Rev. David Holwick J 2 Corinthians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 21, 1999
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
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SERMON SUMMARY: Christianity claims to be the ultimate revelation about
God. One proof is the glory that emanates from Christians.
Can people see it in you? Perhaps we need to remove some veils.
I. Glimpses of glory.
A. How many of you have seen a UFO?
[I had no idea until I asked. Fortunately, Elaine Todd saw
one on a cruise. It was an awesome shimmering light.
"My husband saw it, too, but he lies and denies it!"
I had the impertinence to ask if this encounter produced
any children.]
"Biography" on A&E just did a segment on Steven Spielberg.
One of his first big movies was "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind."
The highlight is a massive spaceship landing on Devil's
Tower in Montana.
You may not believe in UFO's, but the Bible mentions
spiritual encounters that are just as awesome.
B. Shekinah glory of Old Testament.
1) Pillar of fire and cloud led Israel in Exodus.
a) Symbols of presence of God.
b) Fearsome episodes on Mount Sinai.
2) Glowing face of Moses.
a) Moses statue by Michaelangelo and horns.
b) Being in presence of God made him different.
3) Departed glory.
a) Presence in Temple worship. Ezekiel 10
b) It departs from Israel. Ezekiel 11:23
c) Glory returns when Messiah comes back.
C. New Testament glory.
1) Jesus on mountain of transfiguration. Matthew 17:1-6
2) Jesus at Second Coming. Revelation 19:11-16
II. All glory is not the same.
A. The two revelations were different.
1) Moses needed a veil.
a) Reason not given in Exodus 34. Exodus 34:29-35
b) To protect people from judgment of holy God?
1> His glory was frightening and consumed sinners.
2> Nice contrast with 2 Cor 3:9, condemnation.
3> But Moses put on veil AFTER speaking to people. 34:33
c) Moses did not want them to see glory fade.
1> He might lose his authority.
2> (Paul's authority also being challenged.)
2) Christians don't need a veil.
a) Paul gives three-fold difference between systems.
1> Brings death / brings Spirit. 3:7
2> Condemnation / righteousness. 3:9
3> Fades away / lasts forever. 3:11
b) This hope should lead to spiritual boldness. 3:12
B. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God.
1) Many religions claim it. (some are newer than Christianity)
a) Christians >> Islam >> Baha'i.
b) All can't be right.
1> Maybe none are.
2> At most, ONE is.
In 1996 Southern Baptist missionary Tony Lynn was preaching in
the small African village of Mali Hausa.
All the inhabitants were gathered around him, with the Islamic
mosque directly behind them.
Someone had traveled through their village from time to time with
a Bible.
The people enjoyed the stories but had a difficult time
understanding.
Earlier that morning, a key citizen had received Christ and
invited Tony to preach to the whole village.
When he finished his message he invited them to follow Jesus
Christ, his expectations were not great.
The men chattered among themselves for 10 minutes.
Suddenly the discussion stopped, and they quickly rearranged
their mats directly in front of the missionaries as if they
were going to say their Muslim prayers.
One of the oldest in the group drew two parallel lines in
the sand.
Then he said, "There are two ways to God.
One is the Muslim way and the other the Christian way, correct?"
Immediately Tony was afraid.
Criticizing Islam could be fatal in this country.
What would he say to this definitive question?
There was really no doubt as to what to say.
He only feared the possible consequences.
Tony firmly stated, "There is only one way to God!"
Then he quoted John 14:6 in Zarma, where Jesus said,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life ...".
The elder surveyed the faces of his friends, then he said to the
missionary,
"I knew there could only be one way and Jesus must be that way!"
That day 14 men in that small village in Niger decided to
follow Jesus.
As they prayed, they lifted their open palms toward the sky.
It was as if God were pouring living water into their cupped
hands.
Then at the end of their prayers, they gently rubbed their
faces as if applying a fragrant ointment.
#3655
2) Claims of Christianity.
a) Not just spiffier version of religion, but ultimate.
b) Jesus is only way. John 14:6, Acts 4:12
c) Jesus is Lord of Lord, King of Kings.
1> No compromise or competition.
