Sanctification
How are we to understand it? And what does it “look like” to have God sanctify us?
First instance of its teaching is Exodus 13 (see previous post); second time it features prominently is in Exodus 19
Exodus 19:9-11, 16-20
What is happening here? Why do the people need to sanctify themselves?
(see also Exodus 24:12-18; 33:17-23 and 34:1)
Exodus 34:27-30, 34-35
What is happening between God and His people? What happens between Moses and God, and Moses and the people?
[God is making a covenant with the whole people of Israel; Moses is allowed to speak intimately with God and apprehend His glory—note the miraculous nature of the encounter, with Moses surviving without food or water, clearly in some kind of altered state as he communes with God. Sadly, the people find Moses’ shining face “too much,” too scary and overwhelming, and he must veil his face when speaking to them.]
The New Testament framing and expansion on these things: II Cor. 3-4
II Cor. 3:5-11
What is Paul saying about the ministry that God entrusts to us as Christians?—what comparison is Paul making here?
What is Paul saying about our sufficiency and competence for this ministry?
II Cor. 3:12 pause: What is our hope that makes us bold?
II Cor. 3:12-18 Woah! How is Paul tying together the story of Moses’ shining face with (what should be)
our experience of God’s glory?
II Cor. 4:3-6
WOW, again! What iconic, dramatic miracle does Paul reference as our example of what God does in our minds?
-pondering: that we are actively blinded spiritually (by Satan and his demons) apart from God
-pondering: that it takes the Creator God speaking light into us to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ
II Cor. 4:7-11
-what is meant to be the “final word” in our lives—what should people see when they look at our lives?
II Cor. 4:13-14
-what is this “same spirit of faith” with the psalmist that Paul quotes?—see Psalm 116
Nuggets to “take home”:
v We are insufficient for the task God calls us to, and blind—God gives us the competence we need, and calls forth light in our darkness of mind so we can see Him
v We are meant to be beholding and reflecting God’s glory—glory exceeding anything we read about in the Old Testament! and we are to be becoming more and more like Jesus
v God’s glory and the life of Jesus are meant to have the “final say” in our lives—when people look at us, no matter what we are going through, they should be seeing the treasure of God’s presence in our lives
v We can know and believe (“have faith”) that God cares about our state of being when we are afflicted in life—as Psalm 116 says, God will deliver us from death, tears, and stumbling—we just need to ask
v We therefore have HOPE in this life, and for our existence after the final work of Redemption!
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