14. The Spirit Metamorphoses Me

I did not actually skip 2 Corinthians 3:18 in my earlier rendition of The Jesus Secret II. Rather, I wove it into similar topics including “I Am the Aroma of Christ,” “I Am a Letter of Christ,” and “I Am the Face of Christ.” These three are expressions of “metamorphosed” and lead up to this aspect of the Covenant.

We can also think of the three aspects of the Covenant in this way, Romans 8:29 – already done, 1 John 3:2 – a future moment, and 2 Corinthians 3:18 – a present and ongoing experience of increase. The Covenant is that we are just like Jesus, metamorphosis is Jesus causing us to know what is already True.

Our Boxes. In this lesson we will complete three pages for 2 Corinthians. The first is “The Spirit Metamorphoses Me.” On this page we have room for two topics in one large box, “Transubstantiates – Metamorphosed.” These two must always be together, the second cannot be without the first.

Then, on the page “I Am the Face of Christ,” we must complete one box titled “The Reflection of My Face.” Our third page fits inside this same overall topic – “I Am a New Creation.” Much of this page is already done. I want to add two boxes, but I want these to be perspective, not definition. So the first will be “Look and See,” and the second will be “All Things Brand New.”

Searching for God’s Meaning. The word “transform” is partly true to what God means; there is a change of appearance that takes place. But by itself, “transform” is misinterpreted. The word “metamorphosis” as an English word describing the change of form taking place from a caterpillar to a butterfly is also only partly true and likewise misinterpreted.

In using Paul’s Greek word, “metamorphosed,” we must imbue it with a more complete meaning. And that meaning is known only in its larger context. What is really happening in this aspect of the Covenant, where we are taking upon ourselves the appearance of what is already True?

With the Form of Jesus. “Meta” means “with,” and “morph” means “form.” We could say that Paul’s meaning is spending time with the form of Jesus, one another’s faces as the face of Christ. Jesus exists right now in the form of God, that is, all here now, and Personal in the hearts of those who know God. This means that Jesus exists now as a life-giving Spirit, and we are His body, His form, in both heaven and earth.

Thus spending time with one another is spending time with Jesus; we are metamorphosed as we see Him reflected on one another’s faces. Yet that is only one part of the picture, the other part is that Jesus, as a life-giving Spirit, still completely human, transfers His substance to us every moment, filling all inside of all with Himself.

A Different Wording. I am suddenly compelled to re-look at the Greek wording of our verse with the realization that many assumptions were made with how the words fit together, assumptions not in tune with God or with the larger flow. Here is a different wording for 2 Corinthians 3:18. I want to meditate on this for awhile and let it percolate.

Having the glory of the Lord unveiled upon our faces, we all are reflecting the same image [to one another] as a mirror and are being metamorphosed from glory into glory, that is, as from the Spirit of the Lord.

Now, the word “transubstantiation” is not Biblical, but Catholic, yet it has been useful to us.

The Substance of Jesus. The word “substance” is Biblical (hypostasis) and exactly what is meant. The problem is the pre-fix “trans,” which denotes the transfer of something from one to another. Paul, however, is speaking out from verse 3 – Christ written upon our hearts of flesh with Spirit ink – becoming the glory upon our faces. It is our faces unveiled (apocalypse), then, that is the image of Christ to one another.

The substance of Jesus, His energeia, His ability, His essence and qualities, these things are imparted to us out from Jesus Himself inside our hearts, not “transferred.” The substance is Jesus in our hearts as every Word God speaks, the appearance, the outward form, is our faces, and the glory is 2:14, the aroma of His knowledge in every place.

A Clearer Picture. What I have taught on this topic remains true; what is happening now is that God is giving us a much clearer picture of our reality, Jesus through us. Thus the word “we walk through faith, not through outward sight,” and even more, in Chapter 5, “Look and See – everything is brand new,” these concepts are all related.

In fact Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is the SUBSTANCE (hypostasis) of things hoped for. We could say that faith is the movement from substance to appearance. Then, the word “being metamorphosed” is passive, something happening to us by the action of another, that is Jesus, imparting Himself to us by the Spirit, thus appearing on our faces together – which is – the Apocalypse!

Our Reception Draws His Ability. There is an alteration of our appearance caused by our bodies being swallowed up by Life (also Chapter 5), but the concept of becoming something different is not the Gospel. Thus, “we have this Treasure in earthen vessels,” now and forever, is the critical underlying definition.

I have now changed the title of our box to “Imparting Substance – Metamorphosed.” Passive tense draws Action. Thus everything Paul is saying through these chapters is an explanation of the ruling verse – The aroma of His knowledge being made visible through us in every place. And he comes back in Chapter 12 to underline again the critical importance of our earthly humanity to the completion of Jesus, our reception drawing His ability.

