul is teaching that any of the members of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, or the Spirit) are the same person, which would be the heresy of modalism; instead Paul is stressing the gracious unity of purpose among the three persons of the Trinity. There is freedom, though unspecified in the context, most likely refers to the many kinds of freedom that come with salvation in Christ and with the presence of the Holy Spirit: that is, freedom from condemnation, guilt, sin, death, the old covenant, and blindness to the gospel, as well as freedom that gives access to the loving presence of God.

3:18 with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord. The word translated “beholding” (Gk. katoptrizō) can mean “behold” or “reflect” or “look at in a mirror,” and commentators support all three views. In this context, however, the connection with a mirror does not seem to be necessary to the word, and the meaning “behold” seems more consistent with the idea of having the veil removed and therefore being able to see God’s glory, in contrast to the unbelieving Jews who still have a veil blocking their vision (see note on vv. 14–15). Paul continues his comparison of all Christians (we all) with Moses by using Moses’ experience in Ex. 34:34 as the key to understanding the experience of the Christian. As a result of beholding the Lord through the ministry of the Spirit, the believer is being transformed (a process of sanctification over time, not an instantaneous change) into the same image of God that was distorted at the fall (see Gen. 1:26–27; 2 Cor. 4:4; 5:17; also 1 John 3:2). The “image” of God includes every way in which humans are like God, such as their moral character, their true knowledge, their many God-given abilities, and their dominion over creation (cf. Gen. 1:26–28), to be exercised with dependence on God as the Creator and giver of all things (see 1 Cor. 4:7).

& TRANSFORMED into the image of Christ, PROGRESSIVELY, by the HOLY SPIRIT, for the GLORY of God

& Sanctification

& Definitive beginning at regeneration

Titus 3:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 6:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

& Increases progressively throughout life

& Completed in Glory

2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 8:29 English Standard Version (ESV)

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.

Ephesians 4:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Hebrews 12:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

Psalm 40:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

2 Peter 1:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,

& ..

2. Explaining the Scripture: (Adapted from the Westminster Larger Catechism)

& Justification and Sanctification are inseparably joined together

1 Corinthians 6:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

& In justification, God imputes to the sinner the righteousness of Christ

Romans 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Romans 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

& In sanctification, God infuses grace, and enables the Christian to exercise it

Ezekiel 36:26-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

& In justification, sin is pardoned

Romans 3:24-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

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

& In sanctification, sin is subdued

Romans 6:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin

Romans 6:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace

& Justification free all believers equally, and perfectly in this life, from the wrath of God

Romans 8:33-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us

& Sanctification is not equal in all Christians, but varies according to the progress they have made

1 John 2:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one

Hebrews 5:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil

& Sanctification is not perfect in any Christian in this life

1 John 1:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us

1 John 1:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us

& Sanctification is a gradual process which approaches, but does not in this life actually attain, the ideal of moral perfection

2 Corinthians 7:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[a] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God

Philippians 3:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

3. The Key to Sanctification: Walking by the Spirit (Romans 8:4; 13:8 and Galatians 5:14)

Romans 8:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit

Romans 13:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law

Galatians 5:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

& Christ is to be DESIRED and DELIGHTED in above all things.

Romans 7:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God

Romans 7:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code

Romans 8:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit

Romans 8:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him

God Transforms Us In Two Ways

& Instantaneously – freed instantly upon coming to the Lord

& Incrementally – freed through a process of change over an extended period of time

Changes Happen Slowly For A Reason

& It allows us to grow in trust and dependency on God

Proverbs 3:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths

2 Corinthians 12:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me

& It allows me to grow in confidence in God’s plan and purpose

& It allows me to delight in the grace of God

& It teaches me to fight

How Long Will It Take? The sanctification process is a lifelong process. It will not end until we are in gloryHow long will it take to deal with specific life dominating sins

§ It depends on the depth of your involvement with the sin

§ It depends on your determination to get out of the sin

How Much Do You Care?

& Joel 2:12-13 – 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

& Crying Out to God, Calling Out to God, Having Faith in God

& Psalm 51:1-17 (Repentance, Renewal, Restoration)

§ Have mercy on me (verse 1-2)

§ I admit my sin is ultimately against You (verses 3-5)

§ I desire cleansing of my guilt (verses 6-13)

§ I declare Your praise (verses 14-17)

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8. BEG principles

& Begin – changes result when you remember we are fallen, and then repent, and do the deeds that you did when you first receive the Lord Jesus into your life (Revelation 2:4-5). In this process, we are called to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives and make a commitment to be a doer of the word (Luke 6:46-49). If you are merely a hearer and not a doer of the word, then you remain foolish (Matthew 7:24-27), deceived (James 1:22) and spiritually immature (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-13; James 1:22-24)- (Adapted from BCF ministries)

& Endure – to continue the process of biblical change, you must faithfully practice your daily responsibilities (Ephesians 5:15 – 16; Colossians 3:23 – 24; James 4:17) and discipline yourself towards godliness (2 Timothy 4:7 – 11; 2 Peter 1:5 – 11; 1 John 3:7). Your growth in Christ is a sovereign work of God (Galatians 5:22 – 23; Philippians 1:6, 2:3; Hebrews 12:2, 13:20 – 21) that is divinely linked to your living in a biblical way (Ephesians 2:10, 4:14 – 16; 1 Timothy 4:7 – 8; Hebrews 13:20 – 21; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1:5 – 11) - (Adapted from BCF ministries)

& Growth – in order to grow up in Christ and become mature, you must persevere in doing what is good in the Lord’s sight and being obedient to Scripture (Luke 17:10; John 14:15; Romans 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9; James 1:22 – 25).

& Discipline your thought life

2 Corinthians 10:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

Colossians 3:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth

Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

& Speak in a manner that is helpful to others

Ephesians 4:29 English Standard Version (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person

& Faithfully love others in a biblical manner

Matthew 22:39 English Standard Version (ESV)

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends.

1 John 4:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love

1 John 4:10-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another

1 John 4:20 English Standard Version (ESV)

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen

& Do not focus on physical or immediate results; instead, focus on eternal values in order to mature in Christ

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come

& Glorify God

1 Corinthians 10:31 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

& Please the Lord in all things

2 Corinthians 5:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Colossians 1:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God