We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image...from glory to glory -
2Corinthians 3: 18.
'Changed' says Paul - literally metamorphosed, the same word that is used to describe what happens to Jesus on the holy mountain. A change not identical, but analagous, must take place in us. Our nature must be replaced by His nature; our sinful character by His moral beauty - 'changed into His likeness'
A change, not instantaneous like His. but progressive 'from one degree of glory to another'. With some this change may begin today. With others it began some years ago, and has been proceeding ever since, and will proceed still further, for it is 'from one degree of glory to another'.
A change not from inside like His, but from outside. His change was the eruption of His divine nature. Our change is the impartation of His beauty by the agency of the Holy Spirit, through the instramentality of the Word. We do not yet see Him face to face. But we do see Him no less truly in the mirror of His word: and while we behold the Spirit of the Lord is at work, transforming, transforming.
A change furthermore which is available to us all. ' We all,' says the apostle.
Under the old covenant only Moses saw the glory. On the holy mountain only Peter James and John saw the glory. But now the beatific vision is open to us all. "We all behold with unveiled face"
Notice particularly what it is the we must behold if this change is to be effected. It is 'the glory of the Lord' - the glory of a living Person. Professor James Denney writes, "It is subject to the condition of faith in the living Christ that contemplation of Jesus in the Gospels changes us into the same image"......
2Corinthians 3: 18.
'Changed' says Paul - literally metamorphosed, the same word that is used to describe what happens to Jesus on the holy mountain. A change not identical, but analagous, must take place in us. Our nature must be replaced by His nature; our sinful character by His moral beauty - 'changed into His likeness'
A change, not instantaneous like His. but progressive 'from one degree of glory to another'. With some this change may begin today. With others it began some years ago, and has been proceeding ever since, and will proceed still further, for it is 'from one degree of glory to another'.
A change not from inside like His, but from outside. His change was the eruption of His divine nature. Our change is the impartation of His beauty by the agency of the Holy Spirit, through the instramentality of the Word. We do not yet see Him face to face. But we do see Him no less truly in the mirror of His word: and while we behold the Spirit of the Lord is at work, transforming, transforming.
A change furthermore which is available to us all. ' We all,' says the apostle.
Under the old covenant only Moses saw the glory. On the holy mountain only Peter James and John saw the glory. But now the beatific vision is open to us all. "We all behold with unveiled face"
Notice particularly what it is the we must behold if this change is to be effected. It is 'the glory of the Lord' - the glory of a living Person. Professor James Denney writes, "It is subject to the condition of faith in the living Christ that contemplation of Jesus in the Gospels changes us into the same image"......
