The Ultimate GoalThe Ultimate Goalof the Christian Journeyof the Christian Journey

Lesson 3Lesson 3

Most of us appreciate the value of setting goals. Most of us appreciate the value of setting goals.

Successful corporations give credit to setting high Successful corporations give credit to setting high goals and motivating their employers to focus on goals and motivating their employers to focus on achieving them.achieving them.

People who are successful in their vocations are People who are successful in their vocations are driven to acquire the fullest knowledge possible driven to acquire the fullest knowledge possible about their occupation and continually pursue all about their occupation and continually pursue all new information to stay at the peak of their new information to stay at the peak of their qualifications.qualifications.

Those who desire to have good relations with family, Those who desire to have good relations with family, friends, co-workers, social acquaintances and yes, friends, co-workers, social acquaintances and yes, fellow Christians are wise to make it a goal to learn fellow Christians are wise to make it a goal to learn conversation and behavior that nourishes good conversation and behavior that nourishes good relationships.relationships.

Likewise, those who have embarked on the Christian Likewise, those who have embarked on the Christian journey by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior are journey by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior are wise to identify the ultimate goal of the journey and wise to identify the ultimate goal of the journey and focus on learning and pursuing the attitudes and focus on learning and pursuing the attitudes and actions that help them reach that goal.actions that help them reach that goal.

The Ultimate GoalThe Ultimate Goal of the Christian Journey is to be of the Christian Journey is to be

Shaped into the Likeness of Jesus Christ.Shaped into the Likeness of Jesus Christ.

Biblical ConfirmationBiblical Confirmation

The apostle Paul gives strong confirmation in The apostle Paul gives strong confirmation in Romans, chapter 8, of God’s ultimate goal:Romans, chapter 8, of God’s ultimate goal:

““For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29Romans 8:29..

Christians who have been studying the Bible are Christians who have been studying the Bible are probably much more familiar with the previous probably much more familiar with the previous verse,verse,

““And we know that all things work together for And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28Romans 8:28..

We are likely to quote this verse when. . .We are likely to quote this verse when. . .We get fired from our jobWe get fired from our jobWe are diagnosed with serious illnessesWe are diagnosed with serious illnessesOur house burns downOur house burns downWe experience a campaign of lies and slander We experience a campaign of lies and slander

We would experience far more comfort and We would experience far more comfort and encouragement if we would also claim verse 29. encouragement if we would also claim verse 29.

The reason God allows bad experiences to come The reason God allows bad experiences to come into our lives is the same as why He allows great into our lives is the same as why He allows great blessings of joy and happiness. blessings of joy and happiness.

Everything He allows shapes us to be more like Everything He allows shapes us to be more like Jesus. Jesus.

To truly believe that makes all hurts to be worth it To truly believe that makes all hurts to be worth it all.all.

Biblical IllustrationBiblical Illustration

In 2nd Corinthians 3:4-18, the apostle Paul In 2nd Corinthians 3:4-18, the apostle Paul compared the compared the

New Covenant of Christ Jesus with theNew Covenant of Christ Jesus with the

Mosaic Covenant Mosaic Covenant

to show how the New Covenant has far greater to show how the New Covenant has far greater glory. glory.

At the close he reveals how keeping our eyes on At the close he reveals how keeping our eyes on Jesus transforms us into His likeness.Jesus transforms us into His likeness.

The Mosaic Covenant: The Mosaic Covenant: ““But if But if the ministry of deaththe ministry of death, written , written

and engraved on stones and engraved on stones was glorious, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away. . .which glory was passing away. . .””

The New Covenant: The New Covenant: “ “. . .How will . . .How will the ministry of the Spirit the ministry of the Spirit

not be more gloriousnot be more glorious?” 3:7, 8.?” 3:7, 8.

The Mosaic Covenant: The Mosaic Covenant: “For if “For if the the ministry of condemnation ministry of condemnation had gloryhad glory. . .”. . .”

The New Covenant: The New Covenant: “The “The ministry of ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in righteousness exceeds much more in gloryglory.. 3:9. 3:9.

The Mosaic Covenant: The Mosaic Covenant:

“ “For even what was made glorious For even what was made glorious had had no glory in this respect…”no glory in this respect…”

The New Covenant: The New Covenant:

” ”. . .Because of the . . .Because of the glory that excels.”glory that excels.” 3:10.3:10.

The Mosaic Covenant: The Mosaic Covenant: “For if “For if what was what was passing away passing away was glorious. . .”was glorious. . .”

The New Covenant: The New Covenant: “. . .“. . .What remainsWhat remains is much more glorious.” “Therefore, since is much more glorious.” “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech---“boldness of speech---“ 3:11, 12. 3:11, 12.

The Mosaic Covenant: “. . The Mosaic Covenant: “. . .Unlike Moses, .Unlike Moses, who put a veil over his facewho put a veil over his face so that the so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at children of Israel could not look steadily at the the end of what was passing away.end of what was passing away. But But their their minds were blinded. minds were blinded. For until this day For until this day the the same veil remains unliftedsame veil remains unlifted in the reading of the in the reading of the Old Testament.Old Testament.

The New Covenant: “. . .The New Covenant: “. . .Because Because the veil is the veil is taken away in Christ.”taken away in Christ.” Verses 13, 14. Verses 13, 14.

The Mosaic Covenant: “The Mosaic Covenant: “But even unto But even unto this day, when this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.” on their heart.” Verse 15.Verse 15.

The New Covenant: “The New Covenant: “Nevertheless Nevertheless when one turns to the LORDwhen one turns to the LORD, the veil is , the veil is taken away.taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; Now the Lord is the Spirit; and and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” liberty.” VVss 16, 17ss 16, 17..

