1 Corinthians 3 (NRSVue)
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberation. Where the liberation of the Lord is, there is our becoming.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Paul links the Spirit with freedom. In your experience, what does freedom in Christ feel like? Is it freedom from something (law, fear, shame) or freedom for something (love, obedience, service? How does the Spirit’s freedom differ from cultural message of “freedom” as independence or self-rule?
2. Paul describes transformation as moving “from one degree of glory to another,” suggesting a slow, unfolding process rather than an instant change. What does this reveal about God’s approach to our growth? How can we have patience with ourselves on our journey toward “becoming?” How can we sincerely hold space for others in the body who are on their own journeys toward “becoming” as well?
3. In 2 Corinthians 3:17–18, Paul says we are being transformed into the image of Christ “as though reflected in a mirror,” yet in the ancient world mirrors were dim and blurred. What might it mean that the Spirit’s work gradually “polishes” that mirror in our lives, allowing us to reflect Christ more clearly over time? How can even a dim and imperfect reflection of Christ still bring real freedom and blessing to others here on earth? And how does this connect with 1 Corinthians 13:12, where Paul reminds us that though we only see “in a mirror, dimly” now, one day we will see face to face — with full clarity?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Jesus brought liberation without the use of sword or gun, what did that liberation look like then and what does it look like today? How does the humility of Christ help us understand the idea of the liberation being given to us? How do you define or find this freedom offered in your life in the day to day? What about over the course of years?
2. When considering the growth we experience as individuals as it pertains to our understanding of gospel and our liberation, what does this do for your sense of hope or promise of tomorrow?
3. In verse 18, Paul says that all of us, with unveiled faces, are being transformed. This suggests a shared connection within the unveiled body of believers. Do you think transformation into Christlike wholeness is ultimately a communal journey, an individual one, or both? And in today’s world, what kinds of “veils” might prevent people from fully experiencing the freedom Christ offers?
For further contemplation, consider these quotes & prompts:
1. “Because of the freedom I have, I get to change, I get to become.” How does the gift of free will or the option to choose impact your understanding of God’s confident love in us?
2. Paul speaks of being “transformed into the same image.” How might this transformation call us not only to inner renewal but also to embodied practices—such as justice, hospitality, and reconciliation—that make Christ’s glory visible in real, human life? What dangers arise if we reduce “glory” to a purely spiritual idea and overlook its connection to human dignity and concrete action? And in contexts of oppression, how might freedom in the Spirit be lived out when unveiling Christ’s image carries social—or even political—implications?