Beholding Christ: The Key to Transformed Affections (2 Corinthians 3:18)
As we behold the glory of Christ, we are transformed—His light shaping us, His presence drawing us ever closer.
Transformation in the Christian life is not achieved through sheer willpower, self-discipline, or external behavioral modification. True transformation happens when we behold Christ. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18,
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
This single verse encapsulates one of the most beautiful and freeing realities of the Christian life: We are transformed not by force, but by beholding Christ.
Many believers spend their lives striving to love God more, trying to force their hearts into deeper affection for Him. But Scripture teaches that true transformation does not come from effort-driven attempts to stir up devotion; rather, it flows from fixing our eyes on Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to conform us to His image.
This teaching will explore what it means to behold Christ, how that leads to transformed affections, and how believers can practically live in this reality.
Understanding 2 Corinthians 3:18: The Beholding that Transforms
1. The Context of 2 Corinthians 3
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3, is contrasting the Old Covenant of the Law with the New Covenant in Christ. The Law, though holy, could not bring life—it only brought condemnation. But now, through Christ, the veil that once blinded people from seeing the glory of God has been removed (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).
In the Old Testament, Moses’ face reflected God’s glory after he had been in His presence (Exodus 34:29-35). However, the Israelites could not endure the radiance of that glory, so Moses veiled his face. But now, under the New Covenant, we no longer have a veiled experience of God’s glory. We can behold Him fully in Christ.
This is why Paul writes:
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image…”
Unlike Moses, who merely reflected God’s glory temporarily, we behold Christ directly, and in doing so, we are inwardly transformed.
The Key Principle: Transformation by Beholding, Not Striving
Paul’s language in 2 Corinthians 3:18 reveals the divine process of change:
We behold the glory of the Lord.
As we behold, we are transformed.
This transformation happens through the Spirit, not through self-effort.
This is not a command to change ourselves. Paul does not say, “Transform yourselves into Christ’s image.” He says that transformation happens to us as we behold Christ. The agent of change is not our effort, but the Holy Spirit.
This aligns perfectly with Romans 8:29, which states that God’s purpose is to conform us to the image of Christ. That transformation is His work, not ours.
Supporting Scriptural Principles
We Become What We Behold (Psalm 115:4-8, Romans 12:2)
Psalm 115:8 warns that those who worship idols become like them—lifeless, powerless, and empty.
Likewise, when we fix our eyes on the things of the world, our affections are shaped by them.
But when we behold Christ, we are transformed into His likeness.
Looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)
The key to running the Christian race is not trying harder, but fixing our eyes on Jesus.
The more we see Him, the more our affections align with His.
Beholding Christ Is the Essence of the Christian Life (John 17:3, Colossians 3:1-4)
Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).
Colossians 3:1-4 tells us that since we have been raised with Christ, we must set our minds on things above, where Christ is.
How Beholding Christ Transforms Our Affections
1. Beholding Christ Reorients Our Desires
When we see the beauty, love, and sufficiency of Christ, we naturally desire Him more. Transformation is not about forcing ourselves to love God but about seeing Him so clearly that nothing else compares.
Example: A child who plays with a cheap plastic toy may cling to it tightly—until he sees something far greater. When he is offered a real treasure, he naturally lets go of the lesser thing. This is what happens when we behold Christ—the things of the world lose their grip on us because we see the surpassing worth of knowing Him (Philippians 3:8).
2. Beholding Christ Frees Us from Sin’s Power
Many believers try to overcome sin by sheer discipline, but true victory comes from focusing on Christ, not on our failures.
Colossians 3:5 tells us to put sin to death, but the preceding verses (Colossians 3:1-4) say that transformation begins by setting our minds on Christ.
Galatians 5:16 teaches that when we walk by the Spirit, we “will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The focus is on walking by the Spirit, not battling the flesh.
3. Beholding Christ Awakens Love for Him
The more we gaze upon Christ’s love, the more our hearts respond in love.
1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us.”
Luke 7:47 – The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears loved much because she had been forgiven much.
Love for Christ is not something we produce; it is something awakened in us when we behold His love for us.
4. Beholding Christ Produces the Fruit of the Spirit
Paul does not say, “Try to be more loving, patient, and kind.” He says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). Fruit is not something we manufacture; it is something that grows naturally from the life of Christ in us.
Practical Ways to Behold Christ Daily
Meditate on the Gospels and the Person of Christ
Regularly read about who Jesus is, what He has done, and His love for you.
Spend Time in Worship and Prayer Focused on Christ
Instead of focusing on personal struggles, shift your attention to worshiping Christ for who He is.
Renew Your Mind with Scripture That Points to Christ
Focus on passages that reveal His glory, love, and sufficiency (Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-4).
Walk by the Spirit, Not by Self-Effort
Daily surrender to the Spirit’s work in your life, trusting Him to transform your affections.
Conclusion: The Joy of Beholding Christ
Transformation in the Christian life is not about striving, forcing affections, or laboring to love God more. It is about beholding Christ—gazing upon His glory, resting in His finished work, and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into His image.
This is why Paul says in Philippians 3:8,
“I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
The Christian life is not about trying to change ourselves—it is about looking at Christ and allowing Him to do what only He can do: transform us into His image, from one degree of glory to another.
Key Takeaways
Transformation comes not by force, but by beholding Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Affections are shaped by what we focus on—fixing our eyes on Jesus changes us.
Sin loses its grip not when we fight it directly, but when we are captivated by something greater.
Walking by the Spirit naturally produces the fruit of Christ’s life in us.
The Christian life is about knowing and enjoying Christ, not striving to improve ourselves.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, and let His Spirit transform you into His image.