A Very Unscientific Hypothesis

Have you ever been in one of those situations where the Holy Spirit gives you a scripture—specifically, a verse that you’ve heard a million times? Have you ever received one of those verses but now in a context totally different than what you’ve always heard? That happened to me today. I was listening to a conversation that my wife was having and this verse came to mind:

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

This is a verse I’ve heard a million times. It is more-often-than-not explained, very vaguely, that God takes us from one level to another. But in what sense these levels are is often unknown, and is usually in whatever sense that fits the personal and often selfish agenda of the person giving the sermon. But Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, was talking about something very specific.

Paul is telling the Corinthian Christians, which was made up of Jews and Gentiles, that they are ministers and servants of the New Covenant (v.6) through Jesus, not the Old Covenant that was through Moses. 

Paul explains that even though the Old Covenant, which he called the Ministry of Condemnation (v.9), was glorious (or excellent), the New Covenant has much more glory (excellence)!

We need to understand that the Old Covenant was based entirely on works. If we sinned, we could only be seen as righteous before God by doing and God would only bless us AFTER a sacrifice was made. And this is totally impractical. What if we forget to confess a sin? What if we sin and we don’t realize we sin? This is why Paul calls it the ministry of condemnation, because we are condemned unless we take action. But the New Covenant is GRACE, by faith in Christ Jesus. That’s it! When Jesus said “it is finished” on the cross He was serious! He accomplished all that was needed for us to be seen as righteous before God. All we need to do is have faith.  

So what was Paul saying? Even though we often start our walk with God being taught rules and regulations, God wants to take us beyond that, from one glory (the Old Covenant) to another glory (the New Covenant).

God wants us to grow, to progress, and that comes not from doing, doing doing, but by turning to Jesus (v. 16). And when we turn to Jesus, the Holy Spirit will transform us (v.18). This is the freedom that is found in Christ (v.17).

Oh Glory! As we turn to Jesus and get to know Him, by His Word, we are transformed into His same image! This is not by actions, but by the grace of God.

This is the Gospel. The good news that we are made righteous by the finished work of Jesus Christ.

- Malachi

(EDIT: the introduction to be easier to read.)