TRANSFORMED BY BEHOLDING

2 CORINTHIANS 3:1

A. "BUT WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE REFLECTING AS A MIRROR (A.V. beholding as in a glass) THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS FROM THE LORD THE SPIRIT (A.V. even as by the Sprit of the Lord)."
  1. It is certain that there is nothing but character that we can carry out of life with us:
    1. That our prospect in any future life will undoubtedly vary with the resemblance of our character to that of Jesus Christ - I John 3:3-4
    2. The reflection of the character Christ is the goal of the gospel of Jesus Christ - Rom. 8:28-29
  2. That was the great objective of Paul - Phil. 3:9-16
    1. This then is the burden of this message this morning - character - Christlike Character in us
    2. Our text holds the key to obtaining that Christ-like character B. THE BEHOLDING: "WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS"
  3. In the Revised Version of this verse are three changes, three of which are clear gains:
    1. "unveiled" instead of "open"
    2. "mirror" instead of "glass"
    3. "transformed" instead of "changed"
  4. The analogy is taken from the effect of a mirror made not of glass, but of highly polished metal:
    1. The effect is that of sunshine throne back from polished metal
    2. You may stand before a mere painting of light and colors, but there is no transmission of light to you; on the other hand, stand before a mirror whence the sun is reflected and you, too, are bathed in light and dazzled with glory
  5. Nature of beholding:
    1. We all behold; notice the emphasis is on the universality of beholding; "we all"
    2. This vision does not belong to a select handful it is wide open to all, irrespective of race, color or standing among men.
    3. We behold with unveiled face - These words refer to the immediate and clear view the gospel of Jesus Christ gives to all alike
    4. Among the veils that need to be removed are
I. the veil of ignorance - Eph. 2:11-16 ii. the veil of prejudice - Acts 17:10-11 iii. the veil of sin iv. the veil of unbelief "Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? ' John 11:40 C. LET US CONSIDER FURTHER THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR LIFE BY BEHOLDING
  1. God's mirror:
    1. The word of God is an effective mirror, including the law of God - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Jas. 1:22-25
    2. The Bible mirrors the life of the Son of God - John 5:39; 7:37-38
    3. There is still another mirror of the Lord that reflects His glory; the children of God Examples: Moses - Ex. 34:29; Stephen - Acts 6:15; Jesus - Luke 9:29
    4. Paul says that God called him that he might reveal His Son in him - Gal. 1:15-16
  2. Now in order to behold in a mirror we have to observe two simple rules:
    1. We must stand squarely in front of the mirror; we know that if a man looks into a mirror obliquely, if the mirror is not set square with him he does not see himself, but what is at the opposite angle
    2. We must stand steadily and long - the point is that we must never be in haste when we wait before the Lord. The longer we linger in His presence the more we shall be influenced by His life
  3. The glory of the Lord - what is it?
    1. "The heavens declare the glory of God" - Ps. 19:1-6
    2. The glory of God is reflected by Jesus Christ our Lord - Heb. 1:3; John 14:9
    3. It is seen, also, in the transformed lives of the believers - Matt. 5:16
  4. The transformation:
    1. We are transformed into the same image; this then is the great objective of the plan of redemption - to restore the image of God which had been marred by sin
    2. This transformation is from glory to glory


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