How Does God Change Us To Look More Like Him?

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Paul compares the Old Covenant between God and Israel, with the New Covenant between God and all people.  The Old Covenant was mediated by Moses. When God visited the Israelites and gave Moses the Ten Commandments, his face radiated with God's glory.  But where the Old Covenant brought death, the New Covenant mediated by Jesus Christ brought life and freedom.  Paul reasons if the Old Covenant brought glory, how much more glory will the New Covenant reflect God's glory through Jesus Christ.  

Moses wore a veil when he came from God's presence. The people could not look at Moses' face because God's glory was hidden from them. But now Paul says we will all reflect God's glory through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has taken down the veil when we heard the word of truth, the Gospel.  By believing in His name, the veil was taken down and we could enter a relationship with God in confidence through what He has done for us in Christ.  As we received the Holy Spirit, we now reflect God's glory. When the Spirit controls our life we are free to live like Jesus did.


Finally, Paul gives a promise.  He says, "We are being transformed into his image with every increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is spirit."  Do you realize what a great promise that is.  Each day as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives and order our days, we are becoming more Christ-like.  God is preparing us for heaven.  You see it is God who transforms us by His Spirit.  God changes us from the "inside out".  We are becoming new every day.   


So what then can we do? We can walk in the freedom God has given us. Freedom to approach God through Christ and be led by the Spirit in all we do. Are you living in freedom?  Or have you gone back to the bondage that you lived in before God was in your life?  God's purpose is to make you more like His Son, until one day he takes you to be with him forever. Amen.  



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