Being Tranformed

Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Context: Paul has been defending his ministry. Apparently people thought he was commending himself for the growth of the Christian movement, and others wanted him to get reference letters from the original apostles. He goes on to explain how Christ has changed the way people can approach God.

Text:
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

God made us in his own image, but we quickly shattered that image by giving in to sin (which God cannot do). Through the years he taught us how to make our way back to his image with the law, but we failed miserably. So instead of rigid rules, God sent his son, made in his perfect image, to show us in person how we must live.

The cool thing is that when we follow Christ and abide by his teachings, God will work to transform us back to that original creation. We are being transformed into the image of God again!