“True Christian Transformation”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NASB)
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Introduction
We all desire change, but self-help and willpower often leave us frustrated. True, lasting life transformation doesn’t come from following a rigid set of rules—it comes from a dynamic, ongoing relationship with the living God.
In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, the Apostle Paul reveals a profound truth: true Christian transformation is a lifelong process of spiritual freedom, driven not by human willpower, but by the Holy Spirit. As we behold the glory of Christ, the Spirit changes us into His exact likeness.
I. The Foundation: Freedom in the Spirit
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
Before we can be transformed, we must be set free. In the Old Testament, Moses had to wear a veil over his face when he approached the Israelites because the brilliant glory of God was too intense for them to look upon.
Through Christ, that barrier—our sin and the weight of the law—is removed. The Holy Spirit shatters the chains of guilt, shame, and our old sinful habits. This liberty is not a license to do whatever we want; rather, it is the freedom to actually become who God created us to be. [1, 2, 3, 4]
II. The Process: Beholding and Reflecting
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…” – 2 Corinthians 3:18a
Transformation requires action on our part, but it is a specific kind of action: beholding. Think of it like looking into a mirror. The longer you gaze upon the glory of the Lord in worship, prayer, and scripture, the more His character rubs off on you. [1, 2, 3]
When we fix our eyes on the beauty, grace, and love of Jesus, we naturally begin to reflect Him to the world around us. We aren’t transformed by trying to follow a strict, rigid checklist; we are transformed by falling more in love with the One we are looking at. [1]
III. The Power: By the Lord the Spirit
“…just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18b
You do not have to change yourself. If you have ever tried to conquer a bad habit or change your own heart in your own strength, you know how exhausting and impossible it is.
The Greek phrasing indicates a continuous, ongoing process—we are being transformed. The supernatural lifting of the veil, the gazing, and the actual inward change are all the work of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Your role is to simply show up daily with an “unveiled face”, completely open and honest before God, and let the Spirit do the heavy lifting.
Conclusion/Application: From Glory to Glory
• Paul notes that we are changed “from glory to glory.” Transformation is rarely an overnight event. It happens incrementally, day by day, month by month, and year by year.
• Your motivation is not self-improvement…. or to make life easier for you, or happier.
• The motivation is to please God and bring Him glory!
• Transformation is not the goal. God is the goal.
Pastor John N. Punni, II