Imparting Substance – Metamorphosed. The glory of Jesus is unveiled upon my face. My brethren and I reflect His image to one another as a mirror and are being metamorphosed from glory into glory, out from His Spirit.

Jesus lives inside of my heart; written there by Spirit ink as every Word God speaks. This Jesus, who is my only life, imparts Himself to me through our shared Spirit every moment. I dwell always with Him, inside of His presence; I receive always from Him the impartation of all that He is. I speak His words as myself and as my brothers and sisters; we see one another’s faces as the very image of Jesus. As we spend time with one another, so we spend time with Jesus. Jesus actively imparts Himself to our togetherness, just as He imparts Himself to me.

I dwell always with the form of Jesus, for my form is His form, and the togetherness I know with my brothers and sisters is even more His form to all heaven-earth. We are His body; we share form with Jesus and with one another as His glorious body. Jesus imparts His love to me; the Spirit causes my face to be the image and reflection of His Love. Jesus imparts His abilities to me; I become the celebration of His Victory out from our shared Spirit. Jesus imparts His knowing of the Father to me, Jesus imparts His deep care for His Church to me, and I become, out from the Spirit, His very face to all.

The Mystery of Life. Jesus is always imparting His substance to us, but He needs our active faith to draw Him into our knowing, that He might be the image of glory on our face. This is the mystery of a man with a maid, the bringing forth of Life. Inside the means of devotion, Jesus imparts Himself to us, then, as we receive Jesus as He is and as He speaks, as part of our own souls, so He becomes us together, the Church, clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Image” is not what we become, but what we are, the reflection of our faces to one another, and the glory is that which flows forth from us together, rivers of Spirit setting creation free. This is the meaning of every Gospel Word in the Bible.

The Reflection of My Face. The kindness that is God shines upon my human face. I am the reflection of the image of Jesus. God shines inside my heart; my face shines forth His glory. My brethren see my face as the face of Jesus, even as I see the face of Jesus upon theirs. In this way, the glory of Jesus flows out from His Spirit, their faces to mine and mine to theirs. The reflection of our faces together become the very revelation of God, God as He truly is, God in all kindness and Joy, to all creation. I am the face of Christ; His glory shines forth from me. The deepest value to Jesus, His great triumph, shines as glory upon my face.

What Do You See? “Look and see.” The problem has always been our eyeballs, we are blind, or, worse yet, we see all sorts of things not true. The unveiling is the removal of the cover from our eyes, yet this seeing must be through faith, first. Look at one another’s faces and see the revelation of Jesus. I AM WHAT I AM. – Do you like Me, do you like what you see? Do not be ashamed of Me.

In the Catholic Mass, it is God Himself in that little person, down on His knees, waiting to receive FAITH. Yet the Catholic priest is so BLIND, all he can “see” is himself and his “power over” God. – What do you see?

Look and See. I look, and I see God everywhere I look. I look inside myself and I see all the fulness of God filling me full. I look at my way as I take each next step and I see God flowing forth as Rivers. I look at my circumstances in every next moment and interaction, and I see God sharing all with me. I look at the faces of my brothers and sisters and I see the very image of God, the Father’s glory. I look at creation around me, and I see God energeoing all, carrying all, sharing form with all, rejoicing over all. I look and I see God swallowing up all that offends inside the resolution that is Jesus. I look and I see my Father.

The New Creation. This next line is almost the most NOT believed statement in the Bible. – All things are brand new; all things are now out from God. Part of the reason for Jesus’ death upon the cross is to enable us to SEE everything old as no longer in existence. The entirety of the old creation vanished as the original Speaker died. The New Creation began in all fulness the moment the Speaker arose from death, speaking brand new.

This isn’t just Paul, but also Moses. – The Egyptians you will see no more forever. The rebellion of Israel was their determination to see Egypt and not God everywhere they looked. The same is true today. We see only the New.

All Things Brand New. I see the death of Jesus upon the cross, and I know that everything old has vanished. I see the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, and I know that the New Creation is the only thing that exists. I believe that God is telling me the Truth; I believe that everything in me, in the Church, and in my world is brand new, that everything is now out from God.

For this reason, I live in the expectation of God every moment, that every next step is God with me, bringing every particle of creation into the glorious liberty flowing out from us. My whole life is brand new; every moment I have lived has always been out from God. I look and I see that it is True; I see Jesus alone. The fellowship I share with my brethren is always brand new, always out from God, always Jesus with us.

Our Union with Christ. We have spent a few years exploring the unveiling of Jesus Christ as the Kingdom with our precious union with Christ as a background hum. In the past, however, the revelation of Christ through us sometimes caused us to lose sight of our union with Christ.

This understanding of 2 Corinthians 3:18 that God is giving to us brings us back into the workings of our union with Christ at a level we have never known. Yet it has been our lengthy time considering the revelation of Christ that turns this present knowing of union into a mighty powerhouse, the power of Christ causing us to be, the power and Life of God imparted to us every moment.