2 Corinthians 3 - What Does True Transformation Look Like?

2 Corinthians 3 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 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 contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Paul spends time here comparing the Old Covenant God made with Moses to the New Covenant He has made in Christ. The Old Covenant was written on stone tablets, as summarized by the Ten Commandments. Though the Ten Commandments and other laws were good because they came from God, they had no inherent power to change lives, they only pointed out that we cannot perfectly keep the Law. The Law shows us that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23.

But, Paul draws their attention to the New Covenant, which was not written on stone tablets, but on our hearts. The new law is written our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. Our confidence then is not in our ability to keep the law, but to rely on the Holy Spirit which reveals Jesus to us and gives us the power to obey his teaching. Our confidence comes from our faith in Jesus, who perfectly kept the Law and died for our sin! He was the mediator of a new covenant that allowed us to come into God's holy presence.  

Then, Paul uses a metaphor of a veil. When Moses met with God, God's holiness had such an effect on him, he had to put a veil over his face. The radiance that came from him was God's holy presence, which  frightened the Israelites. This is probably due to holiness of God which revealed their unoliness. But when someone comes to Christ the veil is removed. They now come into God's presence through Jesus, our mediator. Jesus took away our fear of God. As the writer of 1 John says, 

"Perfect love cast our all fear!" - 1 John 4:18

But Paul says those who have not come to Christ, still have the veil over their face, so they cannot see God. This is the "veil of unbelief". The same veil covers the Gentiles too when they are presented with the gospel of Jesus, they are blinded by the veil. Or, they would turn to Jesus and live. 

Finally, Paul talks about the effect God's Spirit has on us. As we behold the glory of God, we are transformed into His image one day at a time. Note Paul says we are "being transformed in His image with ever increasing glory." This is a huge verse as we look at the Christian life, and what it means to be transformed to Christ's image. This is the singular goal and purpose for every Christian. The grammar for the Greek is also of paramount importance, as we seek to intrepret this passage properly. 

Greek Grammar Details 

Tense: Present (indicating a continuous, ongoing, and progressive action rather than a single, one-time event).

Voice: Passive (indicating that the subject—the believers—is being acted upon and schanged by an outside source, namely the Lord/Spirit, rather than transforming themselves).

Mood: Indicative (stating a real, factual ongoing reality for believers). (Unfading Truth)

So what does this mean from us?

The goal of the Christian life is to become more like Christ. We call this growing to "Christ-like maturity". When we come to Christ, we are born again and are a new creation. But this is only the beginning of the work God will do in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

This is why we never arrive as a Christian. We are growing each day to be the kind of person, who routinely does the things Jesus would do and say if he were you. The more you behold the glory of God and become familiar with Jesus' life and teaching, you can begin to be transformed into His image  

Though we are "being transformed in to His image by the Holy Spirit", and we can't change ourselves, it doesn't mean our role is passive. There are many verses which infer that we are to "offer ourselves fully to God". We are to actively engage Him with the means of grace, with disciplines like reading and studying the bible, praying, discovering our spiritual gifts, serving others, and how to be led by and submitting to the Holy Spirit.

Though we fall, we get up. We are always reminded by Paul's words to the Corinthians, "Your grace is sufficent for me because your power is made perfect through my weakness. We are a work in progress. It is progress not perfection.  I am always comforted by Paul's encouragement to the Philippians in 1:6, 

"He who began a work in You will be faithful to complete!" What a promise! 

Where is God working in you to transform you from the inside out? What areas of your life do you need to submit to the Holy Spirit working in you? 

As Paul says in Romans 12:2, "Are you being conformed to this world, or being transformed by the renewing of Your mind? 

I want to encourage you because by reading the Daily Bread, you are putting God's truth into Your mind. The truth will set you free to become more like Jesus, as you behold the image of God! 

Jesus, thank you that you did for us on the cross what we could never do for ourselves. Though we fall far short of God's glory, you stand in the gap for us becoming our righteousness.  You began a good work in us, and You will complete us as to submit to Your Holy Spirit. Amen. 

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