Let us summarize:Let us summarize:

1. The Mosaic Covenant was glorious. 1. The Mosaic Covenant was glorious. The Ten Commandments revealed the The Ten Commandments revealed the holiness, righteousness, and justice of holiness, righteousness, and justice of God. The sacrifices pictured that God God. The sacrifices pictured that God provided a means for the sins of the provided a means for the sins of the people to be covered over until the people to be covered over until the sacrifice of Jesus took away the sins of sacrifice of Jesus took away the sins of the world. The Great Commandments the world. The Great Commandments reveal the love all of us are to have reveal the love all of us are to have towards God and our fellow man.towards God and our fellow man.

2.2. Israel was blinded to the true purpose of Israel was blinded to the true purpose of God’s law. God’s law. Why? Because they mistook Why? Because they mistook the purpose of the law. They believed that the purpose of the law. They believed that God gave the law so they could save God gave the law so they could save themselves by keeping the law by works of themselves by keeping the law by works of righteousness and religious practice. They righteousness and religious practice. They entered into a covenant relationship with entered into a covenant relationship with God in great confidence. God in great confidence.

“ “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”. All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”.

Exodus 19:8: 24:3.Exodus 19:8: 24:3.

It is significant that even before Moses It is significant that even before Moses brought the final aspects of the law the brought the final aspects of the law the people were worshipping the golden calf people were worshipping the golden calf provided by their High Priest, Aaron provided by their High Priest, Aaron

(See Exodus 32:1-5) (See Exodus 32:1-5)

This was a clear violation of the first two This was a clear violation of the first two commandments.commandments.

The true purpose of God’s law made clear. The true purpose of God’s law made clear. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:19, The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:19, 20: 20:

““Now we know that whatever the law says, it Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, says to those who are under the law, that that every mouth may be stopped, and all every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight no flesh will be justified in His sight for for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

In the verses that follow we are informed that we receive the righteousness of God “through faith in Jesus Christ” and we are ”justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Verses

21-24). This is what Paul meant when he wrote in

2nd Corinthians 3:16,

“Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord (Jesus), the veil is taken away.”

God’s Supreme Provision To Shape Us God’s Supreme Provision To Shape Us Into The Likeness of Jesus.Into The Likeness of Jesus.

““But we all But we all (true believers)(true believers) with unveiled face, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD.’” glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD.’” 3:183:18

This verse gives us some great keys for God’s This verse gives us some great keys for God’s children to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus.children to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus.

““But we all. . .But we all. . . “ “

All true believers are encouraged to unite in The All true believers are encouraged to unite in The New Covenant purchased by the sacrifice of New Covenant purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus and sealed by His own blood to pursue Jesus and sealed by His own blood to pursue God’s purpose of shaping them into the likeness God’s purpose of shaping them into the likeness of Jesus. of Jesus.

We are inclined to think that pastors, teachers, We are inclined to think that pastors, teachers, evangelists and deacons are to strive to be like evangelists and deacons are to strive to be like Jesus and the rest of us are exempted from Jesus and the rest of us are exempted from doing so. The apostle Paul informs us here that doing so. The apostle Paul informs us here that we are all included.we are all included.

““. . .. . .With unveiled faces. . .”With unveiled faces. . .”

We should reject the great spiritual blunder of We should reject the great spiritual blunder of multitudes in the family of Israel to cover our eyes multitudes in the family of Israel to cover our eyes so that we cannot see God’s grand purpose for us.so that we cannot see God’s grand purpose for us.

““. . .Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the . . .Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD. . .”LORD. . .”

We are told here to continually gaze into the mirror We are told here to continually gaze into the mirror God has provided us. Instead of seeing a God has provided us. Instead of seeing a reflection of ourselves we see a likeness of the reflection of ourselves we see a likeness of the Lord Jesus in His glory. We are promised that as Lord Jesus in His glory. We are promised that as we do so we are being transformed into the same we do so we are being transformed into the same image from (one level of) glory to (a higher level) of image from (one level of) glory to (a higher level) of glory by the Spirit of the Lord.glory by the Spirit of the Lord.

We note that when the apostle Paul wrote this, We note that when the apostle Paul wrote this, mirrors were made of highly polished metal. mirrors were made of highly polished metal. They were much less clear than the mirrors we They were much less clear than the mirrors we have today. Verse 14 indicates that the “mirror” have today. Verse 14 indicates that the “mirror” represents the Holy Scriptures. represents the Holy Scriptures.

“ “But their minds were blinded. For until this day But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of in the reading of the Old Testament,the Old Testament, because because the veil is not the veil is not taken away in Christ.” taken away in Christ.”

When we read the Scriptures we should be When we read the Scriptures we should be looking for Jesus.looking for Jesus.

Jesus challenged the Jewish religious Jesus challenged the Jewish religious leaders, “leaders, “You search the Scriptures (You search the Scriptures (Old Old TestamentTestament) ,for in them you think you have ) ,for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”testify of Me.” John 5:39. John 5:39.

Whether we are reading the Old Testament Whether we are reading the Old Testament or the New Testament we should be or the New Testament we should be looking for Jesus. The Holy Spirit will looking for Jesus. The Holy Spirit will help us to see Him in His glory. help us to see Him in His glory.

As we continue to gaze upon Him the Spirit of God As we continue to gaze upon Him the Spirit of God will transform us from our present level of glory will transform us from our present level of glory to a higher level of glory . . .shaping us into the to a higher level of glory . . .shaping us into the likeness of Christ.likeness of Christ.

We are all encouraged to read the We are all encouraged to read the Scriptures and look for Jesus…,Scriptures and look for Jesus…,

the kind of person He is, the kind of person He is, the truths He taught, and the truths He taught, and the examples He set. the examples He set. Then let the Holy Spirit transform us.Then let the Holy Spirit transform us.