C. Where do you stand with Jesus?
1) Veil is only removed by him. 3:16
III. Jesus brings freedom. 3:17
A. Dynamic faith.
1) Exemplified by Spirit.
2) Not just a book or set of rules.
3) Daily communion with Lord.
B. Christian freedom.
1) We are free to discover God on our own.
2) We are free to overcome habits and sins.
a) Knowing Jesus should be liberating.
3) We are free to learn and work for him.
C. Baptists and freedom of Spirit.
1) We can seek our own way.
2) General boundaries.
3) Don't use it as excuse for messing up!
IV. Where's the beef?
A. Glory is not always evident in Christians.
1) We are often worse than pagans.
a) Backbiting, narrowness, materialism.
b) (Sister-in-law burned out from Christian organizations.)
1> Maybe you have been burned in a church.
2> Can even give you doubts about God.
2) Glory is available, but not automatic.
a) We can experience it.
1> "Mountaintop" experiences when you KNOW there's a
God.
b) We can seek a deeper and more full glory.
B. We also have veils.
1) Colorado prostitute.
For many years the old woman lived in a shack in the mining
district of Cripple Creek, Colorado.
She rarely went out in public, and then only for brief
excursions to buy groceries.
She never talked to anyone.
Most peculiar thing - she always wore a black veil over her
face.
Her tiny two-room shack, perhaps 10x10, is an empty ruin now.
Newspapers from 1915 are peeling from the decrepit ceiling
where they had been plastered to keep out the cold.
At one time the woman had been a beautiful prostitute.
(The Cripple Creek goldfield had upwards of 200 of them.)
She fell in love with a man, who was also loved by another
woman.
The other woman settled the situation by coming to the
prostitute's door and throwing a jar of acid in her face.
From that point on the woman cut herself off from all contact
with society till the end of her days, out of shame.
#229
2) Many experience a veil when reading Bible.
a) Why is Bible so hard to understand?
b) Why are there so many interpretations?
c) How come even Pastor David is wrong once every 5 years?
3) Removing the veil.
a) Personal relationship with Jesus.
1> Spiritual truths are discerned by spiritual people.
2> Accept him as personal Savior.
3> Draw closer to him.
b) Purification of self.
1> Any sin will harden your heart and soul.
2> Even Christians need to repent.
Stuart Briscoe gives this challenge on your spiritual condition:
"The Bible says we're being changed from glory to glory even by
the Spirit of the Lord.
Do you know what you ought to be able to do at the end of a year?
You ought to be able to look back and see some specific ways in
which you have grown spiritually.
There ought to be evidence of new habits, new attitudes, and
new abilities relating directly to the fact that you're
being changed by the Spirit of the Lord.
"Can you think of one overwhelming weakness that had you by the
throat at the beginning of this year?
Do you honestly believe that if Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
came into your life, he could release you from it, and
you could live in newness of life?
"You say, 'I don't know about that.'
Nothing is impossible with God.
If it is part of the divine will, it rests well within the
divine capability."
#3962
c) Practice the presence of God.
1> Blackaby book, "Experiencing God."
2> Prayer, meditation, study, fellowship.
V. Reflecting God.
A. People should see Jesus in us.
1) Main way - not glow, but love.
2) How are you treating others?
B. God is in the transforming business.
1) You may be far from perfect, even decadent.
2) But God can change you.
Quote by A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
"Religion today is not transforming people;
rather it is being transformed by the people.
It is not raising the moral level of society;
it is descending to society's own level.
[Religion is] congratulating itself that it has scored
a victory because society is smilingly accepting
its surrender.
#4219
3) "Transformer" toys.
a) Machines become monsters.
b) Christianity is reverse: sinners become little Jesuses.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#229 Personal experience in taking a tour of Cripple Creek, Colorado -
before the slot machines ruined it. I have tried to pin down
more details but the Visitor Bureau has not responded.
#3655 "First Person: Muslim Villager's Question Demanded Missionary's
Courage," by Tony Lynn; Online Christianity Today (America
Online), Baptist Press byline, March 12, 1996.
#3962 "When They've Heard It All Before," by Craig Brian Larson,
Online Leadership Journal (America Online), 1995.
#4219 Online Christian Quotation Of The Day, Robert McAnally Adams,
Curator, November 1, 1997.
These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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