Destined For Glory Series

If the resurrection of Christ and the promise of God had been a mere myth, this would have been the opportunity to drop it and save his neck.

Paul lost his head clinging to the hope conveyed in the Gospel.

Jesus confidently faced death and suffering because of His hope in the Father.

’I saw the Lord always in my presence;

For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.

’Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

’You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’ Acts 2:25-28

Here, Paul urges believers to confidently and enthusiastically declare (exult) their confident expectation (hope) of one day fully and perfectly reflecting the glory of God.

“Let us exult in hope of the glory of God.”

Not only has justification resulted in peace with God in the present based on our past justification and introduction into new relationship but also inspires a confident expectation to actually become like Christ in the future and once again fully reflect the glory of the Creator as He originally intended.

“Glory”

The term translated “glory” needs further exploration. The term itself comes from the word to think or recognize. It came to describe that which causes one to think highly or recognize admirable attributes. It is that which captures attention by its superior function. Glory always attaches to something. Everything emanates a glory. Glory describes that which draws us to recognize admirable qualities in a person, event or object.

A glorious performance

A glorious triple play

A glorious sunset or sunrise

A glorious full moon

A glorious personality

A glorious flower arrangement

When something or someone demonstrates excellence, beauty or efficiency or exhibits rare ability or character it elicits a response from those who recognize it. Man’s glory is fleeting and often based on faulty thinking or misguided opinion. Since God is perfect and the source of all that is inherently good he radiates the ultimate glory. Like fire radiates both heat and light to those nearby, the character of God radiates glory. The glory of Jesus grabbed attention his whole life and even in death. The disciples were indelibly marked by what they saw.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

John never forgot the experience on the mountain with James and Peter when the glory of the perfect Christ broke through the barriers of his flesh and lit up the mountain. Jesus radiated an identical glory as the Father – glory as of the only begotten of the father. The grace and truth that characterized everything he did radiated something never observed to that degree in man’s experience.

Just as the heavens continually tell of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (Psa 19:1), so Jesus radiated the very nature of God to those who had a mind to look. The person, purpose and power of God radiate a glow or awe-inspiring quality that in turn inspires response from those who recognize it. God’s glory surpasses everything and sets Him apart from all that is not God. The Scriptures continually exalt Him above all the earth. God’s glory surpasses even the sun in its brilliance.