2 Cor 3:18...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.
This Blog was sparked (at a service at the upper Room) by a dear sister in the Lord, Grace Allen. As we celebrated our first two years of service for Christ at the Upper Room...the sermon made reference to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit of God changes the moral make-up of the believer. The transformation to become a child of God is an instantaneous work of God's Saving Grace.
In order to understand a more defined Glory to Glory one must first understand the distinction between Law given to Israel and Grace given to both Jew and Gentile in the Universal Church, the body of Christ.
Many today teach the "gradual process of God" or "trying" which involves the process of man in human effort. The Grace of God does not involve human action. The Grace of God is the action of God!
The question came up last night, "What does it mean to pass from glory to glory?"
To answer such question the student of God's Word must know the difference between Law and Grace. It must be understood; who the Law of Moses was given to; when the Law began; and when the Law ended. Passing from Glory to Glory makes a distinction between the ministry of the Law of Moses given to Israel and the ministry of the Holy Spirit given to the Church...now present tense.
The ministry of the Law of Moses was glorius...but the ministry of the Holy Spirit today in the Church is even more glorious.
2 Cor 3:7-9...But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory "was to be done away": How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Note how the above verse stated that the Glory of the Law was to be done away.
In the past God ministered to Israel with His Law and Commandments. At present God ministers to the Church through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. The Law was done away with at the Cross of Calvary. The presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit in the Church came into play in this present Grace Age of the Church. That's what the Apostle meant when he said the following,
2 Cor 3:3-6... Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The life of the Spirit is a greater glory than letter of the Law.
2 Cor 4:1-5...Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Going from Glory to Glory makes no reference to the process of a Christian or the gradual change into holiness. Going from Glory to Glory made reference to Israel's transformation from the ministry of the Law and commandments to the ministry of the Spirit under Grace in this present Grace Age. The fruit of the Gospel message is the,"Changed heart and life of a believer in Christ".
By the Grace of God we will post the actual audio recording of this sermon (in the future) at his Blog. Questions bring answers. Thank you Grace Allen for the excellent question at the Upper Room services.
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