2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Jesus is the Head of the new creation and is to be the Example we follow in our new Life in the Spirit. He is our Pattern, of how we're to walk and live. He's not only our Pattern teaching us how to teach and preach the Good News, but how to demonstrate the power of God to the people. Paul writes about how we're to "transfigure" into Jesus' Image, in 2Corinthiasn 3:17-18 (Amplified) saying, "Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom) And all of us, with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
Paul also says, in 1Corinthians 11:1 (Amplified), "Pattern yourselves after me (follow my example) as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)." He also writes, in 1Corinthians 4:15-16 (Amplified), "After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel) So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me." Unlike many in today's Church, Paul certainly didn't consider imitating Jesus to be sacrilegious and he was sure enough in his walk with the Lord, that he even said "we were to imitate him, as he imitated Jesus."
As we read the writings of Paul, we discover how he set Jesus as his Example of how to walk in this new creation. Paul wrote in Romans 15:18-19 (Amplified) saying, "For (of course) I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except that Christ has actually done through me (as an instrument in His Hands) to win obedience from the Gentiles by word and deed (Even as my preaching has been accompanied) with the power of signs and wonders, (and all of it) by the power of the Holy Spirit. (The result is) that starting in Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel (faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the Good News) of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety."
Paul expounds on following Jesus' Example through his words and deeds in 1Corinthians 2:1-4 (Amplified) saying, "And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power, (a proof by the the Spirit and power of God operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them)."
Paul repeatedly urges us to "be like Jesus," like he strove to be like Him. Paul says we're not only to follow Jesus in words, but also in power. Paul's character, presentation and example before the people, presented Jesus in all His Glory, to the world. Paul didn't only look "into the Word as in a mirror," but the more he saw himself the way God made him to be, the more he looked like Jesus, according to 2Corinthians 3:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused (they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding) for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies (on their hearts) not being lifted (to reveal) that in Christ it is made void and done away. Yes, down to this (very) day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. But whenever a person turns (in repentance) to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away."
In this new covenant, the new creation people (us) no longer see things "through a veil," but face-to-face like in a mirror. This glory is changing us or "transfiguring" us into His Christ's Very Image. Paul also tells us, in 1Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified), "But on the contrary, as the scriptures says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, (all that) God has prepared (made ready and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed). Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Holy Spirit, For the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
Moses and the others in the old covenant, had a "veil" of flesh (carnal minds and dead spirits) that blinded them to the Truth, that is ours today in Christ. They couldn't look into the mirror of the Word and see and become transfigured into Christ's Image. This privilege is for the new creation people alone. Many though, in the new creation, have their eyes blinded to them and cannot see themselves like Jesus or Paul, because the Law is still being placed before their eyes. They cannot see themselves like Jesus or Paul and because of this, many have fallen prey to the enemy. They have become convinced that "it's God's will" they never rise to victory over their old man and carnal minds.
We've never "dared" to rise into Jesus' Image and become like He is, but Paul (who was given this revelation) never believed it was sacrilegious to commend others to "imitate me, as I imitate Jesus." The imitation Paul followed was "Jesus as He was and as He is," not only in his words and deeds towards the needy, broken, sick, crippled people. Jesus' Image is the One we need to see in this mirror of God's Word. We must see ourselves in His Likeness, in order to do God's work.
1Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified) tells us, "For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the Mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart." We see Jesus as He is, in the mirror of the Word and we are transfigured into that Image of Him and understanding of Him. Where you see Him, is where you serve Him. Let the Word and the Spirit, transfigure you "from one glory, to another glory, and from one faith to another faith in Him."
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