By creating us in His image God created us for glory, His glory. And, as Peter has testified, in these last days God has renewed this call to glory through the intercession and advocacy of Jesus Christ.
I Peter 5:8-11 IV (KJV) – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
II Peter 1:2-4 IV (KJV) – Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The question now facing each one of us is this, do we want to abide in His glory, or no? Do we want to be like the God who created us, or no?
As described in Part 1 in this series, the Lord has prepared three distinct glories that have different measures or levels of light. Which one of these three we will inherit depends upon our individual responses to God’s call to glory by the way we live our lives in this world. Next, in Part 2 in this series, what God is seeking from each of us by creating us in His image is outlined. Now, in Part 3, we will focus on our calling to glory.
Called To Glory
By creating us in His image in the beginning, God created us for glory, His glory [1]. However, sin entered into the world through Adam and from there death began its reign over all mankind. In this way, mankind became separated from the glory of God and the glory of living under His reign in His kingdom. Now, while under the reign of this world, God is calling us back to glory, His glory, by calling us to become His dear children through the reception of the Spirit of adoption in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:10-21 IV (KJV) – And if Christ be in you, though the body shall die because of sin, yet the Spirit is life, because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, unto sin, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live unto Christ.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption; whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be named with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to tribulation not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected it in hope; Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Plainly stated, God is calling us unto His kingdom and glory.
I Thessalonians 2:10-12 IV (KJV) – Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe; as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
II Thessalonians 2:13,14 IV (KJV) – But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note how we are called by the gospel unto obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? He is the Lord of glory, even the King of glory, and, as noted above, it was in His image and likeness that we were created.
I Corinthians 2:2-8 IV (KJV) – For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified … And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. … we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Psalm 24:7-10 IV (KJV) – Lift up your heads, O ye generations of Jacob; and be ye lifted up; and the Lord strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle, who is the king of glory, shall establish you forever. And he will roll away the heavens; and will come down to redeem him people; to make you an everlasting name; to establish you upon his everlasting rock. Lift up your heads, O ye generations of Jacob; lift up your heads, ye everlasting generations, and the Lord of hosts, the king of kings; Even the king of glory shall come unto you; and shall redeem his people, and shall establish them in righteousness. Selah.
And, at the appointed time, He is returning in the glory of His Father [2].
Matthew 16:30 IV (KJV) – For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Those who have a particular hope, called the hope of glory – meaning the hope to be like Jesus when He returns in glory – will be like Him in the same glory of light and love.
I John 3:1-3 IV (KJV) – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Moroni 7:52,53 AE (RCE) – Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail; but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; And whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with them. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which He hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of His Son Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him – for we shall see Him as He is – that we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as He is pure. Amen.
For as Jesus has promised, He will come again with the glory which He had with His heavenly Father before the world was – even the glory He displayed when creating us in His image – to reward everyone according to his or her works.
John 17:3-5 IV (KJV) – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Isaiah 43:5-7,11 IV (KJV) – Fear not; for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even everyone that is called by my name; for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him… I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.
Revelation 22:12-14 IV (KJV) – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Works of faith will not be lost in that glorious day. On the other hand, works that are not of faith will be burned up.
I Corinthians 3:13-15 IV (KJV) – Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself may be saved; yet so as by fire.
The Brightness of His Glory
Jesus Christ is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person.
Hebrews 1:1-3 IV (KJV) – God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
It is because we were created in this very same image that we belong to God – not only because He created us, but more particularly, it is by virtue of our being created in His image that we are His. Recall how Jesus responded to the question, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?” Jesus replied:
Luke 20:24,25 IV (KJV) – Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered, and said, Caesar’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar, the things which be Caesar’s; and unto God, the things which be God’s.
The message is clear. Just as the ownership of the coin was made obvious by the image and superscription that had been placed upon it, so does the image and superscription placed upon us identify the One to whom we belong [3]. Moreover, our Lord has not only created us in His image, He has also purchased us with His own blood – according to and in fulfillment of divine justice – so He might restore His image within us by His grace.
I Corinthians 6:19,20 IV (KJV) – What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Acts 20:28 IV (KJV) – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Remember, as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ laid down His life in death to take away the sin of the world, and then rose from the grave to conquer death and bring about the resurrection of the dead. Thus it is written of our Lord, He is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
John 1:29 IV (KJV) – The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and said; Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!
I John 2:1,2 IV (KJV) – My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin and repent, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I Timothy 4:10 IV (KJV) – For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
But remember also, even as we were created in God’s image and yet became lost, we can fail the grace of God and be cut off from Him if we remain unfruitful in His word.
John 15:1-8 IV (KJV) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Hebrews 4:1-3 IV (KJV) – Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us by entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the rest preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they harden their hearts they shall not enter into my rest; also, I have sworn, If they will not harden their hearts, they shall enter into my rest; although the works of God were prepared, (or finished,) from the foundation of the world.
