Transformed into His Image (Lent 25, 2023)

Yesterday, we saw that when Jesus returns, we will bear the Image of the heavenly man, Jesus Christ.  But wait, there’s more! We don’t just get His Image; we also get to share in His glory.  Let your thoughts rest on that for the moment.

For now, our encounter with God has glory that reflects the freshness of our encounter with Christ. As Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 3:3-18:

2 Corinthians 3: 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God.

Our confidence comes from the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ.  Our encounter with Christ is the source of our glory…and unlike under the Old Covenant which pointed to our need for a Savior, as we are now born again by His finished work, our glory in Christ lasts!

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant– not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Focus for Lent: The freedom we have in Christ as born-again Image-bearers.

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Questions for further thought:

Why is the veil only taken away in Christ?

2 Corinthians 3:12 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 the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

What do you think of when you contemplate the Lord’s glory?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please show me more of Your glory in my midst. Right now, everything looks so bleak. But instead of gazing on that, may I focus on You so that I may better honor You and exalt Your holy Name. I praise You for transforming us into Your image and for the freedom Your Holy Spirit provides. Thank You for Your promise to make all things new. We praise You, we thank You, and we glorify You. Amen.

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Categories Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals | Tags: | Posted on March 22, 2023

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