Growing spiritually is co-partnering with the Holy Spirit to transform us by removing the veil and revealing the glory (Christ) that is within us. Growing deep in faith spiritual involves two components, three dimensions and four principles.
2. 2CO 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope,
we are very bold. 13 We 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. 14 But 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. 15 Even to
this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their
hearts. (NIV)
2 Cor. 3:12-18
3. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the
veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled
faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-
increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit.
2 Cor. 3:12-18
4. General introduction to 2
Corinthians
Comparison of the ancient
Israelites and Christians
Old Testament background
Comparison of the old covenant
and the new covenant
Unveiling the Glory (growing
deeper in faith)
6. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 structure
Chiastic (J. Lambrecht)
A. 12–13a (13b) — We (apostles)
B. 14a
C. 14b
D. 14c — They (Israelites)
C’. 15
B’. 16 (17)
A’. 18 — We (Christians)
7. A. 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We
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.
We(apostles)
B. 14 But their minds were made dull,
C. for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.
D. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken
away. (Israelites)
C’. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
B’. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
A’. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit.
We (Christians)
Old and New Covenant
8. Old and New Covenant
2 Cor 3:12-18
Old Covenant New Covenant
Moses Paul (Apostles)
Veiled (minds and hearts) Not veiled
Laws (rules) Spirit (freedom)
Fading radiance Permanent/ever-lasting
9. Old Testament background
JER 31:31 "The time is coming," declares the
LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with
the house of Israel and with the house of
Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made
with their forefathers when I took them by the
hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they
broke my covenant, though I was a husband to
them, " declares the LORD. 33 "This is the
covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put
my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Jeremiah 31: 31-33
10. Old Testament background
26 I will give you a new heart and
put a new spirit in you; I will remove
from you your heart of stone and
give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I
will put my Spirit in you and move
you to follow my decrees and be
careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36: 26-27
11. Old and New Covenant
2 Cor 3:12-18
Old Covenant New Covenant
Moses Paul (Apostles)
Veiled (minds and hearts) Not veiled
Laws (rules) Spirit (freedom)
Fading radiance Permanent/ever-lasting
Heart of stone Heart of flesh
12. Unveiling the Glory and
growing deep in faith
3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-
increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit.
13. Unveiling the Glory and
growing deep in faith
What is spiritual growth?
Growing in Christ
Spiritual development
Discipleship
Maturing in the faith
Renovation of the soul
Spiritual formation
16. ―The best artist has that thought alone
Which is contained within the marble shell;
The sculptor's hand can only break the spell
To free the figures slumbering in the stone.‖
Michelangelo (1475-1564).
19. 3:18 And we, who
with unveiled
faces all reflect the
Lord's glory, are
being transformed
into his likeness
with ever-
increasing glory,
which comes from
the Lord, who is
the Spirit.
20. ―in the Christian life we
are paradoxically
becoming what we are
…Christians strive from
this identity, and not
unto it.‖
21. Unveiling the Glory and
growing deep in faith
2 components
3 dimensions
4 principles
22. Unveiling the Glory and
growing deep in faith
2 components of spiritual growth
Holy Spirit
Spiritual
heart
23. 3 dimensions of spiritual growth
Person-in formation
(growing into Christlikeness)
24. 3 dimensions of spiritual growth
Person-in formation (growing
into Christlikeness)
Persons-in-community
formation (becoming a people
of God)
25. 3 dimensions of spiritual growth
Person-in formation (growing
into Christlikeness)
Persons-in-community
formation (becoming a people
of God)
Persons-in-mission formation
(becoming agents of God’s
redemptive purposes)
28. Listening to the Holy Spirit
(holy listening, holy seeing, wholly listening)
Reading the bible
Prayer
Circumstances
Listening to your emotions
(inner prompting)
Audible voice
29. 4 principles of spiritual growth
Listen to the Holy
Spirit
Say no to self and
Yes to God
30. 4 principles of spiritual growth
Listen to the Holy
Spirit
Say no to self and
Yes to God
Journey with one
another
31. 4 principles of spiritual growth
Listen to the Holy Spirit
Say no to self and Yes to
God
Journey with one another
See where God is working
and join Him there
35. 4 principles of spiritual growth
Listen to the Holy Spirit
Say no to self and Yes to
God
Journey with one another
See where God is working
and join Him there
36.
37. Unveiling the Glory
Growing deep in faith
2 components
• Holy Spirit
• Spiritual heart
3 dimensions
• Growing into Christlikeness
• Becoming a people of God
• Becoming agents of God’s redemptive
purposes
4 principles
• Listen to the Holy Spirit
• Say no to self and yes to God
• Journey with one another
• See where God is working and join Him
there