Romans 11:21,22 IV (KJV) – For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
This can occur if we forget what manner of people we ought to be by failing to abide in Jesus Christ and allowing His words to abide in us.
II Peter 1:5-12 IV (KJV) – And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
James 1:22-24 IV (KJV) – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
God has called each of us to be born again and become new creatures in Christ, and then to keep His commandments by following Him throughout our lives. In this way, He promises to restore and establish His image within us in this life and on into eternity.
II Peter 3:11-15 IV (KJV) – If then all these things shall be destroyed, what manner of persons ought ye to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking unto, and preparing for the day of the coming of the Lord wherein the corruptible things of the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the mountains shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, if we shall endure, we shall be kept according to his promise. And we look for a new heavens, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless; And account, even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you, the long-suffering and waiting of our Lord, for salvation.
II Corinthians 4:5-7 IV (KJV) – But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Of truth, then, Jesus Christ is the Captain of our Salvation, for He has not only called us to glory, He Himself is bringing us to glory.
Hebrews 2:9,10 IV (KJV) – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Colossians 3:3,4 IV (KJV) – For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Philippians 3:20,21 IV (KJV) – For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
And His Reward is with Him
Consider again Jesus Christ’s promise that when He returns He will reward each of us according to the deeds (works) we have done in the body.
Revelation 22:10-17 IV (KJV) – And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
His reward to each person will not be handed out casually or without due judgment for the way in which each of us has lived our lives. Rather, we will receive our reward from the throne of His glory, which is His judgment seat.
Matthew 25:32-44 IV (KJV) – When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory; And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth sheep from the goats; the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. And he shall sit upon his throne, and the twelve apostles with him. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. … Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
II Corinthians 5:9-11 IV (KJV) – Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive a reward of the deeds done in the body; things according to what he hath done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Note the continuity that will exist from this life on into the eternity. How we have lived our lives in this world will be reflected and carried over on into the life to come.
Revelation 22:11,12 IV (KJV) – He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.
Those who remain unchanged by the love of God – revealed in Jesus Christ – will remain as if they had not been redeemed with one exception. They will come forth in the resurrection of the dead, but without being justified. Even more sobering, for their reward those who changed and corrupted the glory of God by corrupting His image which He placed in their bodies (by virtue of the fact that we were created in His image) will be received into a state of “no glory,” i.e. a state of darkness, even the blackness of darkness forever.
Romans 1:20-25 IV (KJV) – For God hath revealed unto them the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, which are clearly seen; things which are not seen being understood by the things that are made, through his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts; to dishonor their own bodies between themselves; Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Jude 1:5-13 IV (KJV) – I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this,how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. … But these speak evil of those things which they know not; but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and shall perish in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
On the other hand, those who repent of their sins and earnestly seek the Lord and receive with gladness His goodness in Christ Jesus, and who then remain therein unto the end of their days, will receive eternal life, even glory and honor and peace.
Romans 2:6-11 IV (KJV) – [God] will render to every man according to his deeds; To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; for there is no respect of persons with God.
This is why in the resurrection, the Lord will give to each person a body that is in keeping with the glory by which they lived their lives in this world.
I Corinthians 15:39-45 IV (KJV) – All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. Also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, and bodies telestial; but the glory of the celestial, one; and the terrestrial, another; and the telestial, another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Those who have loved the light of Jesus Christ will live gloriously with Him in His light, while those who have loved darkness more than light will inherit a state which is commensurate with the way in which they have lived their lives. On the other hand, those who have received the love of the truth will receive their reward in glory in the presence of the Lord, in whose image they were created.
For the Spirit of Glory and of God Resteth Upon You
All of us have sinned and come short of God’s glory.
Romans 3:21-25 IV (KJV) – But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Therefore being justified only by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Therefore, to prepare us for this special day of His return, our Lord gives us of His glory through His Spirit, called the Spirit of glory.
I Peter 4:12-14 IV (KJV) – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
II Corinthians 3:17,18 IV (KJV) – Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Take for example, His prayer recorded for us in John 17. There Jesus spoke plainly of giving the glory He has received from the Father of glory to all those the Father had given Him. Additionally, He spoke plainly that He had done so for a purpose: “That they all may be one.”
John 17:18-23 IV (KJV) – As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, linked this glory which awaits us to the love the Father has bestowed upon us:
I John 3:1-3 IV (KJV) – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Recall how John wrote that God is light and God is love. These are the essential elements of God’s glory, i.e. light and love. And these are the essential elements which mark the glory Jesus Christ gives to His disciples.
