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Jesus Christ is the complete image and perfect representation of the Divine
being and His excellencies; so the Scriptures declare in several places (Jn.
14:7-11; 2 Cor. 4:4-6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). This is part of the glory of Christ
– that He is the Revealer of God to men. What is the character of this glory?
1. His is a Consubstantial Glory. It is a radiated, not a reflected glory. It is
a real glory, an essential glory. It is founded on the reality of His own divine
essence. The glory of God radiates through Him without distortion. Christ is
God’s glory enfleshed. Christ is the true Shekinah of God, being very God
Himself.
2. His is a Comprehensive Glory. In Christ the glory of God is comprehensively
displayed. “All the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form” in Christ (Col.
2:9). Christ is encapsulated glory, compacted glory. Christ is the believer’s
textbook of God. His incarnation is an encyclopedia of theology.
3. His is a Clearer Glory. His glory is a clearer glory, a conspicuous, not a
hidden glory. Christ is not like the creation – a circumstantial glory, being
the work of His fingers (Ps. 8:3). Christ is direct glory. He is not the fringe
or finger of God, but very God manifested in the flesh. He is not a back-sided
glory, but a full-faced glory. He is not a faint word, but the very Word of God
Himself (Jn. 1:1).
4. His is a Condescending Glory. “We beheld His glory, glory as of the only
begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). Here is a glory
near and dear. Not a glory which drives men away, but is an attractive and
approachable glory. His is not a lethal glory, but an inviting glory – the
excellency of God brought near and made sweet for us.
5. His is a Converting Glory. His is a saving glory. God is no longer a
theological deduction from His works, but in Christ He can be known personally
and savingly. This is eternal life, said Christ, “that they may know Thee, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent” (Jn. 17:3). God is not
truly known, clearly known, or savingly known apart from Christ. The beholding
of this glory is most necessary to be saved (2 Cor. 4).
6. His is a Conforming Glory. It is this glory which beholding Paul says we are
“transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). It is an
assimilating glory. It changes whoever is fixed by faith upon it.
Faith Community Church of Oxnard, CA http://www.fccoxnard.org
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