In 2 Corinthians 3 the apostle Paul defends his apostolic ministry of Jesus Christ over against the critical questions voiced in the congregation at Corinth. Paul calls himself a minister of the new covenant and his apostleship a ministry of the Spirit in glory. Those who think that the apostle does not measure up to Moses, the great servant of the old covenant, are mistaken. Paul’s ministry comes with greater glory, for it is the ministry of the Spirit who makes alive and gives freedom. Whereas the old covenant was characterized by fear, fading glory, and the covering with a veil, in the new covenant in which the congregation may live on the basis of the shedding of Christ’s blood (cf. Lk 22:20), there is freedom, permanent glory and boldness.

In this context the apostle writes those beautiful words of our text, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory....” Here Paul very clearly reminds us, as he does repeatedly in this chapter, of what we read in Exodus 34. Moses spoke with the LORD face-to-face in the tent of meeting. But when he came out to tell Israel what the LORD had commanded, he put a veil over his face. A heavenly radiance gave Moses’ face a supernatural glory. This glory was so strong and awe-inspiring that the Israelites could not stand it.

Whoever considers the Old Testament to be far superior to the New Testament situation, does not understand the progress of God’s work in Christ. In the old covenant it was only Moses’ face that shone, but in the new covenant all the believers reflect the glory of the Lord. Young and old, office-bearers and members of the congregation, they all reflect a heavenly glory -- a glory that is not hidden under a veil, but which shines forth so that it can be seen.

Where did Moses get that radiant face? Was it his own achievement? Did it come from within himself? Exodus 34 gives us a clear answer. The radiance of Moses’ face was only a reflection of the glory of the Lord, the result of meeting with God.

That is how it is also in the congregation of the new covenant. She may radiate heavenly glory. But this splendor is only the consequence of meeting with her Lord who is the Lord of glory (cf. 1 Cor 2:8). The glory of God goes out to the congregation in Jesus Christ. After all, he is the radiance of God’s glory (cf. Heb 1:3).

This points to the gospel. The gospel is “the gospel of the glory of Christ” (cf. 2 Cor 4:4). In the gospel the congregation meets her glorious King. And this meeting is so magnificent that the congregation begins to reflect the glory of her Lord. What happened to Moses, now takes place much more powerfully with the congregation: she reflects the glory of her living Lord without a veil over her face!

This reflection goes together with an enormous metamorphosis (transformation). The glory of Christ turns the life of believers totally around. Paul writes, “And we ... are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory....”  Literally he writes, “we are being transformed.” The apostle uses the same word as the evangelist Matthew does when he describes Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light.” (Mt 17:2.)

Everyone who meets Christ, the Lord, in the gospel, also undergoes a metamorphosis, a transformation. He is transformed “into the same likeness.” The expression Paul uses is very difficult. The apostle probably means that that person comes closer and closer to the glory of the Lord. He starts to resemble the Lord Jesus more and more. Is it not the ultimate goal of God’s salvation that the believers are conformed to the image of Christ (cf. Rom 8:29) until Christ is formed in them (cf. Gal 4:19)?

This transformation, which takes place in the believer, is an ongoing process. Paul says that it is an ever-increasing glory; it goes from one degree of glory to another. This is a typical Semitic way of speaking, comparable with Psalm 84:7, “from strength to strength.” We would say: It becomes more and more glorious. The glory of the living Lord comes down more and more over the life of those who belong to him. His glory is revealed more and more in their life!

We undergo a transformation ... ultimately this is not limited to our heart, our desires, thoughts and actions. From the rest of the New Testament we know that also our body will share in this glorious transformation. Our lowly body will one day be transformed and be like the glorious body of Christ (Phil 3:21). When one of God’s children is buried, we sow a “natural” body. It is raised a “spiritual” body (cf. 1 Cor 15:44). On the new earth we will have a body just as glorious as the body with which Christ rose from the dead. Only then will our metamorphosis, our transformation of which Paul speaks in our text, be completed. We must be totally changed into the likeness of our living Lord.

We do not have to doubt this total transformation into glory. It is a sure thing. It takes place in an ongoing process. Paul points to that yet at the end of our text, “which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” We might perhaps even translate: “as speaks for itself, because of the Lord, who is Spirit.”

For Paul it speaks for itself that our transformation will be gloriously completed. For the Lord, Christ guarantees it. He will not rest before all those who belong to him are totally changed and share completely in his glory.

Therefore the apostle emphasizes that this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. With these words Paul does not erase the distinction between Christ and the Holy Spirit. But he condenses it in these few words because he wants to emphasize strongly that the exalted Lord continues his work through his Holy Spirit. Behind the work of the Spirit in God’s children we have to see Christ, who brings his work of salvation to its completion, and who by his Spirit is in and with his people.

Our metamorphosis from glory to glory is the work of the Spirit. He does the regenerating and renewing. He conforms us more and more to the likeness of the Lord Jesus. Through the gospel the Spirit spreads Christ’s glory over us. The same Spirit will also be actively working on the last day when he will make our lowly body like Christ’s glorious body (cf. Rom 8:11). It is the Holy Spirit who completes that great work of regeneration and renewal.

Behind the Spirit stands our Savior. Our metamorphosis will be completed; it goes indeed from glory to glory. For Jesus is a complete Savior. He does not rest till all who are his share in his glory and we are glorified as complete human beings!

That we belong to Christ, indeed, that says it all!