Untitled

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3 teach us about the power, boldness, and freedom we have in Christ to grow in Christ-likeness. If you do not understand who you are in Christ, you will not be growing in Christ-likeness. Growth is all by God's grace just as salvation is.

He has forgiven our sins and restored us to a right relationship with Him, lifting the veil so that we can actually see and experience God's presence; being sanctified on earth to becoming transfigured physically, mentally and spiritually as we ascend into Heaven.

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 what being a “living sacrifice” involves and then what the results of such living are. The sacrifice is that we are to be willing to offer ourselves to God. The truest sacrifice we can make is to live according to His purposes for our lives. Become living, breathing sacrifices, using our lives up in service to God as an ongoing act of worship.

If you pursue goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, you will be fruitful—whatever you do, wherever God calls you. Peter wants to encourage us to pursue these things, and he tells us what will happen as we do so: Your confidence in Christ will grow. If you fear and obey God, your endeavors will be fruitful and rewarded. Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the LORD [and worships Him with obedience],

Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.

For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands. Fruit is a good thing that results from hard work and careful tending. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Fruit is evidence of being connected to Christ, just as branches of a tree or a grapevine have to be connected to the trunk to bear fruit. But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. You will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy.