A letter from Christ. Written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. Engraved not on tablets of stone. Instead, inscribed on tablets of human hearts. That is how Paul regarded the saints at Corinth (2Cor. 3:3). And, not gonna lie, that’s how I regard myself. I think it’s a safe application. Written to them but also written for me, I think it’s fair to count myself as a page in the eternal epistle God is writing through grace by His Spirit.

Not that I’m much of a letter to read. There’s a lot more editing to be done. But as I hover over 2Corinthians 3 this morning . . . and if I’m understanding Paul’s comparison of the old and new covenants correctly . . . and if I’m picking up on what Paul is laying down concerning the life giving ministry of the Spirit of God . . . then I am, to some degree, reflecting and radiating the glory of God.

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV)

The old covenant was given through Moses. Written on tablets of stones, it provided the means for relationship based on the letter of the law. Though Paul describes it as “the ministry of death” (v.7) and “the ministry of condemnation” (v.9) it came with glory. Such glory that it caused Moses’ face to shine. Such glory that the Israelites couldn’t look upon the face of Moses and so he wore a veil (v.7). Glorious not because it provided the means of salvation, but rather, glorious because it was God’s appointed manner to direct men and women toward the Son of salvation. Yet it was a glory that faded.

Cue the glory that surpasses it (v.10), the glory that is permanent (v.11). Not the glory of a binding law conveyed through a man of God coming down from a mountain, but the glory of born-again life given by the Spirit of God come down from heaven itself. The Spirit of life and light supplanting the letter of the law. The glory of the Spirit surpassing the fading shine on Moses’ face. The Spirit of God providing once for all, and once forever, freedom. The veil removed through Christ (v.14b). The glow of glory directly reflected upon, and radiated from within, the faces of believers.

We turn to Jesus and the veil of darkness, guilt, and shame is removed. Thus, we behold the glory of the Lord. Literally, we become a mirror reflecting the glory of the risen Christ as by faith we are brought face to face with Jesus through the active agency of His indwelling Spirit.

Though dimly, we reflect Christ. His majesty and radiance faintly seen in sinners saved by grace. Those once of the letter of the law now walking in the freedom of the Spirit. Those once bound by sin and death are now released by the finished work of the resurrected Christ. Those once with hearts of stone, now given hearts of flesh — hearts which can be written upon by the Spirit to mirror a measure of the wondrous work of God’s overflowing love.

But beyond just mirroring something of the glory, we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. The reflecting of His glory increasingly becomes a radiating of that glory. The Son’s rays not just bouncing off our faces but emitting from within our very being.

As the Spirit of life continues His sanctifying work of conforming us into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), we emanate the glory of Christ. And that, because we no longer live but Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20). As such, the mind and heart of Christ bubble to the surface exuding the presence of God from within. And this not of ourselves, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Reflecting the glory of God.

Radiating the glory of God.

Even so, blessed Spirit, keep writing the letter. Keep transforming us from one degree of glory to another.

Only by God’s grace. Always for God’s glory.