How can I become more like Christ?

The answer to this question brings us to the third great truth of the chapter. Christ will be manifested to all men only as we have before us the living Christ in the glory as our Object. So the Apostle writes, "We all looking on the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory" (v. 18, N. Tr.). There is a transforming power in beholding the Lord in glory. This transforming power is available for all believers — the youngest as well as the oldest; "we all," not simply "we Apostles", beholding the glory of the Lord "are changed into the same image". This change is not affected by our own efforts, nor by wearying ourselves in the endeavour to be like the Lord. Nor is it by seeking to imitate some devoted saint. It is by beholding the glory of the Lord. There is no veil on His face, and as we behold Him, not only every veil of darkness will pass from our hearts, but morally we shall become increasingly like Him, changing from glory to glory. Gazing upon the Lord in glory we are lifted above all the weakness and failure that we find in ourselves, and all the evil around, to discover and delight in His perfection. As the bride in the Song of Songs can say, "I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste."

Etymology, while it may sometimes assist, is worse than useless when relied upon for the interpretation of the word of God. It forgets that it has to do with the formation of a word, rather than its use or application after it is formed. For example, the above passage is given, and no doubt correctly according to the etymology of the word, in the Authorized Translation: "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord," etc. A twofold error has been the result. First, it has been contended by some that we "mirror" the glory of the Lord; and by others, secondly, that we "reflect" it. In both cases our gradual transformation from glory to glory is lost sight of; and, worse even than that, it makes the believer to "mirror" or to reflect the glory before he is "changed into the same image." The truth is, the words "as in a glass" must be omitted if we would apprehend the Lord's mind. Then it is at once seen that we have two things: the glory of the Lord, "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6. Compare John 13:31-32); and then that we, by beholding it (for it is unveiled), are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord (or, by the Lord the Spirit). It is doubtless in the Word that this glory is displayed before our gaze; and the effect of our contemplation of it, in the power of the Holy Ghost, is to bring us into a growing moral correspondence with Him on whom we look.

The last verses of 2 Corinthians 3 bring us to the focus of the contrast of the Christian's position with that of Moses and Israel. Only we must read verse 18 a little more true to the original. It is not our face that is unveiled: it is the glory of the Lord. "We all beholding [or looking upon] the glory of the Lord with unveiled face are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit." Moses had to put a veil upon his face for Israel: the Lord Jesus has not to do so for us; though the difference is great between the reflection of partial glory in Moses' face, and the whole glory of God shining in the face of the Lord Jesus. What would have been Moses' destruction is the holy liberty of the Christian in the power of the Holy Ghost: for "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." The light of that glory tells of peace made by the blood of His cross, and of the perfection of the work on the ground of which we are identified with Him in life and righteousness. Every motive of divine and unutterable love engages our hearts to be occupied with that glory as it shines for us in His face. Look round the circle of the nearest and dearest to us; is there any face we have the same title to look into as His who gave Himself for us, all radiant as it is with the glory of God?

But there is more than this: we behold this unveiled glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit." Occupation by the Spirit with the glories of Christ, has a transforming, sanctifying effect. We are changed into the same image. Think of that, ye followers after "perfect sanctification." Do you desire the Spirit's way of holiness? Let Him unfold before your gaze the beauties of a risen Christ. He will not occupy you with yourselves save to make you abhor and loathe yourselves, but with the "chiefest among ten thousand." And as you gaze, the image of that One will be taken in your heart, you will be transformed into the same image.

The Spirit of God works to reproduce in us the likeness of the One with whom we are occupied. It is not a question so much of trusting Him as studying Him; it is a matter of love rather than of faith. Loving Him, we come to resemble Him, and thus the Spirit produces in our lives love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.

We know that the Spirit of God has come to take of the things of Christ and show them to us. Thus Christ is formed in us by being presented to us as our Life, our Pattern, our Object, and our Power. As we become followers of Christ, according to the example of the apostle, so shall we become true representatives of Christ, and enjoy true Christian experience.

Now, what God did in Paul, He is also doing in each one of us who have believed. God by His Spirit is writing Christ upon our hearts (2 Cor. 3:3). The law could not do that. It could only tell man what he ought to do and what is expected of him, but it could not change him (Rom. 8:3-4). But the Christian has received new life (Christ), and a new nature that delights in what is of God. The Holy Spirit now dwelling in the believer, occupies us with Christ where He is in the very presence of God. As I am occupied with the Man Christ Jesus where He is now, a transformation will take place in me, a moral change, making me more and more like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

If then the gentleness of Christ is to be reproduced in the believer, the question may profitably be considered: How is this to be effected? The hindrance to it is plainly in the character of the flesh in us, its impatience, impetuosity, its obstinacy and wilfulness. This much may be discerned even in the case of Peter, whose failures during his companionship with the Lord on earth may all be traced to the eager forwardness of the flesh, notwithstanding his ardent affection for his Lord. It is essential, therefore, before the gentleness of Christ can be displayed, that the character of the flesh should be experimentally learned; that discovering, if through painful discipline, there is no good thing in it, we may hail with gratitude the glad tidings of grace — that it has already come up before God for judgment in the cross of Christ, and has been judged before His eye for ever. A new state will then be entered upon and enjoyed — the state of being ‘in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you’ (Rom. 8:9). Thereupon there will be liberty for occupation with Christ, the One who loved us, and gave Himself for us; divine affections will be formed within us, so that seeking for ever-growing intimacy with Christ, He, formed within us, will ever more distinctly be manifested through our walk and conduct.

If then the gentleness of Christ is to be reproduced in the believer, the question may profitably be considered: How is this to be effected? The hindrance to it is plainly in the character of the flesh in us, its impatience, impetuosity, its obstinacy and wilfulness. This much may be discerned even in the case of Peter, whose failures during his companionship with the Lord on earth may all be traced to the eager forwardness of the flesh, notwithstanding his ardent affection for his Lord. It is essential, therefore, before the gentleness of Christ can be displayed, that the character of the flesh should be experimentally learned; that discovering, if through painful discipline, there is no good thing in it, we may hail with gratitude the glad tidings of grace - that it has already come up before God for judgment in the cross of Christ, and has passed away from before His eye for ever. A new state will then be entered upon and enjoyed - the state of being "in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Thereupon there will be liberty for occupation with Christ, the One who loved us, and gave Himself for us; divine affections will be formed within us, so that seeking for ever growing intimacy with Christ, He, formed within us, will ever more distinctly be manifested through our walk and conduct.

First of all, we will ask the reader to turn to 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." In this striking scripture the Lord is presented to us as glorified, with the glory of God displayed in His face (2 Cor. 4:6), as He is seated at God's right hand. The contrast is with Moses who, when he came out from the presence of Jehovah, put on a veil, because the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold his face for the glory of his countenance (2 Cor. 3:7; Ex. 34:33-36). Our blessed Lord has His face unveiled (the word "open" is really unveiled), and we, that is, believers, are permitted, and are able, to behold it, for the very glory that shines there proclaims the eternal satisfaction of God with the work of Christ accomplished on the cross — on the ground of which it is we have been saved, and brought to Himself. The glory that shone in the face of Moses was a legal glory, and told the people of the holiness of their God, and of His righteous requirements through the law; and they were afraid, for the law was necessarily to them, sinners as they were, a ministration of condemnation and death; but the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the gospel, is a ministration of righteousness and of the Spirit.