2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Be Changed from Glory to Glory

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Be Changed from Glory to Glory
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
February 23, 2025

In this section we are in tonight, Paul is continuing to remind the Corinthians of transforming the power of the gospel. In the previous letter he sent many corrections, but here we saw that he now first reminded them of God’s love, and as we saw last week, that even in the midst of difficult situations, they can live victoriously and be more than overcomers through Christ who loves them.

Now he shows them the source of that victory and life. He uses the story of Moses of when he went up the mountain to meet God and the resulting glory of that meeting. Yet was a glory reflecting the majesty and holiness of God, but it eventually faded was because it was not an internal glory shining forth from Moses’s inner being.

This is incredibly important, because we will see the effect of the law and that true glory cannot come from the law.

This is the predicament many are in still today. When people are confronted with immaturity and wrong behavior like they were in l Corinthians, are convicted and want to change, the first response is to try and be better, uphold the law, trying through their own strength and will power to be better.

We did see though, that, if you remember last week’s illustration, air freshener does not take away the stink of rotting meat.

This can be demoralizing. Many Christians struggle and feel that they are not living in victory. Many feel they just go through the motions, but the glory is not there; veiled like Moses. Their failings and inadequacy status front and center.

But Paul shows us the key. It is not just about getting rid of the stink, there is a glory that is available that replaces the old and brings powerful transformation so we can live in the victory and glory of God

I. God’s Glory reveals the Truth

Sometimes it’s easy to recognize death. We have all smelled that stench of rotting meat, or a dying animal, or something decomposing.

But sometimes death is not so easy to spot. Take for example a beautiful bouquet of roses. In all reality, as soon as it is cut off from the branch, it is already dead. The death sentence has been given. It is only retaining its former glory for a short while. Life and nutrients are no longer flowing through the flower or the stem.

This was what happened to Moses. He was in the presence of the almighty God and the glory of God. It had such an effect on his body that his face was shining. To such an extent that he had to put on a veil so the people would be able to look at him.

Yet Paul said that it was a glory that was fading. So, first the veil was there to hide the glory but then it changed to being there to hide the fact that the glory was fading and no longer there.

A. Recognize death

Verse 7 – The ministry of death. Paul makes a remarkable statement. He refers to God giving the law, as the ministry of death.
We need to understand this correctly. God was giving his precepts, his statutes, his principles of life and there was glory in it because it was showing the character and holiness of God.

Psalm 19:7-9, The law of the Lord is perfect…The precepts of the Lord are right…The judgments of the Lord are true…

If someone were righteous and able to stay in the presence of God, the glory of God’s presence would transform them. Moses was shining with glory as long as He was in the presence of God, but the moment he left, it started to fade.
Added to that, when reading the law, it became more and more apparent, as people looked at themselves compared to the law, that there is no way to be able to have the confidence to draw near and be in God’s presence and His glory. In fact, the knowledge of the law exposed transgression and sin and made it all the more apparent.

Romans 5:20, The Law came in so that the transgression would increase…

It wasn’t the law that made people more sinful, it was the pull of the corrupt flesh, the nature without God, that, when seeing the law, wanted to go after what is wrong.

Romans 7:5, For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

Illus – How many times do we see that people do exactly what you warn them not to do. It is like the warning plants a seed of something they never even thought of, and the thrill of the danger pulls them to do it.

So the effect of the law was that, instead of drawing people to live more holy, sin took opportunity through the law to work death in us.
It is important to recognize this, to see that the plan of the enemy will always be to show us the fact that we are failing when we look at the law. He wants to pull you back into the ministry of death.
How? By trying to get you to cover up your struggles. To act like everything is fine. To veil the fact that the glory is not on your face anymore.
So many people put on masks to cover the struggle, the anxiety, the sin, the feeling of being inadequate, the feeling of missing it, not making it.

B. Right standing brings glory

Verse 9 – For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
They enemy is the one that condemns and he uses the law.
This is the key. After the work of Christ on the cross, we now stand under the ministry of righteousness. Before the cross, the law was the one ministering to man, revealing the inadequacy without Christ.
The ministry of righteousness changes everything.

Romans 5:20-21, ….; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The moment we surrender our lives to Jesus, He comes to live inside of us. Now sin doesn’t reign in us resulting in death anymore. Righteousness does.
Grace reigns through the fact that we are made righteous by the work of Jesus. And this isn’t a one-time event. Paul says that it reigns to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So from the moment you are saved until that blessed day when you step into eternity with Him, His grace now reigns in your heart.
The key is that our nature has changed. When I said before that many people walk around with masks because they feel anxious, or feel not good enough, or feel defeated, the core word to focus on is feel.
The enemy wants to make you feel not good enough, because then he can lead you into the trap of trying to be better on your own, instead of standing in faith of what Jesus has done and who He now says you are.

II. Stand Boldly in Righteousness

Verse 12 – Therefore, having such hope, we stand boldly in our speech…
The word “Therefore” indicates that, because of what we just said, we can now do the following.
Because of righteousness and the ministry of the Spirit, we can’t stand boldly in our speech.
It is important to see that we don’t stand in our feelings, but stand in righteousness. How do they do it boldly? Through their speech.
What we speak is so important. People have an internal dialogue, and an external dialogue.

