Reflect

Back to Paul’s letter ... You have to remember that this is a very personal letter that Paul is writing. This church that he is writing to is a church he personally started. He is very passionate about their journey with God and anyone that would try to undermine his relationship with them or what he is trying to teach them. In the verses we skipped, Paul’s personal defense has led him to ask them to look at their own lives and the changes that have occurred because Paul introduced them to this new relationship (covenant) with Jesus.


2 Corinthians 3
7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away.
8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?
9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!
10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.
11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!
12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.
13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away.
14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.
15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.


Reflect. Paul is referring to the “old way” ... a covenant relationship that God offered the people of Israel (check out Exodus 19 and 20) which was contingent on following the guidelines God established. He is comparing that old covenant with a new covenant relationship offered through Jesus. This new relationship is contingent on Jesus and the forgiveness He can offer because of what He did on the cross. However, Paul reveals a very important element that isn’t contingent on the relationship; but can and should be a natural part of the journey. As followers of Jesus (people who have accepted His grace and surrendered their lives to Him), our lives should “reflect” His life. Jesus was compassionate about others and passionate about honoring God. He was gracious and authentic ... giving and . On this journey, we should become more and more like He is and less and less like we were.