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Glory to Glory Part
I (a sermon about the Salvation
Process)
By Chris Cumming
Intro: For a major part of my ministry, I have
been teaching and preaching the subject of the Salvation Process.
I have been showing the contrast between the Law
and Godly Principles. Between keeping the Law and invoking the power of the
Holy Spirit.
In several sermons I have shown how the Law was
not the end of faith as the Pharisees thought but only the beginning. I have
demonstrated how the Law is an element of condemnation while the Spirit of God
is an element of Righteousness.
Law is unto death and the Spirit is unto life.
One is veiled while the other is not.
I have been emphatic in stating that the Law is
NOT done away but rather guides us to the deeper and more powerful Principles of
God.
In all of my teaching on this subject, I have
never offered the definitive verse which best describes this Salvation Process.
I am going to do this now.
SPS: My purpose today will be to show you that
The Salvation Process is a step-by-step process which leads us from glory to
glory until we become the express image of Jesus Christ.
…Step by Step
…Glory to Glory
…Until we become like Jesus Christ.
All of this is summed up in one single verse.
This entire sermon will be the exploration of that single verse.
In doing so, we are going to see that each verse
of the Bible is actually a portal to vast knowledge and wisdom. It is as if
each verse were likened to the title page of a book and each book had thousands
of pages and tens of thousands of words. This is one reason the word of God
will endure for ever and we will still be exploring its depths long into the
Kingdom of God. After all, the Word of God is Spirit (Eph. 6:17). God’s Spirit
has no limits.
Now, before I read the one specific verse we
will be discussing, I want to set the context in which this verse was given.
The story picks up at a time when Paul was very
much involved with his ministry of going about the countryside establishing
churches and preaching both Christ and the very Spiritual process of Salvation.
However, also on the scene were the Jews who
were against Christ and His Word. They took every opportunity to cause Paul
trouble and to disrupt his ministry.
They were trying to give themselves
creditability by producing letters of commendation from Jerusalem. Paul had no
such letters. He did not need them. Paul had something better than these
letters. Let us pick up the story in Paul’s 2nd letter to the church
at Corinth.
2 Cor 3
3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or
need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of
commendation from you?
NOTE: Paul is speaking of the false teachers he
was talking about in the last verse of Chapter 2 and their use of letters of
commendation to get a foothold among the congregations. Paul did not need these
letters. Notice verse 2…
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read of all men:
NOTE: Paul is known by Christ working in and
through the members of the churches he started up. Notice 1 Cor 9 and verse 2
1 Cor 9:2
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet
doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Continuing in 2 Cor 3
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be
the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the
Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the
heart.
Note: This image is clear. The members are of
the Spirit. They have it and Christ lives in them. His law and truth are
written in their hearts.
The reference to “not in tables of stone” is
clear reference to the Law written on stone by God and given to Moses. This Law
was misapplied by the Jews but Christ had set the record straight.
Continuing…verse 4
4 And such trust have we through Christ to
God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Note: Here Paul is giving God and Christ all
the credit for bringing the members to the truth and converting them. No
boasting in Paul.
Now verse 6
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the
new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but
the spirit giveth life.
Note: Paul is saying that through the power of
the Holy Spirit, the ministry has been made sufficient to the job—not able, or
learned or talented but sufficient.
The rest of the verse is speaking to how Christ
had set the Law back to what it was designed to do.
Now verse 7
7 But if the ministration of death, written and
engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which
glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit
be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be
glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no
glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious,
much more that which remaineth is glorious.
NOTE: “that which is done away” is referring to
the shine on the face of Moses and the sacrificial system which ended with the
death of Jesus.
That which took place on Mt Sinai was glorious.
It will always remain one of the great glorious events of Biblical history. The
face of Moses shown brightly in that glory. Paul is saying here that with the
addition of the Holy Spirit to each member we have even greater glory. Now,
instead of a shine on the skin which fades, Christ shines through us forever.
Continuing now in verse 12
12 Seeing then that we have such hope (of the
whole Salvation process), we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his
face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that
which is abolished:
NOTE: The children of Israel could not see to
the “end” of what the Law and the rituals were pointing to, namely Jesus Christ
and the Salvation Process, the invoking of Godly Principles.
The children of Israel could not take nor
understand the brightness of God. Moses had to put a veil over his face. We,
on the other hand, having God’s Spirit, understand the Process of Salvation.
Not so with them, they were blinded. Notice as we continue in verse 14…
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this
day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read,
the vail is upon their heart.
