TEXT - 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT.
GLORY
(Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26 .
(2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24; of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1 ; of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46 .
(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7 ; of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2 Thess. 1:9 .
(4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23; Eph. 1:12 (refs5)). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory" (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11 (refs3)).
(5.) The bliss of heaven (Rom. 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10 (refs7)).
Glory means honor or excellent reputation. God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself, it is the outward expression of his excellence. Such revelation is more than just an exhibition of overpowering brightness; it is the revelation of the nature of God. God’s glory is an expression of his character – his goodness, love, justice, power and holiness (Exo 33:18-19; 34:6-7; Psa 29:3; Isa 6:3; Joh 12:41).
Why the Need to Behold His Glory
Man that was created in Genesis was clothed and covered with the Glory of God. Sin came to make man to fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. God's image and likeness in man was corrupted and defaced. God repackaged the lost glory in a person called Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and gave him to us as our pattern to whose image we must be conformed. Roman 8:29. He being the brightness of the glory of God and the express image of his person. Hebrews 1:3. There is the glory of God that radiates on the face of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 4:6) and it is only as we behold this glory that we can be transformed to be like him.
When you behold the glory of God, the dazzling glory of this world loses their alluring power over your life, such that the desire for the glory of this world will never made you to sin against God or bow to the devil. Matthew 4:8-10; John 17:5.
We can only behold his glory with open face. Open face is a face that is not covered with veils. Luke 24:31,45. There are veils that God must remove if we are going to behold his glory. 2 Corinthians 4:4. These includes:
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