Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Beholding the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ – Part 6

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.  4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[f] for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 3:17 – 4:6

A.  What are we called to?

1.  A personal beholding of the Lord Jesus: 2 Corinthians 4:6

2.  A personal transformation from beholding the Lord Jesus:    2 Corinthians 3:18

B.  What are we to behold in the Lord Jesus?

1.  God’s glory revealed in the fullness of His grace:  John 1:14

2.  God’s glory revealed in the fullness of his truth.  John 1:14

C.  What are the means to behold the Lord Jesus?

1.  Scripture

 a.  Christ’s Gospel publicly heard:  1 Cor. 1:17, 1 Cor. 2:1-2

 b.  Christ’s Person privately sought: John 5:39, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:32

2.  Prayer

a.  Prerequisites to behold the glory of God in Christ

–  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-centered: Matthew 6:9-10

–  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-dependent: 2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor. 4:4-6

–  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-seeking: John 17:1-3, Jeremiah 29:11-14

TODAY

b.  The Practice of beholding the Glory of God in Christ

–  Beholding the glory of God is a Trinitarian experience: 2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor. 4:6, Eph. 1:15-21, Eph. 3:14-19, Eph. 2:18

 –  Beholding the glory of God is a Weaning experience: 2 Cor. 3:11-12, Col. 1:27, Titus 2:11-13, Rev. 5:6-14, 1 John 3:1-3, Eph. 1:15-21, Eph. 3:14-19, Matt. 6:9, Phil. 1:9-10, Col. 1:11-1

–  Beholding the glory of God is a Family experience: 2 Cor. 4:6, Eph. 1:15-17, Eph. 3:14-17