Goodbye 2023.
Hello 2024!
We just finished off the year in celebration of the Advent, and now we welcome in 2024 with cheers in anticipation of the great and glorious adventures to come. My hope this new chapter in our lives will be one wherein divine transformation takes place.
These words from the Paul resonate with particular significance as we embark on this journey: “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” (2 Cor. 3:18).[1]
1 Corinthians 3:18 is one of the four instances wherein we encounter the Greek verb metamorphoō [μεταμορφόω], which means “to change,” “to transfigure,” or “to transform.”[2] Simon Kistemaker indicates, “The first two occurrences are parallels and refer to Jesus’ transfiguration in the presence of Moses and Elijah with Peter, John, and James as observers. This was an external visible change in Jesus’ appearance. The third and fourth passages (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18) speak of an internal change that one cannot readily observe. Yet the transformation changes the entire person in heart, soul, and mind.” [3]
The Advent of Christ Jesus inaugurates the New Covenant wherein divine glory is unveiled to us. Paul tells us: “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 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” (2 Cor. 3:12-17; cf. Exod. 34:29-35). Put another way: “Those under the new covenant behold God’s glory even more plainly than Moses could (Ex 33:20); thus, like Moses, they are transformed to reflect God’s glory by the Spirit.”[4]
Now the metamorphosis or transformation experienced in 2 Corinthians 3:18 is not a singular event but a continual process — daily transformation. This means that every day we are in the process of becoming reflectors of Christ’s divine glory.
The Christian is like silver ore being refined and fashioned by the silversmith into something precious. John Chrysostom observed, “Just as if pure silver be turned towards the sun’s rays, it will itself also shoot forth rays, not from its own natural property merely but also from the solar lustre; so also doth the soul being cleansed and made brighter than silver, receive a ray from the glory of the Spirit, and send it back” (Homilies on 2 Corinthians VII). God thus shapes us into reflections of His love, compassion, and grace.
Every encounter a moment for His glory to shine brightly through us. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to experience God’s transformative grace, which polishes us into ever brighter reflections of Christ-like glory. Yes, there will be hard times in days to come. We all will face off against some crisis. But God can even use these moments to build within us virtues we could never have gain otherwise. To the justified by faith, Paul writes, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rm. 5:3-5).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” says James (Jas. 1:2-4).
Peter, likewise, encourages us: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Pet. 4:12-16).
Let us anticipate the unfolding of God’s glory in our lives. May the days ahead be marked by a deepening connection with the Spirit, leading us to embody the love and grace of our Creator.
— WGN
[1] All Scripture cited from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), unless noted.
[2] The word “transformed” in 1 Corinthians 3:18 is used to translate the verb metamorphoumetha [μεταμορφούμεθα], which is the present passive form of Metamorphoō.
[3] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, vol. 19, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 129.
[4] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 2 Co 3:18.
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