Reflecting His Glory
A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:18
Originally preached Sept. 25, 1966
Scripture
18But 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.
Sermon Description
What does it mean to reflect the glory of Christ? In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 3:18, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on this question. He says that man was created good and in the image of God. But man was tempted to sin by the serpent and rebelled against God. While man is still in the image of God, he is nevertheless full of sin and immorality. But in the Gospel, God has sent His only Son in order that the grip of sin upon all of creation might be destroyed and sinners would be adopted into the family of God. God is recreating humanity according to the image of Christ Jesus. What does it mean to reflect the glory of God? It means to be conformed to the image of God. It means to turn away from oneself and trust wholly in Christ. It means that all who believe now seek righteousness and holiness in all aspects of their lives. Do you seek the glory of Christ, or are you still in sin? This sermon calls each and every one of us to ask ourselves this question.
Sermon Breakdown
- Man's essential tragedy is that he has fallen from his original condition. Man was created in the image and likeness of God but fell into sin.
- As a result of the fall, the image of God in man became marred and defaced. Man's nature became depraved, leading to darkness, ignorance of God, and spiritual deadness.
- The chief end and object of salvation is to restore the image and glory of man. Salvation is meant to conform us to the image of Christ.
- This happens through regeneration. We are made partakers of the divine nature and sons of God.
- This means we are reconciled to God, given access to him, made alive to him, and given knowledge of him.
- We should reflect God's glory as Moses' face did. We are light as Christ is light.
- By beholding God's glory, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
- We should live in such a way that others see God's glory in us and glorify him. Our lives should be a rebuke to sin and help others know God.
- We often fail to realize the glory that belongs to us as Christians. We think of Christianity as moral effort rather than being conformed to Christ's image.
- The church today lacks power and influence because it fails to manifest God's glory as it should. The world sees little difference in us.
- We need to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth of the glorious gospel. It is about much more than forgiveness of sins.
- Revival comes when God's people are revived and filled with a sense of his glory. We must start with God's people, not just evangelism.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:18
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary issue with the church today?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the primary issue with the church today is the failure to realize the glory of God. He states that when "the church fails to realize the presence of God, when we fail to as individuals, when we regard our Christianity, our religion as merely some kind of moral effort and endeavor," then the church becomes ineffective. He compares this situation to the time when Eli was high priest and the glory had departed from Israel.
What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 teach about spiritual transformation?
2 Corinthians 3:18 teaches that believers are "changed into the same image from glory to glory" as they behold the glory of the Lord. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that as Christians become increasingly aware of God's glory and presence, they in turn become filled with this glory. It's a progressive transformation where believers increasingly reflect God's image, facilitated by the Spirit of the Lord.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the image of God in man?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the image of God in man means man was made a spiritual being with spiritual faculties. This includes: a spiritual character that allows relationship with God, rational powers for thinking and understanding, original righteousness and holiness, knowledge of God with capacity for communion with Him, essential immortality, and lordship over creation as God's representative. He emphasizes that man was uniquely created in God's image, unlike animals or even angels.
What happened to the image of God in man after the Fall?
After the Fall, the image of God in man became "marred and defaced" though not completely destroyed. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that man's nature became depraved, affecting all his faculties. This led to a loss of consciousness of God, spiritual ignorance and darkness, spiritual deadness, and even physical decay. Man lost communion with God and became enslaved to sin, yet remnants of the divine image remain, explaining the contradictory nature we observe in humans.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the ultimate purpose of redemption?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the ultimate purpose of redemption as restoring the image and glory of God in man. He emphasizes that salvation isn't merely about forgiveness but about being "conformed to the image of his son" (Romans 8:29). He states, "The tragedy of the church today is that men and women who believe in predestination and who don't believe in predestination show so very little evidence of the restoration of the image of his son."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast evangelism with revival?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states, "All the emphasis is on evangelism. All right, that'll never produce revival. Never. Revival means that God's people are revived, and that is how God has always worked throughout the ages." He argues that while evangelistic efforts can produce individual converts, true revival begins with God's people being transformed to reflect His glory, which then impacts the world around them.
How should Christians view themselves according to this sermon?
Christians should view themselves as "partakers of the divine nature," as sons and daughters of God, and as those who are being transformed into Christ's image. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges believers to think of themselves differently: "Do you think of yourself like that, Christian? Is that how you normally and habitually consider yourself and think of yourself, that you are a partaker of the divine nature?" He urges Christians to realize the glory that belongs to them and to live in light of their new identity.
What does it mean to reflect God's glory as Christians?
Reflecting God's glory means living in such a way that people see something of God's character in us. Dr. Lloyd-Jones references Jesus' words: "Let your light so shine before men, that they shall see your good works, but glorify your father which is in heaven." Christians should be "a silent rebuke to sin" by their very presence and should help others as Christ helped. The transformation into Christ's image should be visible enough that others recognize something different and glorious in believers.
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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.