THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE " . . . 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." -- Tomorrow:
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
Devotion 32 of 33
The Spirit effectively works, but not FOR US. He works in us FOR Jesus, who has sent Him from the Father (John 15:26). Ponder the glorious nature of His work.
1. He leads us to subdue the flesh (Rom 8:13-14).
2. He washes, sanctifies, and justifies us (1 Cor 1:30).
3. He moves us to confess that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor 12:3).
4. He distributes the various spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:8-11).
5. He revealed the mystery of God to Christ's holy apostles and prophets (Eph 3:5).
6. He enables us to wait for the hope of righteousness (Gal 5:5).
7. God inhabits the church through the Spirit (Eph 2:22).
8. We obey the truth "through the Spirit" (1 Pet 1:22).
9. He sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).
10. He brings joy to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 14:17).
11. We abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).
12. He "renews" and refurbishes the people of God (Tit 3:5).
13. He intercedes for us when our own knowledge is deficient (Rom 8:26-27).
All of these things are done by the Spirit as the Representative of Jesus Christ, who is the Lord who emanates the glory we are beholding.
When is it that the Spirit accomplishes these required changes? How is it that He actually moves us from one increasing stage of glory to another? It is WHILE we are "beholding the glory of the Lord!" If there is no beholding, there will be no changing, no advancement, no increase, no conformity to the image of God's Son! If we will behold the glory of the Lord, pondering the "glorious Gospel of the blessed God" (Cor 4:4; 1 Tim 1:11), the Spirit will transform us. That is what Jesus has sent Him to do, and He will do it when we become enamored of Jesus! He will not DO it while we are captivated by considerations of the church – even the true church. The change does not occur while we are involved in introspection. Even though we are charged with looking upon the interests of others (Phil 2:4). However, that is not the transforming "look."
Let it be clear to you: the Spirit will not do His conforming and changing work until our hearts are enthralled with the Christ of the Gospel. If we do not look intently on the glory of the Lord as made known in the Gospel, retrogression is inevitable, for God has made no provision for spiritual stagnation, or remaining perpetually in the same place. Those who imagine there is a place in Jesus to remain unchanged, have simply been deluded. Such a place does not exist! Further, if we do not gaze steadfastly on the glory of the Lord, the Spirit will not work within us. He can only work to the degree that we are "looking unto Jesus."
Within this context, it becomes clear why we are admonished, "grieve not the Spirit, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption," and "Quench not the Spirit!" (Eph 4:30; 1 Thess 5:19). There simply is no way to please God, enjoy His favor, or be conformed to the image of His Son independently of the work of the Holy Spirit. Further, the Holy Spirit will work in us only to the degree that we are focused upon the Lord Jesus, who is the One upon whom God the Father has fixed His own attention.
There are some who teach that those who wear the name of Christ will be saved no matter what they do. But for such a thing to take place, God would have to save a people who were not being changed, "from glory unto glory" by the Spirit of God! Such an absurdity postulates that the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary at all. All of the remarkable benefits of salvation are thus represented as being set in place, but not really required. All of the exhortations to holiness become meaningless. Every threat of Divine wrath is then pointless. Thus, according to this heresy, deliverance is really not deliverance at all, but is only a weak and insipid formality that has left the people fundamentally the same – no change, no transformation, no metamorphosis! Such a person is totally unsuited for glory!
In the face of all of these things, our text affirms that salvation is not something theoretical. It is not simply a matter for discussion, or an issue that is intended to be settled by a creed of some formalized theological position. Rather, the salvation of God is designed to eliminate the conditions caused by sin, and then orient the individual for glory – to reign with Jesus. Where this is not being done, nothing of any real consequence is taking place – even though it may be making the worldly headlines.
The salvation of God is achieved in the crucible of conflict, and results in the saved being "changed" into the image of Christ – conformed to the image of God's Son. It all takes place while Jesus has, and continues to receive, our undivided attention.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing a means through which the change you Requires can be accomplished.