rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we...might be for the praise of his glory" (Eph.1:11-12).
"I make known the end from the beginning,from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isa. 46:10).
As Christians, we have been "called according to his purpose" (Ro.8:28). The plan He has for our lives was conceived even before the creation of the world (Eph.1:4). That plan includes many things, but the bottom line of God's purpose is to reveal His glory in and through our lives.
The earth is already full of God's glory (Isa.6:3) - the creation itself reveals one level of God's glory (Psa.19:1-3; Rom.1:18-20). But God desires to reveal His glory in a much deeper way.
God's glorious plan hinges on the Church becoming everything that God intended for her (Eph.3:10-11). God has planned for a Church that will reveal His glory and nature to the world.
The Radiance of God's Glory
God has chosen to reveal His glory to the world through:
The Son of God
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word..." (He..1:3).
The glory of God was revealed in the person of Jesus (Jn. 1:14,18). He is "the radiance of God's glory." We cannot look directly into the glory of God (Ex.33:20). But when we look at Jesus, we see the brightness of God's glory through Him.
"For God...made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Cor.4:6).
The Church of God
"...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... to present her to himself as a radiant church..." (Eph.5:25-27).
The Church holds the central place in God's eternal purpose. The purpose of God is that the Church will reveal the full majesty of God's glory (Jn.17:22).
"And he...showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal" (Re.21:10-11).
The redeemed people of God are described as a city, shining with the glory of God. Whereas Jesus is the actual radiance of God's glory - "the exact representation of his being" - the Church is likened to a precious jewel, reflecting the glory of God. When you hold a diamond up to the sun, it splinters the light into many colors. This is how we reveal the glory of God.
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph.3:10-11).
The word "manifold" literally means "multicolored and magnificently variegated." Each of our lives reflect the glory of God in a unique and complimentary way.
Walking in God's Glory
Experiencing God's glory was the whole ambition of Moses (Ex.33:18) and of David (Ps.17:15; 27:4). But under the Old Covenant, the glory of God was limited.
"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?" (2 Co. 3:7-8).
The Cross changed forever the way God's glory interacts with people. The New Covenant in Christ has opened the way for every believer to walk in God's glory.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Co.3:18).
With Moses, God's glory was a fading glory that had to be veiled (2 Co.3:13). Now, through the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Ro.8:1-11), God's glory is unveiled and ever-increasing!
As we walk closely with the Lord, two things happen - we reflect the glory of God like a mirror and we are transformed into His glorious likeness. This is the purpose of God for our lives. As we walk in His purpose, the glory of God is revealed through us to the world.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph.3:20-21).
"I make known the end from the beginning,from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isa. 46:10).
As Christians, we have been "called according to his purpose" (Ro.8:28). The plan He has for our lives was conceived even before the creation of the world (Eph.1:4). That plan includes many things, but the bottom line of God's purpose is to reveal His glory in and through our lives.
The earth is already full of God's glory (Isa.6:3) - the creation itself reveals one level of God's glory (Psa.19:1-3; Rom.1:18-20). But God desires to reveal His glory in a much deeper way.
God's glorious plan hinges on the Church becoming everything that God intended for her (Eph.3:10-11). God has planned for a Church that will reveal His glory and nature to the world.
The Radiance of God's Glory
God has chosen to reveal His glory to the world through:
The Son of God
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word..." (He..1:3).
The glory of God was revealed in the person of Jesus (Jn. 1:14,18). He is "the radiance of God's glory." We cannot look directly into the glory of God (Ex.33:20). But when we look at Jesus, we see the brightness of God's glory through Him.
"For God...made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Cor.4:6).
The Church of God
"...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... to present her to himself as a radiant church..." (Eph.5:25-27).
The Church holds the central place in God's eternal purpose. The purpose of God is that the Church will reveal the full majesty of God's glory (Jn.17:22).
"And he...showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal" (Re.21:10-11).
The redeemed people of God are described as a city, shining with the glory of God. Whereas Jesus is the actual radiance of God's glory - "the exact representation of his being" - the Church is likened to a precious jewel, reflecting the glory of God. When you hold a diamond up to the sun, it splinters the light into many colors. This is how we reveal the glory of God.
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph.3:10-11).
The word "manifold" literally means "multicolored and magnificently variegated." Each of our lives reflect the glory of God in a unique and complimentary way.
Walking in God's Glory
Experiencing God's glory was the whole ambition of Moses (Ex.33:18) and of David (Ps.17:15; 27:4). But under the Old Covenant, the glory of God was limited.
"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?" (2 Co. 3:7-8).
The Cross changed forever the way God's glory interacts with people. The New Covenant in Christ has opened the way for every believer to walk in God's glory.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Co.3:18).
With Moses, God's glory was a fading glory that had to be veiled (2 Co.3:13). Now, through the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Ro.8:1-11), God's glory is unveiled and ever-increasing!
As we walk closely with the Lord, two things happen - we reflect the glory of God like a mirror and we are transformed into His glorious likeness. This is the purpose of God for our lives. As we walk in His purpose, the glory of God is revealed through us to the world.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph.3:20-21).
