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From Glory to Glory

We now all having been unveiled in face, the glory of the Lord, appearing as in a mirror the same image, are being transformed from glory to glory even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In the face of Christ is unveiled glory, and we all having been unveiled to see this glory, are being transformed from glory to glory. We have great hope and boldness in Christ because we have looked into the glory of God unveiled, in the face of Jesus Christ. Moses put a veil over his face so the sons of Israel would not gaze to the extent of that fading away rather their minds were closed, even today the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant and only can be removed in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:12-14). For it was God who sent his Son, in the likeness of the radiance of His glory (Hebrews 1:3). Who became flesh, like his brethren, but of the glory like as the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth, who leads many sons to glory (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:10, 17). They beheld him in fleshly form, the glory and proclaim to us through the gospel, the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4–6; 1 John 1). In the face of Christ is the unveiling of the glory of the knowledge of God, in whom we are being transformed from glory to glory.

"'out of darkness light shines,' who has flooded our hearts with the gospel of the glory of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4–6).

Paul writes we do not proclaim ourselves but Christ as Lord and ourselves through Christ because the one God said, 'out of darkness light shines,' and has revealed to us the glory of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ. Who is the image of God, the radiance of His glory, through whom we come to the knowledge God. The world does not have such glorious knowledge of God, "in which case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

"... the good news of the glory of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4–6).

Paul writes ever since the creation of the world God's eternal power and divinity were made known but even though they knew God, they changed the glory of God for an image like a corruptible man and exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:20-25). Why is this? Is it "on account of the mind of the flesh is enmity to God, not submitting to the law of God, for it has no power to" (Romans 8:7)? We who were incapable of comprehending his glory God who flooded our hearts with the light of his glory, the knowledge of Him. In that glory, in the face of Christ, we beholding as in a mirror, are being transformed from glory to glory.

"... the glory of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4–6).

Christ made known to men, God the Father's name, and his word, Jesus being the Word of God, the Word of Life, the eternal life proclaimed to us. (John 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1-4, John 17: 6-8) "And the glory which you have given me I give them so that existing one as we are one" (John 17:22). The glory that God had given Jesus he gives to those who believe in Him. That is amazing and worth thinking about. Jesus has become the Way to the Father, reconciling the world to Him. This glory is not just a future tense as Jesus prayed those who believe would be with him and see the glory the Father has given him, but it is also a present tense, from glory to glory. Jesus prayed we would be one so that the world knows the Father and his love, the same love that he loved the Son with. "The glory of the knowledge of God" speaks to the glory being to know God the Father, "in the face of Christ" speaks of the knowledge of God being revealed through the Son. To know God; his name, his word, his love, his life, his glory. 

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-12, ESV) 

He chose us in Christ, predestined us for adoption, according to his purpose, working all things according to the counsel of his will, according to our good, so that we who who hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory, predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). If Christ exists the exact radiance of His glory and we in the glory in the face of Christ are being conformed to that image then we in Christ are being transformed from glory to glory. This means presently, though there will be a consummation of it, a finality when we see the glory of Jesus face to face. To me this is what this verse means;

"We now all having, been unveiled in face the glory of the Lord, reflecting as in a mirror the same image, are being transformed from glory to glory even as from the Lord, the Spirit."*

The word unveiled, it is from ana (in the sense of reversal) and kalupto "cover, veil"; to unveil -- uncover, open, take away.* What is being unveiled? How God is making known himself, the glorious knowledge of God in Christ? Perhaps it is the reversal of the sinful nature, though we were created for His glory, all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Perhaps the reversal is of the vain imagination, and foolish darkened heart, and the mind that does not approve of God, through transformation, as Paul writes, by the renewing of our minds that we are being transformed from glory to glory? Perhaps it is the unveiling of the blindness that the god of this world disillusioned us to so that we now behold the unveiled glory of God in the face of Jesus, behold as if reflecting in a mirror, the glory of God? What are we beholding as in a mirror? But Jesus the glory of God? The idea of beholding as in a mirror speaks of transformation, into Christ's image, from glory to glory?* 

"Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:2, ESV)

We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Through suffering which produces maturity, and hope, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, that we are being transformed from glory to glory. Is the glory future or present? "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV) Or can we translate this verse as "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be always revealed to the extent of us?" I believe the scriptures point to it being both present and future glory, from glory to glory. This is why we can rejoice in the hope of glory because we are experiencing it and will experience it fully one day. "For presently we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12, ESV). There is much hope, as in Christ we are the praise of his glory. As we grow in grace in the knowledge of Jesus, into the fullness of Christ, we see more clearly, like in a mirror the reflection of His image in us as we are being transformed from glory to glory.

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