We are being transformed into His image, with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord

We are being transformed into His image, with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord

2 Cor 3:18

¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Rom 8:29

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

1 Cor 15:49

⁴⁹ And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we^[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.

Php 3:21

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

1 John 3:2

² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)    We are being transformed into His image, with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord

2)    For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son

3)    Just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we^[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.

4)    The Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

5)    But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is.

The Spirit of the Lord gives us freedom

The Spirit of the Lord gives us freedom

2 Cor 3:17

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 8:32, 36

³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

Rom 8:2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death.

Gal 5:1, 13

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  The Spirit of the Lord gives us freedom

2)  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

3)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

4)  There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death.

5)  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

6)  We were called to be free

How much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness

How much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness

2 Cor 3:9

⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 

Rom 1:17

¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[f]

Rom 3:21, 22

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.²² This righteousness is given through faith in^[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

We learn the following from the above verses

1)    The ministry that brings righteousness would be glorious ministry

2)    For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed

3)    The righteous will live by faith

4)    This righteousness is given through faith in^[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe.

5)    For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit

2 Cor 2:17

¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Acts 20:33-35

³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. ³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

2 Cor 4:2

² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 

1 Th 2:5

⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)  Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit

2)  In Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

3)  We must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

4)  Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.

5)  We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.  Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Fragrance incense pleasing to God

Fragrance incense pleasing to God

2 Cor 2:14

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Eze 20:41

⁴¹ I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.

Eph 5:2

¹ Follow God’s example,  therefore, as dearly loved children² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Php 4:18

¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

We learn the following from the above verses

1)    God always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere

2)    God will accept us as fragrant incense when He brings us out from the nations and He will be proved holy through us in the sight of the nations.

3)    We are to follow God’s example, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

4)    When we help God’s servants and His people, God will meet all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.