NOTE: The Jews, to this day still do not
understand the Process of Salvation. They continue in the codification of the
Law and the use of endless ritual.
And now verse 16…
16 Nevertheless when it (Israel—the Jewish
People) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
NOTE: “Where the Spirit of God is, there is
liberty.” “Liberty” here means clearness of view, clearness of understanding.
We see the whole picture.
By the power of the Holy Spirit we see plainly
the entire Process of Salvation. We can speak boldly about it.
So now we come to the key verse I told you
about. After saying all that Paul did, he gives us verse that fully defines
what the Salvation Process is. Let’s begin by reading it…
18 But 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, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
34 Words and 7 separate phrases. These are the
words which define what we are doing on this earth before the great and almighty
God. This is the Salvation Process. Let’s explore each of the phrases as I
read from the commentaries:
[But we all]
All Christians. The discussion in the chapter has related mainly to the
apostles; but this declaration seems evidently to refer to all Christians, as
distinguished from the Jews.
[With open face]
compare note on 1 Cor 13:12. Tyndale renders this: "and now the Lord's glory
appeareth in us all as in a glass." The sense is, "with unveiled face," alluding
to the fact (2 Cor 3:13) that the face of Moses was veiled, so that the children
of Israel could not stedfastly look on it. In contra…distinction from that, Paul
says that Christians are enabled to look upon the glory of the Lord in the
gospel without a veil-without any obscure intervening medium.
[Beholding as in a glass]
The word used for “glass” is Strong’s 2734 and means “to mirror oneself, i.e. to
see reflected.” Macknight renders it, "we all reflecting as mirrors the glory of
the Lord." Doddridge has it as, "beholding as by a glass." Locke renders it,
"with open countenances as mirrors, reflecting the glory of the Lord." This
word, “2734” occurs no where else in the New Testament. It properly means to
look in a mirror; to behold as in a mirror. The mirrors of the ancients were
made of burnished metal, and they reflected images with great brilliancy and
distinctness. And the meaning is, that the gospel reflected the glory of the
Lord; it was, so to speak, the mirror---the polished, burnished substance in
which the glory of the Lord shone, and where that glory was reflected so that it
might be seen by Christians. There was no veil over it; no obscurity; nothing to
break its dazzling splendor, or to prevent its meeting the eye. Christians, by
looking on the gospel, could see the glorious perfections and plans of God as
bright, and clear, and brilliant as they could see a light reflected from the
burnished surface of the mirror. So to speak, the glorious perfections of God
shone from heaven; beamed upon the gospel, and were thence reflected to the eye
and the heart of the Christian, and had the effect of transforming them into the
same image. This passage is one of great beauty, and is designed to set forth
the gospel as being "the reflection" of the infinite glories of God to the minds
and hearts of people.
[The glory of the Lord]
The splendor, majesty, and holiness of God as manifested in scripture, or in
Jesus Christ. The idea is, that God is clearly and distinctly seen in the Word
of God. There is no obscurity, no veil, as in the case of Moses. In the Bible
we are permitted to look on the full splendor of Godly Principles---the justice,
goodness, mercy, and benevolence of God---to see Him as He is with undimmed and
unveiled glory. The idea is, that the perfections of God shine forth with
splendor and beauty in the gospel, and that we are permitted to look on them
clearly and openly.
NOTE: The glory of God and Jesus Christ are in
everything they touch and say. When we took the Holy Spirit of God into our
minds, we took into ourselves this glory.
When Jesus spoke to Moses, his face shown with
that glory. When we invoke the principles of God, people see the glory of God.
When we overcome a sin or work through a trial (something only possible through
God) there is glory.
With every “glory” we become more like God.
Notice…
[Are changed into the same image]
(Words of the Commentary) It is possible that there may be an allusion here to
the effect which was produced by looking into an ancient mirror. The reflection
from them would be intense. If a strong light were thrown on them, the rays
would be cast by reflection on the face of him who looked on the mirror, and it
would be strongly illuminated. And the idea may be, that the glory of God, the
splendor of the divine perfections, was thrown on the gospel, so to speak like a
bright light on a polished mirror; and that that glory was reflected from the
gospel on him who contemplated it, so that he appeared to be transformed into
the same image. Locke renders it: "We are changed into his very image by a
continued succession of glory, as it were, streaming upon us from the Lord." The
figure is one of great beauty; and the idea is, that by placing ourselves within
the light of the gospel—the Word of God; by contemplating the glory that shines
there, we become changed into the likeness of the same glory, and conformed to
that which shines there with so much splendor.
