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 by the Spirit of the Lord.
—2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)
When we look at Jesus, we “behold as in a mirror” the glory of the Lord. With unveiled faces, we reflect God’s glory. We mirror the gift of His righteousness. We see the new creation we are in Him. When we behold Him, we are changed—from glory to glory—into His likeness. We are transformed from the fading glory of the law into the eternal glory of New Covenant Grace.
“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned Moses. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:5-6).
In the glory of the law, no one could see the Lord and live. The wrath of God for man’s failure to live righteously was profound. Sin separated man from God. Because of sin, a holy God could not remain in man’s presence. When a man failed, God left him.
The unveiled glory of the New Covenant is where the Holy Spirit reveals to us who we are in Christ. God sees us as the righteousness of His Son. We are no longer under the fading glory of the law. We are under the glory of God’s Grace.
Believing you are blameless in Christ transforms you until your actions are birthed in the new person He has made you. In this new glory, you are able to see God and live. In this glory, the more you see Him, the more alive you are. In this glory, you have His unconditional love and approval. In this New Covenant glory, God never leaves you. He is always with you. The glory of the New Covenant is Christ’s Grace. It is your freedom from sin’s separation from God. You are free to run to your loving Abba Father—the holy God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Absolutely nothing separates you from Him. When you look into His face, you are transformed from the perishable glory of your own righteousness into the unveiled glory of the righteousness Jesus died to give you. You no longer need to strive to win God’s approval. Jesus approved you at the Cross. You live in the freedom of His Grace.
“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Romans 6:14, NLT).
“For when I tried to keep the law,” Paul wrote, “it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20, NLT).
Quit struggling to win the approval and acceptance that Jesus has already won for you. Your old self and that condemnation of the law have been crucified with Christ. You are fully forgiven, known, and accepted. It is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives within you. With an unveiled face, you reflect the glory that is His. You are changed from the fading glory of the old covenant into the revealed glory of the New.
And when you believe this—and really get this in your heart—you are free.
©2021 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2021/02/glory-to-glory.html
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