2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Tag: God is Producing His Glory in Us
Before understanding the above passage we have to read were Paul is going with this thought. Note how this chapter ends (although Paul’s thought continues into chapter four):
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.
Paul is making a point in this section that his boldness of ministry and authority (over the believers in Corinth) had to do with the ministry of the Spirt dwelling within him that produces more and more of God’s glory. Remember, he will tell the Romans, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Yet, God, through Christ, is restoring that Glory. The New Covenant is restoring man into a relationship with God. That relationship, as it grows whole, is for the glory of God, BUT ALSO, to bring man to a state of glorification. When our pride enters we are not reaching for that glory in Christ, but God saved us to glorify us. That is a true statement. Note what Paul tells the Romans:
Romans 2:7
to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
We are to seek glory. Although we are to seek the glory of God, that is NOT what he is saying, here in Romans. He is talking about the glorification of man. We are to see being glorified by God ... we are to seek God’s righteousness. We won’t get it on this side of glory but we are being changed from one degree of geology to another. That is will produce in us confidence and the fruits of the spirit. God is changing us and giving us His glory ... via sanctification we will find glorification.
No comments:
Post a Comment