By contemplating Jesus Christ, we are changed
into something of the same image. It is a law of our nature that we are molded,
in our moral feelings, by the persons with whom we associate, and by the objects
which we contemplate. We become insensibly assimilated to those with whom we
have social contact, and to the objects with which we are familiar. We imbibe
the opinions, we copy the habits, we imitate the manners, we fall into rite
customs of those with whom we have daily conversation, and whom we make our
companions and friends. Their sentiments insensibly become our sentiments, and
their ways our ways. It is thus with the books with which we are familiar. We
are insensibly, but certainly molded into conformity to the opinions, maxims,
and feelings which are there expressed. Our own sentiments undergo a gradual
change, and we are likened to those with which in this manner we are conversant.
So it is in regard to the opinions and feelings
which from any cause we are in the habit of bringing before our minds. It is the
way by which people become corrupted in their sentiments and feelings, in their
contact with the world; it is the way in which amusements, and the company of
the frivolous and the dissipated possess so much power; it is the way in which
the young and inexperienced are beguiled and ruined; and it is the way in which
Christians dim the luster of their piety, and obscure the brightness of their
religion by their contact with the "happy" and fashionable world. And it is on
the same great principle that Paul says that by contemplating the glory of God
in the gospel, we become insensibly, but certainly conformed to the same image,
and made like Jesus Christ. His image will be reflected on us and through us. We
shall imbibe his sentiments, catch his feelings, and be molded into the image of
his own purity.
Note: Now those are the words of the
commentary. This is the way I would say it…
By the power of the Holy Spirit and through the
Word of God, we know and become like Christ.
We are the subtotal of the relationships we
have, the things we read, the attitudes we hold, the Laws and Principles we hold
dear and the Spiritual fruits we produce. The closer we are to God and Jesus
Christ the more we become like them.
Notice these verses as I quickly read through
them.
Gal 3:27
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
Isa 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul
shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Luke 15:22
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring
forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on
his feet:
Rom 3:22
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
Rom 13:14
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Eph 4:24
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
NOTE: We can easily see that it is God’s plan
for us to become like Him and His Son. Not only is it a command and an
encouragement, He has a specific procedure on how this can take place. Notice
the next phrase which is also the title of this sermon.
[From glory to glory]
(No commentary on this one)
Reason: The commentaries I referred to seem to
think that this glory, these glories, are passive, that is, require very little
by us. I do not agree with that.
We become the image of Jesus Christ actively in
the form of trials, tribulations, overcoming and conquering sin and in the
INVOKING of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all Godly
principles such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and
faith. He does not just demonstrate these principles, HE IS THESE PRINCIPLES.
When you invoke a principle---in day to day
life, in a trial, in overcoming a sin or even in a prayer, you have done a
GLORIOUS thing. You have just given Glory to God.
Each instance is a Glory. With each glory we
become more like Christ. We conform to His image. Notice the scripture…
Ps 84:5-7
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;
in whose heart are the ways of them (of God).
7 (first part) They go from strength to
strength,
With each glory, we become stronger…more like
Christ.
Remember what Paul was saying about the ministry
in verse 5 (of 2 Cor 3)……that their effectiveness; their sufficiency is of God.
This idea also applies to us as members of the
flock. Each glory we invoke is God’s glory BUT in our choice to invoke the
glory, we become more like Christ because each glory is Christ IN us and THROUGH
us. This is shown clearly in the last phrase of this verse.
[As by the Spirit of the Lord]
Everything a firstfruit Christian does is by the
power of the Holy Spirit. As one commentary I read said…
“It was by the Spirit of God alone that the
heart was changed even under the gospel, and amidst the full blaze of its truth,
Were it not for his agency, even the contemplation of the glorious truths of the
gospel would be in vain.”
We have two key verses on this concept and
truth:
1 Cor 2:14
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 John 2:20
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One
(Spirit), and ye know all things.
We know all things. We know and understand the
Salvation Process. Let’s recap these 7 phrases:
First the verse itself…
2 Cor 3:18
18 But 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, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And now in paraphrase from our discussion.
All true Christians with the Holy Spirit see and
know Jesus Christ directly and openly. We see Him reflected in Spirit and
through the Word of God. We see His glory in everything He does and says.
We are changed to His image as we persevere in
the Process of Salvation---overcoming sin, invoking Godly principles and putting
on Christ in every aspect of our lives…”from glory to glory” by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Let’s all make it to the Final Glory
See part II of this sermon
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