5/20/2017. TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

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1 TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Turning Point Church 5/21/17 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 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. 8 Shouldn t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 1

2 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! Old Covenant Brought death Temporary glory Condemned man New Covenant Brings life Eternal glory Makes man right with God I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 2

3 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God s good commands for its own evil purposes. 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. 30 So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses face, they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them. 32 Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. 34 But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. 3

4 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 4

5 25 Then Jesus said to them, You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory? 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32 They said to each other, Didn t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 5

6 Dear God. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sin. I want to give you control of my life. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Help me to know you better and to learn from the Bible how I can live a life that pleases you and helps others. Amen. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God truly righteous and holy. Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. 6

7 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! 12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 7

8 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. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 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, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. INTRO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CAN KILL YOU! 1. TURN TO JESUS FOR HELP 2. ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE YOU 3. BE BOLD IN SHARING HOPE WITH PEOPLE CONC: THANK GOD FOR TRANSFORMING YOU 8

9 Follow- Through Guide 9