Behold the Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ – Your Face I Seek
Exposition of 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6
2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could
not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the
ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in
this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is
much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech-- 13 unlike
Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what
was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the
reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses
is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one 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 liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4
4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have
renounced the hidden things of shame, 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. 3 But
even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has
blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants
for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
I. A FAR MORE GLORIOUS LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE NEW COVENANT IN JESUS CHRIST
(2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-13)
The background of this passage is based an amazing account of human encounter with the Almighty God recorded in
Exodus 32-34. Exodus 32-34 records some of the most glorious encounters given to human kind in the Old Testament era
and some of the most grievous response from humanity towards God’s invitation for encounter. Moses, the prophet of God
had been used by God to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt and to lead them to the mountain of God to worship Him. Moses
had been shown the pattern of the tabernacle of Moses and purposes in Exodus 24-27 and the detail of what the Sinai
Covenant entails. In Exodus, 31:18 and Exodus 32, as the process of giving Sinaitic Covenant was about to be completed
with the two tablets of stone engraved with the law of God in the hand of Moses, the Israelites initiated “idolatrous worship
of the golden calf” at their camp.
God warned Moses about this incident and Moses descended the Mountain of the Lord. In great wrath, he broke the two
tablets when he saw the unrestrained idolatrous worship of God’s people. He began to discipline them and pleaded with
God not to abandon His people. God did reveal His intention to send only His “Angel” to help them inherit the land of
Canaan. Moses pleaded with God for His presence to go with them. Moses also moved his tent outside the camp of the
people. God still met Moses at the “tent of meeting”.
In fact, it was during one encounter in that tent outside the camp of the people, when Moses asked to God to show His glory.
God did answer Moses’ petition to let His presence go with the Israelites and to reveal His name and glory to Moses.
Subsequently, Moses was commanded by God prepare two tablets of stone like the initial two and then ascend the
mountain of the Lord. Moses did as God commanded and the two tablets of stone were engraved the second time by the
finger of God. Moses dwelt in God’s presence without food and water for forty days and forty nights and return to the camp
of Israelites with his countenance glowing with God’s glory.
1. The superiority of the ministry of life engraved by the Holy Spirit in human hearts (vs.7-8)
It is the desire of God from the beginning that every dot ad iota of the law will be fulfilled in Christ. Prophet Jeremiah
prophesied about the coming new covenant where the law of God will be engraved in human hearts by the Spirit of the
living God.
2. The superiority of the glory in new covenant saints in Christ compared to the passing glory on the face of Moses
(vs. 7, 13)
Truly, the life of Moses was one of the most glorious in the Old Covenant. As a man who lived in the Old Covenant period, he
had the privilege to converse with God face to face. In two occasions, Moses spent forty days and forty nights in God’s
presence when he received the pattern of the tabernacle of Moses and the gift of the two tablets of stone engraved with
the law of God by the finger of God. In one instances, the scripture records that Moses actually did not eat and drink for
forty days and nights in God’s presence. He was consumed by God’s glory and presence.
However, Paul exhorted the Corinthians, that even that glory that was upon the face of Moses was passing away but
the glory of the new covenant saints has a permanent and growing nature when we abide in Christ.
3. The superiority and permanent glory of the ministry of righteousness (vs. 9-12)
The Old covenant law which Paul described as ministry of condemnation as it strengthened the consciousness of sin was
nothing compare to the righteousness attained by faith in Christ that led to eternal life. In fact at the coming of the Lord,
we will all be changed at a twinkling of an eye. From mortality, we will be clothed with immortality in degrees of glory.
II. VEILED OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GLORY OF GOD TAKEN AWAY IN JESUS CHRIST
(2 CORINTHIANS 3:14-17)
1. Apart from Christ, veil remains over the minds and hearts in the reading of the Old Testament (vs. 14-15)
The people of God could not look at the passing glory that is upon the face of Moses so that they put a veil upon him. Such
veil and blindness remains upon those who read the law and prophets without the Christ and His Spirit However, Christ has
opened a new and living way by His own blood and entered into the Holy of Holiest and torn the veil (that is His own flesh-
Hebrews 10:19)
2. In Christ, this veil and blindness is taken away (vs. 16)
In Christ, we have the full privilege into the Holy of Holiest and have access to the glorious knowledge of God in Christ. Thus
we are called into royal priesthood and a holy nation.
3. In Christ, life in the His Spirit brings liberty (vs.17)
We have freedom in the Spirit through a new and living way made possible by Christ’s redemption that enabled us to grow
from glory to glory unto all eternity.
III. TRANSFORMATION BY THE SPIRIT THROUGH BEHOLDING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE
FACE OF JESUS CHRIST (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18-4:6)
1. Beholding the glory of the Lord (vs.18)
Meditation of Christ and posturing ourselves before His throne in the place of prayer and worship with fasting produces a
transforming effect and the evidence of the fruits of the Spirit. Moses’ encountered on Mount Sinai in Exodus an excellent
example of that reality. He merely spent forty days and nights in God’s presence in utter weakness of his flesh (fastings)
and God’s glory reside on His mortal body.
2. Renouncing hidden things of shame and deceit (vs. 1-2a)
As bearer of His presence and glory, we must allow the word of truth to manifest without compromise. The manifestation of
the word of truth in our life often brings conviction even in our own life and those around us that resulted in renunciation of
hidden things of shame.
3. Preaching the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (vs.3-6)
The preaching of Christ is not merely an intellectual discourse. It is the contending for the manifestation of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ through preaching. As new covenant saints, we have access to this knowledge
of the glory of God in Christ and also called to be habitation of His glory in the Spirit.
IV. CONCLUSION
The One who is greater than Moses has come. Jesus Christ, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image
of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power has revealed Himself to us and given His Spirit as an
anointing within us. This is a glorious age to live in. However, it is still dim compare of the eternal weight of glory prepared
for the saints in the age to come. We must practice the beholding of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and
experience this personal and corporate transformation. The world needs to experience the genuine ministry of righteousness
with excelling glory given to the new covenant saints. Let’s contend for this glorious reality in the context of night and day
prayer.