Monday January 3, 2022

The gospel of the glory

Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me, where I am, so that they may contemplate my glory, the glory which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24

Sound doctrine, that which is in accord with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:10,11

When the prodigal son comes home repentant, his father forgives him. He does not treat him as a simple servant who no longer has any rights. He reestablishes him as his son in his father's house with a great feast. It is a picture of the grace of our God who not only forgave us but also gave us an inheritance in heaven. The Word of God gives us some glimpses of what lies ahead.

First, our bodies will be made conformable to the glorious body of our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:21). Our part will be more glorious than that of the angels. These heavenly creatures will behold the glory of the grace of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in His kindness to glorified believers (Ephesians 2:7).

All who are part of the Church will be with Christ, as a bride with her husband. The marriage feast of the Lamb will be celebrated in heaven, a time of immense joy, since heaven is invited to rejoice and to shudder for joy (Revelation 19:7) The Church will be with Christ eternally.

When Christ comes down from heaven to judge the world, his heavenly hosts will accompany him, and the saints will judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2). The apostle Paul makes it clear : The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20). How we will reign with Christ during the Millennium, we do not know. But Christians, so often despised or persecuted, will surround Christ in his royal glory.

Three New Testament texts speak of the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13 ; Revelation 21:1) or the eternal state (1 Corinthians 15:28). We will be there with Christ ; there will be peace, the peace of God, in a world without sin.

How wonderful, the gospel of the glory of God !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)