17 Feb The glory of Christ

Text: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Proving Yourself

Everywhere you go, you will meet people who will try to prove themselves worthy

i) Job Interview

Imagine you’re in an important job interview and the interviewer asks, “So, tell me why you’re qualified for this job?’” Immediately, your mind races: “What do I say? How do I prove my worth?”

In many ways, life often feels like that. We are always trying to prove something—to our boss, to our family, even to God.

ii) Personal Experience as a Pastor

In 2018, I left a promising and well-paid career in Sydney and moved to Melbourne to start a church in obedience to God’s calling. It was far from being easy. Many times in my journey I am tempted to prove myself. I thought that if I preached the perfect sermon, led the perfect ministry, then I would be ‘worthy’ of my calling.

iii) Parents

As parents, we too are tempted to prove our worth from our children. We want people to see our worth from how great our children are. We get our worth from how good we are as parents.

Some of you may feel the same pressure but in different areas of life. But the good news is, you don’t have to carry that burden.

As Christians: You don’t have to prove your worth because of what Christ has done for you.

 

Christians in Corinth have demanded Paul to prove his worth to them, while he could have done that, laying all his credentials out for them to see, he did not do it. Instead, he pointed them to something far greater: The glory of Christ.

 

 

1. What is the Glory of Christ?

The most recurring word in 2 Corinthians 3 (ESV) is “Glory” (12 times).

This passage heavily emphasises on the glory of God, specifically, of the new covenant, in contrast with the old covenant.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8 (ESV)  

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, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

Exodus Context:

• In Exodus 34, after Moses spent forty days and nights on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, his face shone with radiant light from being in God’s presence.
• When he returned to the Israelites, they were afraid to approach him because of their sin of idolatry. They have made a golden calf and worshipped it.
• To accommodate them, Moses veiled his face whenever he was among the people.
• The radiant on Moses’ face symbolizes the glory of God reflecting on Moses.

The people of Israel were afraid to gaze at the glory because of their sin. Israel recoils in fear like children who know that they are in trouble with the parents.

Old Covenant vs New Covenant

Glory of God, was symbolised by Moses’ veiled face in the Old Covenant. And in the New Covenant, this veil is removed by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:9-11 (ESV)

⁹ For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. ¹⁰ Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Paul made 2 important points:

i) The Fading Glory of the Old Covenant

• Paul describes the old covenant as a “ministry of death” because it was written on stone and brought condemnation.
• Even though Moses’ face shone with the reflected glory of God, that glory was temporary and fading.

The law of the Old Covenant was glorious in its purpose—to reveal sin—but it could not bring salvation. (Romans 3:20)

ii) The Surpassing Glory of the New Covenant

• The new covenant is the ministry of righteousness, and it brings life and is permanent—
  • Unlike the glory shone on Moses’ face, the glory of Christ does not fade.
  • Unlike the law of the Old Covenant that doesn’t save, in Christ we find salvation.

Flashlight
While a flashlight may be useful in a dark room, it is rather useless in the broad daylight.

The old covenant’s glory fades in the light of Christ’s eternal glory!

Martin Luther

The reformer, Martin Luther, was a 16th Century monk.

He took God’s law very seriously and tried to obey it perfectly. Daily he would study God’s Word and pray for long hours. But no matter how hard he tried, his obedience only brought him despair. Which naturally leads him to confessions.

He was so obsessed with confessing his sins that he drove the priest crazy! He would spend hours in the confessional, confessing every major and minor sins, like when he didn’t pray with the right attitude, or had a slightly selfish thought.

One day, Luther spent six hours confessing, and the priest had enough of it and told him:

“Brother Martin, if you are going to confess so much, at least confess something interesting! Go out and commit some real sins, then come back!”

Martin Luther’s turning point was when encountered the Gospel through the words of the apostle Paul to the Romans: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Romans 1:17 ESV)

Are you living with a heavy weight on your back?

Always trying to prove your worth to those around you?

For some, this burden looks like workaholism—believing that if we just achieve enough, climb high enough, or hustle hard enough, then we will finally be valuable.

 

You may think that it is no big deal. You may even be doing that to provide security for the family.

The Israelites were afraid to gaze at Moses’ face because they knew they were sinners, idolaters. And we are no different! We are always trying to prove our worth, because deep down, we are idolaters.

We may not be bowing down to a golden statue, but we are bowing down to something else other than God.

We worship the opinions of others by seeking their approval. That is the reason we try to prove our worth to them at all cost.

Do you know what that is? That is idolatry!

Tim Keller (Counterfeit Gods):

“An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”

If you find yourself working late hours just to feel validated, instead of measuring your worth by how much you accomplish, remind yourself: “I am already accepted in Christ.”

In today’s world, this is most evident in social media. We curate our lives online, seeking likes, comments, and followers—hoping they affirm our worth. But no number of likes can fill the void that only Christ can satisfy. Instead of resting in God’s approval, we chase fleeting validation from people who often don’t even know us.

 

Next time you post something online, ask yourself: “Am I posting for God’s glory or for people’s approval?”

 

 

2. Why do we need God’s Glory?

2 Corinthians 3:12-15 (ESV) 

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, ¹³ not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴ But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

The veil over Moses’ face symbolises our hardened minds and veiled hearts that renders us unable to see God’s glory.