Isaiah 29:13, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,

Internal and external dialogue need to align with what God says.
Some might say the right things, but don’t really believe it.

Illus – Someone might sing the words, “Yes, Jesus loves me…” but their internal dialogue is, … Jesus might love the others, and this song is for other people, but I am not so sure about Him loving me…”

You need to take hold of it. Make it your own. Have it applied to your life.
Your internal dialogue must never be led by your feelings, but by truth.

A. Stand in Truth

The most important thing in the human soul is to know that you are in right standing with your creator. This is where faith comes in. It can only be received through faith.
This is done by standing on the word, confessing the truth of the word, confessing who you are in Christ, confessing what He has done for You. Confessing your eternal hope. And doing it boldly.

– I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus…

– Thank you, Father, for loving me so much that you sent only begotten Son.

– Thank you, Jesus, that you loved me so much that you came.

– Thank you That you sent your Spirit to now live in me.

– Thank you that you are directing my life.

– Thank you that I have hope in you.

The truth must become so strong that it overcomes your feelings, faith starts to build up, as your soul comes in agreement with the Spirit of God that is living inside of you, testifying that you are a blood-bought child of God.

Romans 8:16, The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

The Spirit of truth starts to flow from your innermost being.
Will you still sometimes struggle with the “feelings” dynamic? Yes, you will. But even this does not disqualify you.
When we are weak, He is strong. His Spirit intercedes for us in our innermost being and reminds us of the truth. It becomes the deep foundation from which we can say that, no matter how I feel, deep down I know, that I know, that I know…

Illus – When I was around 13, I remember one day I told my dad that I am not sure that there is a God… After settling the matter, I set out to build my faith and get the understanding and knowledge needed.

B. Remove the veil from your heart

The veil mentioned here had two purposes. One, which we dealt with already was Moses hiding the fact that the glory was fading.
The second mention of the veil is that their hearts were hardened, because until this, with the reading of the old covenant, ( the law) the veil remains in place.
Remember the law is good, the law is perfect, for its intended function, which is to show your inadequacy and need of a Savior.
Yet many who listen to the law, are focused on the law, and study the law. It pulls a veil over their hearts. Like the pharisees, they pride themselves in “upholding” the law; a pride that is essentially rejecting the need of a Savior, rejecting relationship God gives as free gift.
It keeps the glory away.

Illus – There are churches that has as part of their liturgy for every service the reading of the law. Although I believe it was done to help people focus on what they are doing wrong, it unfortunately has the opposite effect of what they intend. It keeps people focused on the wrong thing!

Illus – I had friends in school that was part of a denomination that would read the law at ever service…

In both instances, whether like Moses hiding the truth, or those with hardened hearts resisting relationship, the inevitable result is death.
The only answer is to remove the veil. This is where we find liberty.
Verse 16 – When a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. The you see Jesus’ free gift. You see the liberty. There is a “ A-ha” moment.
Not a liberty to again run to sin. No, a liberty where we are set free from the bondage of sin so that we have the ability to choose life. You choose life, because you have tasted life and you have seen that the Lord is good.
Many think that if they don’t focus intently on the law and keep people under the law, that people will go out and sin. Liberty is scary. Not to those who have seen the effect of sin. They want to run from it. They know they need a Savior!

Illus – When you look at the hostages freed from Hamas captivity, do you think that they would want to return there?

When you see beauty and freedom you want it.
When you see the transforming power of the Spirit and the beauty of the fruit of the Spirit, you want it.

Illus – If given a choice, nobody in their right mind can say that they cannot wait to lie drunk in the street in the rain in their own vomit, emaciated, hungry, hated, alone. Everyone would rather be in front of a warm fireplace with loving friends and family.

But how can we be transformed into those things?
Should we get some self-help books? Should we keep a journal of all the times we lacked character? Should we keep to-do lists of right things to say and do? No, that glory has faded. We have a better covenant enacted on better promises.

C. Behold His glory

Verse 18 – 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.
How do you unveil? When you come in Spirit and truth. They that worship Him, must worship in Spirit and truth. When you see Him for who He really is, when you take hold of the truth of the word, when you start to agree with it in Worship, when you draw near, He draws near.
You are changed from glory to glory. It means that we are transformed simply by being in His presence, turning away from the past and trying, and facing toward Jesus. That glory transforms us into that same image, that same glory.
It changes our nature to want to follow His will.

John 8:31-32, So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

They were with Jesus. The things He said was no longer just an abstract concept. They lived it with Him. They saw the effects of His words in real time.
They saw something different.
We are changed because we see things differently now. The law is written on our hearts. His Spirit is living in us reminding us, nudging us.
Now we don’t move in and out of the glory like Moses, we are transformed by God living in us and His glory that never leaves through the power of His indwelling Spirit.
Because of this. We can now stop striving and rest in His presence. He leads us into triumph, eternal freedom, eternal glory.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 NASB

⁷But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, ⁸how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? ⁹For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory. ¹⁰For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

¹²Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, ¹³and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. ¹⁴But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. ¹⁵But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; ¹⁶but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

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