How Do We Reflect The Glory Of Jesus? (Cont)
2 Cor 3:18;
The glory that the Spirit imparts to the believer is more excellent and lasts longer than the glory that Moses experienced. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like him.
In the gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ’s life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what he is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience (see. Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
The more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like him. We reflect ‘as in a mirror the glory of the Lord’ is what happens when a Christian knows how to spend some time in the adoration of God. He or she who practices adoration of God becomes like a mirror in which the likeness of Jesus is seen more and more clearly. Yet more than a reflection is seen in such a person. A Christian is actually transformed into the image upon which he gazes.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” (2 Cor 4:6).
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Cor 4:16, 17)
“Outward man … inward man.” The “outward man” refers to the physical body, subject to decay and moving toward death because of mortality and the troubles of life (v. 17). The “inward man” refers to the human spirit that has the spiritual life of Christ. Although our bodies age and decay, we experience ongoing renewal through the constant impartation of Christ’s life and power; His influence enables our minds, emotions and wills to be conformed to His likeness and eternal purpose.
“Light affliction … glory.” The hardships endured in the lives of those who remain faithful to Christ are light in comparison to the abundance of glory we have through Christ. This glory is already present in part, but will be fully experienced in the future (cf. Rom 8:18). When we reach our heavenly inheritance, we will say that the severest tribulations were nothing compared with the glory of the eternal state. Therefore, we must not lose hope or give up our faith as we face our problems.
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