We see God’s glory, but we don’t really see it!

Joshua Bell

In 2007, world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell did an experiment. Dressed casually, he stood in a Washington, D.C., subway station, and played some of the most intricate classical pieces on his $3.5 million violin. Over 45 minutes, nearly 1,100 people walked past him, but only a handful stopped to listen, and he made just $32 in tips. Just days earlier, he had played to a sold-out concert hall where tickets cost hundreds of dollars.

The people in the subway failed to recognise true beauty and worth because they were distracted. So it is with God’s glory.

We fail to see the surpassing glory of Christ because we are looking in the wrong places—success, approval, or social status.

 

They’re nothing but distractions!

 

C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory):

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

 

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Veil of Self-Righteousness is removed

Moses wore a veil to hide the fading glory, those under the law are blinded to the true righteousness found in the Glory of Christ.

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold” (v12)

Verse 12:

The word “Bold” in Greek means openly, plainly

Verse 12:

Since we have such hope (Hope in the glory of God), we speak openly, plainly, and freely.

The hope in the Glory of Christ brings freedom to Paul.

The very same truth lifts the burden on your back.

You don’t have to pretend, you don’t have to prove your worth.

Only in Christ the veil is removed, enabling us to behold and experience God’s glory.

In Christ, our righteousness is not earned, but given. Theologians called this glorious truth imputed righteousness—Jesus’ perfect righteousness is imputed to believers by faith. (Philippians 3:9)

This is the truth:

God doesn’t see you the way you often see yourself. You are His joy. He desires you just as you are.

The author of Hebrew writes, “For the joy that was set before him (Jesus) endured the cross”

What joy? What was Jesus waiting for on the other end of the cross? You!

Jesus experiences joy when he sees you. He experiences joy when you come to him for His grace and love.

We often believe the opposite is true—that Jesus experiences joy when we come to Him bringing our own righteousness, proving our worth to Him.

 

 

3. How can we reflect it?

As believers, we are called to behold and reflect the glory of the Lord. This is a process of transformation accomplished by the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV) 

¹⁶ But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.

How do we reflect the glory of Christ?

i) Beholding the Glory of Christ

To reflect Christ’s glory, we must first behold it.

John Owen (The Glory of Christ):

“Beholding the glory of Christ is one of the greatest privileges that believers are capable of… It is by beholding the glory of Christ that believers are first gradually transformed into his image, and then brought into the eternal enjoyment of it.”

In our beholding of Jesus, the veil is lifted, and we behold His glory.

When we behold Christ, we are transformed into His image. The more we look to Him, the more we reflect His glory… and in that, we find true enjoyment.

The word “beholding” here means “looking at oneself in a mirror.”

What does it mean?

• The glory you reflects in your life,
• The glory that others see in you,
• It is a reflection of the glory of Christ.

Therefore, How can we reflect the Glory of Christ?

Firstly, by beholding the glory of Christ.

And the glory you reflect will grow in its intensity as you mature in Christlikeness.

Practically, how do we behold the Glory of Christ?

Scripture – When you read God’s Word, you are beholding Christ’s glory. So read deeply, not just speed.

Prayer – Prayer is worship—it is fixing our eyes on Jesus. When you pray, your hearts are being transformed. (You can’t stay mad for long when you pray for someone you’re mad with.)

Community – Being in community and in our service, we see Christ’s work in others, and this encourages us to grow in faith.

ii) Being transformed by the Spirit

Secondly, by being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

A more direct translation (verse 18) from Greek would be:

“And all of us, without any veil on our faces, gaze into the glory of the Lord as in the mirror, and so are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory…”

Your transformation, first and foremost, is from the glory of the old covenant, to the new glory of the new covenant.

From the law of the old covenant to the grace of the new covenant.

From death to life.

From condemnation to vindication.

From transitory glory to eternal glory.

And this transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17 (ESV)

Transformation is the Holy Spirit job. Our job is to behold Christ.

If you’re a believer, that means the Spirit has begun the work in you, there is nothing you can take credit for. And if after so many years you’re still a believer today, that is also the work of God, there is nothing you can take credit for.

The Gospel

The glory of Christ is shown most clearly on the Cross.

In Jesus’ day, the cross is a symbol of death. It was the punishment reserved for the worst kind of criminals, yet it became the ultimate display of glory and beauty.

On the cross, Jesus was punished as the worst kind of criminal. Though sinless, He took on our sin upon Himself so that we could share in His righteousness.

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

We don’t need to prove ourselves, because Christ proved Himself for us.

 

In light of this message, let us behold Christ daily, knowing that as we fix our eyes on Him, we are being transformed into His image.

Let us stop striving for people’s approval, instead, let us walk in the freedom of the Spirit, knowing that our worth is secure in Christ.

As we go out, may we reflect His glory in our homes, workplaces, and communities, living in such a way that others see Jesus in us.

And through every trial, let us keep our eyes on eternity, knowing that though we share in His suffering now, we will one day share fully in His glory.

 

 

Discussion questions:

 

1. What struck you the most from the sermon?
2. Explain the difference between the glory of the old covenant and the new covenant
3. Why do you need God’s glory? What happens when you don’t have God’s glory?
4. What are some practical steps to reflect God’s glory in your life? Be specific
5. How does the gospel satisfy your longing for glory?