I John 1:3-7 IV (KJV) – That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I John 4:7-11 IV (KJV) – Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Although not yet fully realized, the glory our Lord gives us will be revealed in us when we are brought forth in the glorious liberty of the children of God upon His return. Therefore, as Paul describes it, we wait patiently for His return in the hope of the redemption of our bodies when we will be glorified together with Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:15-25 IV (KJV) – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption; whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be named with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to tribulation not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected it in hope; Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then with patience we do wait for it.
Note how we receive the hope of this glory when we receive the gift of the Spirit of adoption by whom we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ as God’s children – if so be that we suffer with Him. In his letters Paul explained that this, the hope of glory, is in very fact Jesus Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith according to the riches of His glory.
Colossians 1:25-29 IV (KJV) – Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now in made manifest to his saints; To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Ephesians 3:16-19 IV (KJV) – That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
I Corinthians 4:5-7 IV (KJV) – For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Paul’s teaching is consistent with the words of Jesus, who said He is to abide in us and we in Him.
John 15:1-8 IV (KJV) – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Matthew 5:16-18 IV (KJV) – Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of the world; a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house. Therefore, let your light so shine before this world, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
My Glory will I not Give to Another
Another important point that we will now return to for further consideration is our Lord’s statement that He will not give His glory to another:
Isaiah 42:8 IV (KJV) – I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 48:11 IV (KJV) – For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Briefly comprehended, our Lord will not surrender His glory to anyone else. He will not be separated from His glory such that it departs from Him and rests upon someone separate from Himself. Rather, unto those who receive Him by receiving His Spirit of truth into their hearts by faith, and who are willing to remain in Him by abiding in Him as a branch in a vine, the Lord will give them the power to become God’s children, thereby bestowing upon them His glory.
John 1:11,12 IV (KJV) – He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; only to them who believe on his name.
John 15:4,5 IV (KJV) – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
How does Jesus Christ, as the Lord of Glory, impart His glory to us? As stated above, He sends His Spirit of truth, the Spirit of glory, to abide within us.
John 14:15-18 IV (KJV) – If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.
I Peter 4:14 IV (KJV) – If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
It is this same Spirit of glory that bears witness with our spirits that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ and that we will be raised with our Lord in glory in the resurrection of the dead to the praise and honor of God.
Romans 8:16-18 IV (KJV) – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be named with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
And in this way we are changed into the same image from glory unto glory, that is, by His Spirit of glory abiding within us.
II Corinthians 3:17 IV (KJV) – Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Received up into Glory
Jesus was received into glory so that our faith and hope might be in God and that He might receive us in glory unto Himself.
I Timothy 3:16 IV (KJV) – The pillar and ground of the truth is, (and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness,) God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
I Peter 1:18-21 IV (KJV) – Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Because He lives, we shall likewise live with Him in His glory (Revelation 20-22)
John 14:1-3 IV (KJV) – Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And when I go, I will prepare a place for you, and come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also.
Psalm 73:24-28 IV (KJV) – Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
This glory is reserved for those who receive the hope to be like Jesus when He returns in the glory of the Father.
I Peter 5:1-4 IV (KJV) – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
And for This Cause Came I into the World
Finally, recall how Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to testify of the truth and to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the poor and the captives, and to heal and set at liberty as many as would believe on His name.
Luke 4:18,19 IV (KJV) – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Having this in mind, we can clearly understand the reason Jesus gave for coming into the world: to bear witness unto the truth.
John 18:37 IV (KJV) – Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Note in particular how Jesus testified that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. He knows those who follow Him according to His word of truth. They are His sheep and He is their Shepherd (Psalm 23, Hebrews 13, I Peter 5). By His voice, meaning His Spirit, He guides, protects, and preserves them. He provides for them and comforts them with the joy of His presence.
John 10:11-15 IV (KJV) – I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. And the shepherd is not as a hireling, whose own the sheep are not, who seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth the sheep and scattereth them. For I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. But he who is a hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:27-30 IV (KJV) – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
They are they who hear the word of God which is preached by those called and sent by God, those who are chosen and ordained unto this ministry by Him.
Romans 10:13-15 IV (KJV) – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
I John 4:1-6 IV (KJV) – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God; Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now it is already in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Through His servants, the Lord continues to call us into worship in and according to His Spirit of truth, even in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:1-4 IV (KJV) – Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
So may we then come unto Him without the camp that we might be sanctified unto the honor and glory of God.
Hebrews 13:12-16 IV (KJV) – Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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To be cont’d.
[1] Note: There are two meanings here. The first is apparent. God is glorified in what He has created and maintains. The second meaning is this: God created us to share in His glory, which is the topic of this post.
[3] This is why those who receive the mark of the beast (see Revelation 14:9-12) – versus the mark of the Lamb of God (i.e. His name; see Revelation 22:4) – will become subject to the devil and receive their reward with the him in the final judgment. Compare Romans 6:13-16 & Genesis 7:39-46 with Alma 3:61-70 & II Nephi 6:19-23.
