Behold The Glory of God :: By Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Grant Phillips

“Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

“For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:6-18).

Paul is comparing his and the other followers of Christ’s ministry with the ministry of Moses. He is simply saying that the old covenant of the Law of Moses was wonderful news, not just for Israel but for the world. It was so wonderful when received, it changed Moses’ countenance. But now, there is even better news, and that is that there is now a new covenant, not of the “letter,” but of the “Spirit.”

C.I. Scofield comments that “The letter” is a Paulinism for the law, as “spirit” in these passages is his word for the relationships and powers of new life in Christ Jesus. Here in Ch. 3 is presented a series of contrasts of law and spirit, between the old covenant and the new. The contrast is not made between two methods of interpretation, literal and spiritual, but between two methods of divine dealing: one, through the law; the other, through the Holy Spirit.”

In other words, with those of that dispensation before the cross, the purpose of the Law was to show man he is a sinner and sin brings death. As Paul said in verse six, the letter (the Law) kills, but the Spirit gives life. It is easily seen when studying the Tabernacle, for instance, that the Law is also pointing the only way of being made right with God, and that is through Christ Jesus.

I’ve said all that to say this: as Moses’ appearance showed the glory of God, we have even more reason to show the glory of God in our appearance. Now, why is that? Remember … the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Those who are in Christ are no longer under the old covenant of the Law but under the new covenant of the Spirit. All made possible by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As Moses came down from the mountain, the people beheld the glory of God upon his face. For those of us who are born again in Jesus, do people see the glory of God on ours? Let’s read again Paul’s words in verses seven and eight in the New Living Translation (NLT).

“The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?”

If we fall short, how do we correct it? The answer is ridiculously simple. We spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer. The more time we spend in fellowship with Him, the more we behold His glory. The more we behold His glory, the more we become like Him. In other words, we take on His identity or personality.

The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee reiterates the story told by Nathaniel Hawthorne about the great stone face.

“A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation, which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the great stone face. He would do wonderful things for the village and be a means of great blessing. That story really took hold of the lad. During his lifetime, he would gaze at the great stone face at every opportunity that he had, and he would dream of the time someone looking like the great stone face would come to the village. Years passed, and as time went by, he became a young man, then an old man. He was tottering down the street one day when someone looked up and saw him coming and shouted, “He has come. The one who looks like the great stone face is here.” This man had looked at the great stone face for so long that now he bore its image.”

If we associate this story of the great stone face as Jesus, and ourselves as the old man who constantly beheld His glory, shouldn’t the request of that great old hymn, Let Others See Jesus in You, be fulfilled in us? Of course, it should.

After His resurrection, Jesus met up with two men on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:27 says, “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

How do we behold the glory of God? We behold Him in the Scriptures. All throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, Jesus is there just as clearly as He is in the New Testament Scriptures.

Just a few examples:

  • A thorough study of Moses’ Tabernacle will reveal Jesus throughout.
  • Joseph is a type of Jesus.
  • Moses is a type of Jesus.
  • Psalm 22 and many other Psalms speak of Jesus.
  • Jacob wrestled with Jesus.
  • Abraham spoke with Jesus about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • Jesus was in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
  • Jesus created the world and all that is therein (Genesis 1:1).
  • John says of Jesus in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
  • We look upon Him all throughout His Word.

Have you ever noticed the phenomenon of a married couple, after many years of a loving marriage, looking like one another? They are two becoming as one.

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).

If we have been born again in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we are one in Him, and He is in us through His Spirit. We are His body, and He is the head (Colossians 1:18). Everything about us should reflect Him to others as we behold His glory.

As I close, I would like to repeat the words of 2 Corinthians 3:7-8.

“The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?”

Search the Scriptures and behold the Glory of God.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Easter’s Coming! :: By Holly Spate

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Holly Spate

“He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:6).

As we prepare to celebrate Easter this April 17th, let’s ask God to stir our hearts and focus on the true meaning of this day. May we not be distracted by the furry bunny, egg hunting, Easter baskets, food, and celebrations, but rather set our hearts on the true reason… the sacrificial gift that has brought all who believe in salvation, redemption, and eternal life. Let us be intentional and reflect upon this day and what was done on our behalf. Let our hearts rejoice because He is Risen!

Jesus Paid It All.

As the old, timeless hymn beautifully conveys:

“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”

Jesus became the sacrifice, dying in our place, taking upon himself the sins of the whole world. He was the only one, sinless, blameless and perfect, who could bridge the gap between God and mankind. His deep love for His creation knew no bounds. He gave the ultimate sacrifice… His very life so all could live.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Scripture says Jesus knew what He was about to endure before going to the cross.

Mark 14:32-36 states: “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Luke 22:44 “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Even though Jesus knew he would suffer an agonizing, horrifically brutal and painful death, He did it to save us. He was obedient to the Father and laid down His life. He came for everyone. He came for YOU.

He came to earth because of His deep love for His creation. He sacrificed Himself because of His deep, unconditional love for each of us. His shed blood cleanses all sin – past, present, future. His death and resurrection gave us a bridge back to God, a connection that no longer had to be broken… all because of JESUS.

His ultimate act of love and endless mercy led Him to pay a debt He did not owe so we could be cleaned, saved, redeemed, delivered, rescued. He died in our place. We could not save ourselves, so He came to save us.

1 Peter 2:24 states: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

And, after enduring the painful death on the cross, Jesus was buried. His family and friends wept as his body was taken from the cross and put into the tomb.

Their tears would soon turn to joy just three days later as they would learn that he arose, just as He said. The stone was rolled away, and the tomb lay empty!

Just think how wonderful it must have been when those close to Jesus realized He had risen from the dead… conquering death. Seeing Jesus must have been overwhelming. The sight of Him must have filled hearts with unspeakable joy.

Matthew 28:1-10 states: “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”

HE’S ALIVE!

HALLELUJAH!

Just as they celebrated, we celebrate today.

Easter’s Coming!

Let our hearts fill with joy this Easter (and every day) as we celebrate all Christ has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection!

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

John 14:1-6 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He Is Risen… He Is Risen Indeed!

spate.holly@gmail.com