unveiling.the glory
DESCRIPTION
Growing spiritually is co-partnering with the Holy Spirit to transform us by removing the veil and revealing the glory (Christ) that is within us. Growing deep in faith spiritual involves two components, three dimensions and four principles.TRANSCRIPT
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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