Unveiling the GloryUnveiling the Glory2 Corinthians 3:12-182 Corinthians 3:12-18

Dr Alex Tang

2CO 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who

would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to

this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed,

because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their

hearts. (NIV)

2 Cor. 3:12-18

2 Cor. 3:12-18

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the

Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being

transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,

who is the Spirit.

General introduction to 2 Corinthians

Comparison of the ancient Israelites and Christians

Old Testament background

Comparison of the old covenant and the new covenant

Unveiling the Glory (growing deeper in faith)

GloryAttribute of God such as majesty and

perfection

Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 structure

Chiastic (J. Lambrecht)

A. 12–13a (13b) — We (apostles)B. 14aC. 14bD. 14c — They (Israelites)C’. 15B’. 16 (17)A’. 18 — We (Christians)

A. 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.

We(apostles)B. 14 But their minds were made dull, C. for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.D. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. (Israelites)C’. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.B’. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. A’. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We (Christians)

Old and New Covenant

Old and New Covenant 2 Cor 3:12-18

Old Covenant New Covenant

Moses Paul (Apostles)

Veiled (minds and hearts) Not veiled

Laws (rules) Spirit (freedom)

Fading radiance Permanent/ever-lasting

Old Testament background

JER 31:31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with

the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they

broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD. 33 "This is the

covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put

my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Jeremiah 31: 31-33

Old Testament background

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove

from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be

careful to keep my laws.

Ezekiel 36: 26-27

Old and New Covenant 2 Cor 3:12-18

Old Covenant New Covenant

Moses Paul (Apostles)

Veiled (minds and hearts) Not veiled

Laws (rules) Spirit (freedom)

Fading radiance Permanent/ever-lasting

Heart of stone Heart of flesh

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being

transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the

Lord, who is the Spirit.

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

What is spiritual growth?

Growing in ChristSpiritual developmentDiscipleshipMaturing in the faithRenovation of the soulSpiritual formation

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

What is spiritual growth?

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

What is spiritual growth?

Michelangelo (1475-1564).

“The best artist has that thought alone Which is contained within the marble shell; The sculptor's hand can only break the spell To free the figures slumbering in the stone.”

1504

3:18 And we, who with unveiled

faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are

being transformed into his likeness

with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord, who is

the Spirit.

“in the Christian life we are paradoxically

becoming what we are …Christians strive from

this identity, and not unto it.”

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

2 components

3 dimensions

4 principles

2 components of spiritual growth

Unveiling the Glory and growing deep in faith

Holy Spirit

Spiritual heart

3 dimensions of spiritual growth

Person-in formation (growing into Christlikeness)

3 dimensions of spiritual growth

Person-in formation (growing into Christlikeness)

Persons-in-community formation (becoming a people of God)

3 dimensions of spiritual growth

Person-in formation (growing into Christlikeness)

Persons-in-community formation (becoming a people of God)

Persons-in-mission formation (becoming agents of God’s redemptive purposes)

3 dimensions of spiritual growth

4 principles of spiritual growth

Listen to the Holy Spirit

Listening to the Holy Spirit

Reading the biblePrayer

CircumstancesListening to your emotions

(inner prompting)Audible voice

(holy listening, holy seeing, wholly listening)

4 principles of spiritual growth

Listen to the Holy Spirit

4 principles of spiritual growth

Listen to the Holy Spirit

4 principles of spiritual growth

Listen to the Holy Spirit

Say no to self and Yes to God

Journey with one another

See where God is working and join Him

there

Les Misérables, 1862 by Victor Hugo.

Bishop Myriel

4 principles of spiritual growth

Listen to the Holy Spirit

Say no to self and Yes to God

Journey with one another

See where God is working and join Him

there

2 components• Holy Spirit• Spiritual heart

3 dimensions• Growing into Christlikeness• Becoming a people of God• Becoming agents of God’s redemptive

purposes4 principles

• Listen to the Holy Spirit• Say no to self and yes to God• Journey with one another• See where God is working and join Him

there

Unveiling the GloryGrowing deep in faith

sermon transcript atwww.kairos2.com/unveiling.the.glory.htm

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