2 Coríntios 3
G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 3:18
Morgan asks "What does it mean to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord? I think it means that we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face. We keep our eyes on Him and contemplate Him and meditate on Him (ED: HOW? IF HE IS THE WORD, WE BEHOLD HIM CONTINUALLY IN THE WORD - Jn 1:1,14+), because Jesus is the mirror image of God. Years ago I read of a cathedral somewhere in Europe that had a high and lofty and beautiful ceiling. But the room was so narrow and the ceiling was so exalted that it was difficult to gaze upon. So the rectors placed a large mirror on the floor, tilted at the proper angle, and by gazing into the mirror they could see the ceiling. And that’s what Christ is. Our God is so holy and infinite and awesome and invisible and high and exalted and lifted up that we can’t very well take in His glory. But Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Glow-in-the-Dark Christians) Calvin on beholding as in a mirror - it is true, katoptrizomai has a double meaning among the Greeks, for it sometimes means to hold out a mirror to be looked into, and at other times to look into a mirror when presented. (2 Corinthians 3) Our Source of power is in the risen Christ, and we stay connected to Him by beholding Him in His word and depending on Him in prayer. -- Jerry Bridges Jerry Bridges in "The Practice of Godliness" (a book I highly recommend) lists principles related to taking on God's character and alludes to 2Cor 3:18 in his discussion of the second principle of godly character - the power for a godly life comes from the risen Christ… Beholding the Lord’s glory in His word is more than observing His humanity in the gospels. It is observing His character, His attributes, and His will in every page of Scripture. And as we observe Him, as we maintain this relationship with Him through His Word, we are transformed more and more into His likeness; we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to progressively manifest the graces of godly character. So it is this relationship with Christ, expressed by beholding Him in His word and depending upon Him in prayer, that enables us to draw from Him the power essential for a godly life. The Christian is not like an automobile with a self-contained power source; rather, he is like an electric motor that must be constantly connected to an outside current for its power. Our source of power is in the risen Christ, and we stay connected to Him by beholding Him in His word and depending (ON HIS SPIRIT AND) on Him in prayer. (The Practice of Godliness. Page 61 - One reviewer wrote "I meant to read this book for several years before I actually got around to it. I can't believe I waited--it's one of the best Christian books I have read. ") THE SECRET OF HOLINESS
2 Coríntios 3:18
Morgan - This doesn’t mean that we will become omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. It means that His character and attitudes should increasingly be reflected by our lives, the way a mirror reflects the image of a king or as the moon reflects the light of the sun. Someone put it this way: “God doesn’t want us to become a god; He wants us to become godly.” (God’s Guarantee: Worry Into Reassurance Romans 8:28) (See also his excellent message on The Evidence of Changed Lives - The Case Against Human Nature) Tony Evans rightly says that… If you ever catch hold of this principle of the glory of the Lord, you will be transformed. Do you want to transform yourself? Do you have things in your life that need to be changed? Catch hold of the glory of God. Do you want to change your mate? Don’t nag him or her. Point the person to the glory of God… When Jesus Christ saved you, He put a new covering on you so that when you’re exposed to the light of the glory of God, it will put a glow in your life. But when you remove yourself from God’s glory, your glow begins to diminish. When you find that happening, you need to wrap yourself around the light of God’s glory. Then the transforming work of God can begin to glow in you again. David said that when he made the Lord the priority of his life, he had great gladness and joy (Psalm 16:8, 9). The way he got joy was not by looking for it. He exposed himself to the glory of God. If you get exposed to His glory, the light begins to shine; change begins to take place; you have power you didn’t have before; you have victory you didn’t have before. Why? Not because of you, but because of the glory cloud. It begins to transform you from within. So what’s the bottom line? “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Co 10:31). God says, “If you would just remember to thank Me every time you do anything, you will begin to shine and the glory cloud will transform your life.” If you want to be transformed, submit to God’s glory. Stop trying to share His glory, let Him be God, and let the light of the glory of God transform you. (Our God is awesome. Chicago: Moody Press) Harry