Sunday, June 25, 2017

"Bringing It" (2 Corinthians 3:12-18)


Introduction



Who do you look like? Often we have look-a-likes. When you look in the mirror who do you see?



Today I want to talk about growing into the image/likeness of Jesus. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives – to make us more like Jesus. And this is NOT just for its own sake – for our own sake – this is for other people’s sake. We are charged with the responsibility of bringing Jesus to the people around us. We are called to make it easier (not harder) for people to believe in God!



My message title today, “Bringing it”, refers to bringing a representation of Jesus into all of our daily interactions and relationships … for the sake of others. And we would know why this is important. We believe that people need to know Jesus, and that people would benefit greatly from knowing Jesus. And, people are more ready to experience something with integrity, than listen to sometimes empty words.



More than this, the text we read, talks about an unveiling of the glory of God. Now I find that an exciting concept. With Jesus on the scene, there is the very real possibility of the glory of God being seen and experienced … broadly across a community. Again, this happens as Jesus-followers open themselves to growing into the image of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.



Biblical Inspiration



I was really attracted to these verses in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3. Let’s read again verses 17 & 18. We have come to know Jesus, experienced grace and been forgiven, accepted Jesus into our lives as Saviour and Lord, and dedicated ourselves to following him. Well, hopefully! Through the cross and resurrection we are being drawn into the new creation - the old has gone, the new has come. And the Holy Spirit has begun a process in our lives whereby all the attributes and capacities of Jesus have started to take root. That has been traditionally referred to as sanctification – being made ‘holy’, which really means … being ‘set apart’ for God’s purposes (for all to see).



In this we are being brought into true “freedom” (v 17). “Freedom” means that we are no longer confined by sin, regret, or any other addiction or negative behaviour. “Freedom” also means that we naturally exhibit peace, hope and purpose. ‘Peace’ … knowing that we don't have to strive for approval and acceptance anymore, for Jesus loves us and accepts us. ‘Hope’ … knowing that we don't have to wonder about our future, for we are held in God’s faithful hands. ‘Purpose’ … knowing that we don't lack understanding why we are here. A life like that, should be powerful (in a good way) and make a real difference in the lives of others.



In verse 18, Paul reflects on how, as part of this process, we are being transformed into the image of Jesus. We do NOT need to distinguish too much here between God and Jesus, for Jesus came to fully reveal who God was; and so it is this ‘Divine’ image we are being transformed into. Lest this sounds way to out there, we shall try to show how the rubber hits the road with this. After all, in being transformed into the image of Jesus, this has to make sense in real life … like it did for Jesus when he was on earth. We still remain our unique selves; and just as it takes a village to bring up a child, it takes a collection of unique versions of Jesus to raise a community!!



We ourselves, each of us, anyway, was made in God’s image. It’s just that this image in us has been marred by sin. This is our own personal sin, and also the effect of the accumulated sin of a fallen world … that subtly impacts on us every time we fail to resist. This is where we follow a culture that is not inclined toward Kingdom values. This is the earthbound corruption that affects us all. And, there are alternative images to Jesus that can be adopted.



We might just prefer our own image! Would we rather be like Jesus, or prefer Jesus to be like me? We might like to design God in our image! We have our own idea of what we want God to be like. We might like to eliminate Jesus from our consciousness (and stay in charge ourselves)! Some may say, we have no king but Caesar, and prefer that Jesus be crucified.



But, in all this, God’s (pure perfect) image has NOT been marred; and this can be restored in us as we submit to Jesus. So the image we were born into, is the image that we can recapture through relationship with Jesus. The power of sin is broken.



The Unveiling



In our growth process there is an unveiling of a face … a new face … one that no longer reflects shame, but only reflects the glory of God. We once lacked the sort of face that could make any difference at all ... it was tied up in hopelessness. But now, we have experienced God’s glory, and this has become part of who we are. “… when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (v 16).



Earlier in the passage (vs 13-15), Paul draws an example from the life of Moses. When Moses spent time with God on Mt Sinai his face would glow. When he came back before the people he would veil his face. Paul here suggests that when Moses departed from the presence (or glory) of God, the radiance in his face diminished, and to cover that fact … Moses veiled his face. There was an understanding here that without God, it was very difficult to live up to the ‘law and commandments’ – this sense of failure needing to be veiled.



Paul used this to point to the difference between the old and new ‘covenants’. This showed that the ‘law’ or the ‘old covenant’ was never going to be enough to restore human well-being … the ‘law’ would be the ethical guide, but NOT the ultimate path to salvation. The Scripture says the people’s “minds were hardened” (v.14a) – they had a hard time obeying the ‘law’, and were getting stuck. Guilt, shame, and a sense of hopelessness remained with them, and their faces would be veiled. The ‘old covenant’ would never provide for a permanency of relationship with God ... only Jesus could do that.

