Encountering the Greater Glory: Life in The Spirit

There's something remarkable about sequels that change everything. Think about watching a great trilogy—perhaps The Lord of the Rings. The first installment captivates you with its story and drama. But when you reach the second part, suddenly pieces from the first movie click into place with new meaning. By the third installment, you see how every image, every scene, every moment was pointing toward this climactic finale. The whole story becomes richer, deeper, more beautiful.

This is precisely how we should understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament, with all its beauty and truth, was always pointing forward—a shadow cast by a greater reality yet to come. That reality is Christ, and the life He offers us through His Spirit.

The Glory That Surpasses

In 2 Corinthians 3, we encounter a stunning contrast between two covenants—two ways of relating to God. The apostle Paul takes us back to a pivotal moment in Israel's history: Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments carved in stone.

When Moses descended from that mountain, something extraordinary had happened. The glory of God—the shekinah presence—had left such an impression on Moses that his face literally radiated with divine light. The reflection of God's glory was so brilliant, so overwhelming, that Moses had to veil his face. The people couldn't even look at the afterglow of God's presence.

Stop and consider that for a moment. This wasn't God Himself—this was merely the reflection of His glory on a human face, and it was blinding.

Yet Paul makes an astonishing claim: as magnificent as that moment was, we now have access to something infinitely greater. If the old covenant—which brought condemnation, death, and a fading glory—was that spectacular, how much more glorious is the new covenant that brings righteousness, life, and an eternal, ever-increasing glory?

Three Truths About Life in the Spirit

First, life in the Spirit gives us access to a greater glory.

Moses could only glimpse the backside of God's glory from the cleft of a rock. Even that brief encounter left him radiating light. But through Christ's death and resurrection, something unprecedented happened. When Jesus declared "It is finished" on the cross, the temple veil—that thick curtain separating humanity from God's holy presence—tore from top to bottom.

God was making a declaration: Access granted.

What Moses experienced externally and temporarily, we now experience internally and permanently. The very Spirit of God—the same presence that dwelt in the temple, the same glory that passed by Moses—now lives inside every believer. We don't just see a reflection of God's glory; we carry His presence within us.

Second, life in the Spirit gives us spiritual freedom.

Here's the problem: sin acts like a veil. It covers our eyes, hardening our hearts and blinding us to the beauty and glory of God. Without Christ, we're enslaved—bound to sin, unable to see clearly, powerless to change.

But when someone turns to the Lord in repentance and faith, the veil is removed. Suddenly, we can see. We're given new eyes, a new heart, a new mind. The Bible becomes alive. Prayer becomes real communion. We're no longer slaves to sin but free to walk in God's ways.

This freedom isn't the world's definition—doing whatever we want. True freedom is receiving new desires that align with God's will. It's wanting what God wants. It's having appetites for holiness, purity, and righteousness that simply weren't there before.

Many believers can pinpoint the moment this happened—when habits that once felt normal suddenly felt wrong, when desires shifted, when a hunger for God replaced other cravings. That's the new nature at work. That's the freedom of the Spirit.

Third, life in the Spirit gives us ever-increasing transformation.

Here's where it gets beautiful. The passage says we "are being transformed"—present, continuous tense. This isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process. From one degree of glory to another, we're being changed into Christ's image.

Unlike Moses' fading glory, ours increases. The more we walk with God, the more we're transformed. The more we know Him, the more of His glory we experience and reflect.

Believing and Beholding

So how do we experience this Spirit-filled life? Two essential practices: believing and beholding.

Believing starts with turning to the Lord—genuine repentance. It means turning away from whatever we've been trusting in (religion, good works, worldly satisfaction) and placing our complete trust in Jesus Christ. This is saving faith, and it removes the veil.

But believing doesn't stop at conversion. It's a daily choice to trust God, to believe His Word, to submit to His ways.

Beholding is the practice of gazing at Christ—fixing our eyes on Him through Scripture, prayer, worship, and meditation. Just as Moses was transformed by beholding God's glory, we're transformed by beholding Christ.

Here's a powerful truth: You become what you behold.

If you spend your time gazing at negativity, drama, social media comparison, and worldly stress, you'll become anxious, negative, and worldly. But if you behold Christ—if you look at Him in His Word, turn to Him in prayer, worship Him with your life—you'll become like Him.
Want to know what you'll look like spiritually in six months? Look at what you're beholding today.

Practical Steps to Behold

What does beholding actually look like in daily life?

• Reading God's Word daily — not just for information, but to encounter Christ in the pages
• Personal prayer — getting into God's presence until you're consciously aware He's in the room
• Corporate worship — gathering with other believers to collectively behold God's glory
• Prayer meetings — extended times of worship, prayer, and seeking God's face
• Meditating and memorizing Scripture — letting God's Word saturate your mind
• Abiding in the Spirit — obeying promptings throughout your day, doing what the Holy Spirit tells you

This is how transformation happens. Not through striving or religious duty, but through beholding. When you spend decades gazing at Christ, you begin to look like Him. Your words, your attitudes, your responses, your love—they all begin to reflect His glory.

The Ever-Increasing Glory

The beauty of the new covenant is this: it's not fading. Moses' glory diminished over time, requiring him to return to the mountain. But our glory increases. Every day spent beholding Christ adds another degree of glory, another layer of transformation.

This is the life we've been invited into—not religious obligation or moral self-improvement, but an intimate, transforming relationship with the living God through His Spirit.

The veil has been removed. The way is open. The Spirit has been given.

The question is: Are you beholding? Are you gazing at Christ with unveiled face, allowing His glory to transform you from one degree to another?

You become what you behold. Choose wisely. Choose Christ. And watch as His ever-increasing glory transforms you into His likeness.