Day 172 – The Old Covenant Fades Away

Today’s reading: 2 Cor 3

The Old Covenant is written in stone.  The New Covenant is written in spirit on the hearts of men.  The Old Covenant was restrictive and leads to death.  The in the New Covenant the spirit gives freedom and life.

However, even under the Old Covenant, there was splendor.  How much greater than must be the splendor under the new covenant?  This is Paul’s argument.

With this argument, Paul reaches a dramatic conclusion:

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”

Stop and think about that for a second.  We are not destined to be disembodied spirits in an ethereal heaven.  Nor are we destined to be resurrected to bodies identical to the ones we have now.  Paul says we are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory (material earthly) to another (heavenly and preternatural).  We will be like the resurrected Christ in mind, spirit, and body. 

Tomorrow: 2 Cor 4