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the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Cor3:18 St Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth had turned a sinner over to satan for committing a terrible sin. Fearing that his judgment might divide the church he writes a second letter to not only bring the sinner back into the community but also to restore unity to the church. The overriding theme of his second letter is about renewal and transformation which is a work of the Spirit. For the fellow who sinned, St Paul is not sorry that he made the man suffer but that the Godly suffering brought about repentance unlike worldly suffering which brings about death. Through the work of the Spirit, repentance restored the man into the community and the love of the community for the sinner convinced St Paul to relent. In chapter five we see St Paul discuss being made a new creature in Christ, old things passing away and all things becoming new. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2Cor5:17,21) The transformation of a sinner into a saint and the transformation of Christ, the sinless one, becoming sin for us is the work of the Holy Spirit. We also see the work of the Holy Spirit with respect to giving. Before we are made a new creature in Christ our giving might be motivated by necessity and given grudgingly, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we now can give cheerfully (2Cor9:7). This change is evidence of being a new creature in Christ. So too do we see the work of the Spirit with respect to aging. In chapter four St Paul tells us that though our outward man is perishing, our inner man is renewed day by day, that our light affliction is but for a moment which works for us an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Love, joy, and peace which are fruit of the Spirit can renew us and continue to make us new on a daily basis even though our outward man is perishing. Finally in chapter twelve St Paul having summarized the hardships he has endured for the gospel speaks of a man caught up to the third heaven and that for such a one he will glory and he attributes his ability to bounce back from adversity to the grace of God, that his strength is made perfect in weakness. No matter what your condition is, what sin you have committed, what trials you have had to endure, what age you may be, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to make you new, to keep you new, and to ultimately bring you to God. So do not look at the outward appearance, do not look at your age, your health, your trials, or your talents, you can be changed from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Amen |