THE SAVING LIFE OF CHRIST

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 HCSB)

The saving life of Christ—that is a phrase that captures our attention and calls for a question: “Wait a minute; what do you mean? I thought it was Jesus’ death that saved us."

That is true.  Forgiveness of sin was secured through the death of Christ.  But, it is sustained through the life of Christ.  Both concepts are connected in Romans 4:25, “He was delivered up for our trespasses” (His crucifixion) “and raised for our justification” (His resurrection).  In dying for us, He redeems us as our Ransom—a finished work accomplished in the past.  In rising for us, He represents us as our Mediator—an ongoing work occurring at the present.  The latter is “the saving life of Christ.”  Again, the Apostle presents both in his letter to the church at Rome, as he goes on to say, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!” (Rom.5:10).  This is the saving life of Christ.

I cannot claim the title of this devotional message as mine.  In the formative years of my  walk with God, I came across a thin paperback written by Major Ian Thomas that bore the arresting title, “The Saving Life of Christ.”  I drank in its material, and it made an impact much larger than its small number of pages.

Being raised in church, I heard preached many times about the death of Jesus that saves from sin.  I don’t recall ever hearing an emphasis how the life of Jesus saves.  What I discovered was a dimension of truth as old as the Scripture, but as new to me as though the ink on the parchment were scarcely dry.

There was a transforming power in that truth.  It can do the same for you.  This work of Christ will continue in you, as you exchange your old life of sinfulness for a new life of sanctification—a gradual decrease of who you are and a growing increase of who Jesus is, until in glory we become just like Him, “because we will see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2).

It will be the look that consummates the work of the Spirit making us like the Son perfectly in that Day.  But, it is also a look that continues the work of the Spirit making us like the Son progressively in this day.  That’s the thrust of Paul’s teaching in our text concerning the saving life of Christ.  Salvation commences with redemption as we look back by faith to Christ lifted up to atone for us on Golgotha.  It continues with sanctification as we look up in faith to Christ raised up to appear for us in glory.  It concludes with glorification as we look forward in faith to Christ returning to take us to Heaven.

This is the saving life of Christ and we note ITS OPPORTUNITY, “We all, with unveiled faces”—that is, the privilege we enjoy.  It is the privilege of every child of God to have the Risen Christ abiding in them, with all His resurrection power available to them.

This provides A GRACIOUS INCLUSION.  The “We” is set in contrast to the “Israelites” in the preceding verses.  The privilege that Christians enjoy of coming before the Lord with an unveiled face in the New Covenant is set in contrast to those whose minds are veiled to the truth of the Gospel under the Old Covenant (v.13-17).

Paul was a Jew and had a great burden to reach his people.  But despite all his efforts, there were few who received Christ.  Yet, he saw many Gentiles respond.  The time had come when, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom.10:13)

The gracious inclusion led to A GENEROUS INVITATION “all with unveiled face.”  As Paul described the contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, he takes us back to the time Moses spent with God on Mt. Sinai.  Only Moses was invited to enter God’s glorious presence—everyone else, except Joshua, was forbidden to even touch the mountain, much less ascend it.

When Moses came from God’s presence His face shone—reflecting the glory he had experienced.  But, Moses noticed the glory began to fade when he was away from God, so he put a veil over his face, so the Israelis would not see the diminishing radiance.  Yet, in the New Covenant it is the privilege of every Christian to approach God with boldness and a glow that grows.

Because He lives we can enter the Holy of Holies in heaven.

“Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.  For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this [priest] also to have something to offer.  Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.  These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, ‘Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.’  But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises.” (Heb.8:1-6)

And we observe the practical implications of this:

“Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.”  (Heb.10:19-22)

This leads us to our next consideration of the saving life of Christ in ITS OPERATION, “looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image”—meaning the process we experience.  The Christian life isn’t about informing the natural man through education, or reforming the outward man through ethics, but transforming the whole man through experience--an intimate, abiding relationship with the Risen Lord.

This process rests on CONTEMPLATION, “looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord.”  The mirror is a symbol of the Word of God.  As we contemplate the truth of the Word of God, the Spirit of God reveals to us the Son of God.  As we respond in faith and obedience, the life-changing power of Christ is unleashed within us.

A mirror is given to look in and see what needs to be cleaned and corrected.  If you don’t look in a mirror, it’s not going to help you.   The Greek tense of the word “looking” is present, continuous action.  It isn’t a glimpse, or a glance, but a gaze—steadfastly looking.

We can’t put a veil over our face.  We must be transparent.  The hypocrite “wears a mask,” for so that is the meaning of the word hypocrite taken from the Greek theater, where someone concealed their face as they pretended to be someone they were not.  You cannot grow spiritually until you are willing to tear the mask away in transparency.

This process results in TRANSFORMATION, as those who are looking, “are being transformed into the same image.”  The Greek word is "metamorphoo", from which we get the word, “metamorphosis.”  This describes the process that transforms a creepy caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.  It is the same word that is used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus when the veil of His flesh was pulled aside and His inner glory was revealed on the mountain.  It is a process that works from the inside out.  In this process we are being changed into Christ’s image.  Is that what you see happening as you look into the mirror of God’s Word day by day?

If so, then we may be assured the saving life of Christ will bring us to ITS OUTCOME as God intends, “from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  This is the product we evidence.

Again, I remind you of where John says the child of God ends up--the finished product of the Spirit's craftsmanship.

“Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

Every child of God is guaranteed to be just like Jesus one day.  But, what does this mean to us now?  It means we have HIS LIFE INDWELLING which is stated in this phrase, “this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  Christ is formed in us.  When a sinner places their faith in Christ, receiving Him as Lord and Savior, the most incredible thing happens—we are born again by the Spirit of God.  Christ Himself takes up residence within us.  This gives us the wondrous potential of daily displaying His glory.

This leads to HIS LIGHT OUTSHINING “from glory to glory.”  Christ is seen through us.  The ESV renders this, “from one degree of glory to another.”  That pictures growing in glory—increasingly displaying Christ in our life.  If people are to see Jesus today, they will see Him in us.  The way Christ works in our world is through His Body—the church.  God has called us to let our light shine.

Will you be like Moses—with a diminishing glory?  Remember how he veiled his face so that none would see the glory fading as he was farther removed from the time spent in God’s presence on Sinai.  But, that was the Old Covenant, and in the New Covenant everything is taken to a superlative level.  Rather than a fading glory, we can know an increasing glory.  The light of Christ can grow brighter and brighter as we spend more and more time in His presence.

Don’t fail to come before Him in His Word today with transparency and expectancy.  Jesus is waiting to meet you in the quiet place and as you kneel before Him in submission, you can rise in transformation.  Let your light shine!