FULL OF GLORY
1 Peter 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Over the years as we have grown more and more into doctrinal truth, we have come to compartmentalize the successive stages of the believer’s growth in the Holy Spirit. In regeneration we first recognize justification, which is a one-time work of the new birth. Then we enter into sanctification, which is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. And in this time we also assign mortification, which is a killing out of our fleshly, remaining corruptions. And then we have glorification, which we have solely relegated to eternity. But now we find that is not entirely true. For the Apostle Peter speaks in our verse eight of being here on earth with joy unspeakable and full of glory! He is basically saying that we ‘have a little heaven to go to heaven in!’
No earthly parent denies even their grown children any financial aid that they can give at present, just because that child will inherit all after their death. Neither does the heavenly Father withhold the blessedness of joy and glory at present, just because we shall have that glory in its entirety at the Lord’s coming. Truly it is the same glory! It’s just that in eternity it shall be “prolonged and purified,” as one writer states.
The Lord spoke of this, both to his disciples and to his Father. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Then to the Father we read our Lord’s prayer as listed in John 17:13: And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Take time to consider the following words in the verses of our text. In verse three we have “a lively hope.” This implies an “ever-living” hope. Then in verse six we read of “greatly rejoicing.” And of course, in verse eight we have “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” All these things find their resting place within the spiritual man.
And the Apostle Peter acknowledges in verse six of our text that this joy even works in the spiritual man at such time as he is in heaviness through manifold temptations. Consider his additional writings on this subject. 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 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. 14 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.
And the Apostle Paul clearly speaks of the sorrow of the believer as being far different from that of the world. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For the sorrow of the true believers is regulated by their faith and hope in Christ! 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For just as the entire oak tree is in the acorn, the entire work of the Spirit is, at the outset, in regeneration. And just as that acorn is at first buried in the earth, so the beginnings of the believer’s spiritual development does not always yet appear. It is a growing process. Mark 4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Our Lord spoke of the beginnings of faith as being very delicate. For he speaks of faith’s beginnings as being like “smoking flax” and as a “bruised reed.” Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Therefore we learn not to despise the day of small beginnings. Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things?
Let us consider the Apostle Paul’s writings to the Roman believers concerning obtaining the glory. Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
God provides “eternal life” to those who both patiently continue in well doing, and “seek for glory!” For those who have eternal life, seek for glory. And those who seek for glory have eternal life. These are they who come to the light of the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit, to have their deeds examined as to whether they are of God or not. John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
But on the other hand the Apostle Paul states that they who do not obey the truth, but “doeth evil,” shall be rendered “indignation and wrath.” And then notice in Romans 2:10 there is a farther receiving of “glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good.” Therefore to him who seeks for glory now shall also be awarded honor and peace, and then obtain eternal glory. But to those who do not seek God’s glory shall have rendered to them indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish.
Remember that the definition of sin is coming short of the glory! Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; For sin is not just a matter of a wrongful act for which we must apologize! Sin is a matter of denying God’s his rightful glory, which should be revealed in those made in his image! 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
But how shall we recover that glory? – That is an extremely serious and important question! We lost the glory in the first Adam. When he sinned the covering glory disappeared and he became naked! And we shall only regain the glory in the last Adam! For in Him alone shall we ever “behold the glory.” John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. And in spiritually seeing his glory, we are granted faith and eternal life. John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
If “Jesus” is to you only a historical figure, you do not have salvation. You are only a practicing religionist! For that ‘faith’ is a demon faith! James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Beware that you are not being deceived by “the angel of light” (Satan), and finally hear, “Depart from me, ye that work inquiry!” – Cry out now for the revelation of Christ’s glory to your religious soul! {The writer was an unregenerate, baptized church member for seven years before he was shown the glory of Christ and his cross by the new birth.}
You need the “blessed eyes” that see the Son of God as your Lord. Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Saul of Tarsus only became Paul the Apostle, when even with physically blinded eyes he cried out, “Who art thou Lord?” For he is not an “add-on Jesus!” He is not your “buddy!” He is absolute Lord, who has absolute sovereign power to deal with your eternal soul as pleases him!
Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
For just saying the word “Lord” in prayer, or in bible reading is deceptive if there is not the spiritual realization in your heart that he is your Lord. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Some think to “make him Lord” at some time in the future, thinking to only have him as saviour now. But, dear one, he came here as Lord! God presented him as Lord when he got here! Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And upon whom does the sinner call for salvation? Is it not “the name of the Lord?” Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There is no separation of his being Savior from his Lordship!
And we also read that as soon as the Son of God “purged our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high!” (Hebrews 1:3) He is presently reigning and ruling Lord. For it was at the completion of redemption at the cross that the Father exalted him above every name in the universe. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
The cross of Christ was a purchase price to buy back his creation. But especially are the redeemed purchased by him. Acts 20:28 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.
And having been bought by him, we are his servants, made to seek his will, and not our own. 1 Corinthians 6:19 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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
He is the servant king. Therefore all his true subjects are servants. Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
For it was as he obtained the glory by his perfect obedience to the Father that we are even afforded salvation. 1 Peter 1:21 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.
And why does he mainly call the weak and foolish things of the world into his salvation? It is a matter of his glory. 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Let us therefore seek to be “Full of Glory.”
Pastor Gene Breed
October 9, 2019