Without Jesus we necessarily have veiled faces. But with Jesus (and the ‘new covenant’), faces can be unveiled – permanently unveiled. Uncovering the face, because we know Jesus, means that, we have gained new confidence and freedom. Because of condemnation under the ‘old covenant’, people were shame-faced and hesitant in the presence of God, whereas under the ‘new covenant’, people are open and confident with their God. There is no longer any confusion about who we trust and who we serve. We are completely free in the Holy Spirit to live, speak and act for Jesus.

What Changes?



It is the glory of God that is then seen reflected in our faces. We look in the mirror and see the glory of God, not for our own sake, but for those who witness this. Yet anything that shows on the face actually derives from our inner character. We undergo a moral and ethical transformation. And the sort of character we need, was most clearly seen in the life of Jesus. This means we will look like Jesus, and by extension, talk like Jesus, act like Jesus, live like Jesus.



Michael Frost talks about us living “questionable lives” … to surprise the world, i.e. to invite questions from others. Eventually, we will need to know what to say when those questions come. So, we need to become very familiar with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). In so doing, we have a dialogue with Jesus’ life. Michael Frost refers to us needing to be “marinated” in the Gospels, so we can share any part of the Jesus story as the occasion calls for. When people ask you why you live as you do, our goal should be to let them know … that it’s because of the example and teaching of Jesus.



When people ask me why I’m so committed to areas of social justice … at some stage, I will refer to Jesus. When we are concerned for the poor, we can say that this is because Jesus was concerned for them first. What if a neighbour of yours was to ask you, ‘Tell me, what do you know about Jesus’? What would you say? Michael Frost concluded … that when we live “questionable lives” people should be asking us about our motivations; and then we should be able to speak about Jesus … with energy and enthusiasm, with reverence and awe, and with delight and wonder.



The most impacting capacity of Jesus' human life was his radical forgiveness of others. This was afforded to many broken people, whose lives had taken debilitating directions - prostitution, adultery, corrupt tax-collecting, etc. Jesus was even able to forgive those who put him on the cross, mocked him, and gambled over his clothes. This means that we should be increasingly able to emulate this capacity to forgive, and quickly deal with any instances of bitterness in our own lives – ably releasing ourselves and others.

Another consistent capacity that Jesus expressed was compassion. He was moved deeply within when he saw people struggling under disease, disability, demon-possession, or other forms of oppression. Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Jesus. And (sacrificial) service is what drove Jesus in his ministry (Philippians 2:6).

Others will see the ongoing work God is doing in our lives ... becoming convinced that Jesus is real. If we share Jesus well, it will then lead people to question their own lives. The glory of God is starting to be unveiled far and wide. This is not because we are perfect, rather the opposite ... because we are imperfect ... yet the Holy Spirit, as we allow, is making us look like Jesus for the sake of others ... all those who will get to have a look at us. This is despite the warts and blemishes and scars and nail-marks.

In this, we have joined God in the redemption, repair and renewal of this world. The glory of God has been veiled – “ … the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers" (R B Hays). Can we get a vision of the unveiling of the glory of God across our community … across the nation … across the world?! It begins with our faces being unveiled!! The real Gospel ministry is unveiling Jesus – sharing how King Jesus has changed our life, and is still changing our life. We do some life modelling within the relationships we form, and this starts to take effect as we gain and develop another person’s trust.


Conclusion



This ‘unveiling’ doesn't usually happen overnight ... this is progressive (NRSV & NIV) - an extended process - a continuous and progressive transformation. As we experience life, with all its challenges, struggles, problems and setbacks, and as we deal with these in partnership with God, the glory of God becomes more apparent in our being and the way we carry ourselves.

We have an amazing opportunity to offer Jesus through our authentic presence. The Holy Spirit helps us demonstrate Christlike characteristics – we are to look like Jesus and imitate him. As we come to know Jesus, and in all ways fix our eyes on him, we can grow more and more like him. As a church, if we collectively want to be like Jesus, we will gain tremendous momentum, experience the glory of God; and not just in our worship, but through all our endeavours in the local community. This is the work of the Holy Spirit amongst us! Let’s ‘bring it’!!

Closing Prayer



Lord, help us to gaze on You, to study You, to know You. Transform us into Your image … seen in what we say, how we love others, and how we worship You. May others see Jesus in us. Amen.


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