New Life in Christ — Into The Glory

By Dr. M. DeWayne Anderson in New Life in Christ

New Life in Christ — Into The Glory

In the beginning, Adam and Eve were created for fellowship with God. It is impossible for us to understand the unobstructed access they had to God in all of His glory, holiness and power. Nothing is said about God’s glory when Adam and Eve walked and talked with Him in the garden, but they had an open relationship with God. After they sinned, open access to God’s presence was hidden.

God dwells in His glory.

His glory is as natural to God as air is to us. His glory is always represented in His presence. Whenever God revealed Himself to individuals or the host of His people, varying degrees of His glory was known.

When God appeared to Abraham, the Lord called him out and gave him an inheritance and promise.

Moses walked on to holy ground and beheld the Lord of glory.

God demonstrated His glory in the things He did for His people. In Exodus 13:21-22, the whole congregation of Israel witnessed the glory of the Lord in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. In Exodus 24, God said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord,” and “Moses alone shall come near the Lord.” When Moses ascended up into the mountain, the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, (Exodus 24:16). The sight of God’s glory was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. On the mountain, God made provision for Aaron’s sons to serve Him in the glory of His presence in the Holy Place. After the Tabernacle was constructed, God’s glory came down on the tent of meeting. His glory was known within the fire and a pillar of smoke.

When Solomon finished building the temple, fire fell from heaven, and the glory of the Lord settled in the temple.

Everyone knew when God’s glory had filled the place. God told Solomon: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself.” (2 Chronicles 7:12)

Isaiah wanted God to come down in such a way that people could not ignore Him.

Isaiah 64:1 he prayed, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!” Their sinfulness made it impossible for them to see, know, or hear God. God told them: “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face…” (Isaiah 65:2-3)

God gave Jeremiah a message about this.

God said, “And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

God wants to have a continuing fellowship with His people.

He wants each of us to know Him in the power of His glory and holiness. God has stretched out His hands toward us longing for this fellowship. To accomplish what was in the Father’s heart, God sent His Son to break the barriers of sin and bring us back to Himself.

2 Corinthians 3:16–17 NKJV Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

God has planned to unveil His glory and reveal Himself.

He expressed this desire through the prophets of old.

In Numbers 14:21 God said: “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”

Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

How is God going to release and reveal His glory?

His glory will be released as people respond to Him. Follow this in the New Testament.

Ephesians 2:12–13 NKJV …at that time you were without Christ, …and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

First, God will bring us near to Himself by the blood of Christ that cleanses us from our sins.

Colossians 1:27 NKJV To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

To those who are brought near by the blood of Christ, God will make known the riches of the glory of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 NKJV Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When you enter into this realm where God’s glory is made known, you will experience a transformation.

This transformation is not just a better you, God will transform you by the power and presence of the Holy Spirt into the glory that is in Christ.

What does that mean?

Your old nature cannot endure in the presence of Christ. The glorious liberty that is in Christ is coming into you. God wants to bring you into the place where you recognize the glory of His presence, then He wants to transform your life with the glory of the Holy Spirit working in you.

What happens when God’s glory is revealed in us?

In the Exodus, Moses and the hosts of Israel said “If your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us from here,” (Exodus 33:15). They had come to rely on the benefits of God’s presence. God’s glorious presence brought deliverance, rest, kept them healthy and strong, and made them invincible before their enemies.

How will God release or show His glory today?

Ephesians 3:20–21 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The structure of this text shows us that everything in Christ Jesus is invested in the Church. The visible unity and glory in the church depends on our invisible unity with God. What happens on the inside of the church will be seen on the outside.

In the Old Testament, the Temple was filled with the glory of God, and now God is filling His church with His glory.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

God will be glorified in the Lord’s bride, the church.

What He does in the Church will continually bring glory to God throughout eternity! Psalms 19 tells us the “heavens declare the glory of God.” Above everything that God has created, He has chosen to receive glory in the church.

What does this mean?

The church is the temple where His glory is known.

As the disciples followed the Lord, they beheld His glory.

John 1:14 testified, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”

Jesus’ life, words, and miracles were a testimony of His relationship and response to the Father. As the Lord was walking through the cities and countryside, crowds surrounded Him because they were impressed with His miracles and words. The glory of God that was upon Him was so evident that people wanted to touch His garments. Three of the Gospel accounts tell of a certain woman who pressed through the crowds to touch the edge of His garment. As soon as she touched Him, Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” (Luke 8:43-48, Mark 5:25-34; Matthew 9:20-22). The glory that was in Him was sufficient to bring healing to her broken body. After raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead, Jesus and His disciples continued ministering throughout the region. Within a few short verses, thousands of people were fed with five loaves and two fish, Jesus walked on the water and caused the sea to calm by the power of His word. The testimony of what was happening spread throughout the whole region and people started carrying their sick on beds to wherever He was.

Mark 6:56 NKJV Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

The glory that was in Him had a dramatic impact on those around Him.

The same things happened in the ministries of the apostles.

In Acts 5:12-16, through the hands of the apostles many miraculous signs and wonders were done among the people. As a result, more and more people believed in the Lord. People began noticing that when they got close to Peter, they got well. Multitudes of people began bringing their sick and laid them on beds and couches that at least the shadow of Peter might fall on some of them as he passed. There was a power and glory of God on the apostles lives and things just happened, and the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits were healed.

In Acts 19:10, the anointing and power of the Spirit was so great on the Apostle Paul that his work apron and handkerchiefs were sent to the sick, and the diseases left and evil spirits went out of them.

The presence of the Holy Spirit and the glory of God impacted everyone around them.

What was happening?

Look back at the holy place in the Tabernacle.

There was so much glory that only those who were clean could come near to that place. God would come down in great power and glory, and everyone knew that the Lord Jehovah was present. No one who has studied the Tabernacle would carelessly walk into that holy place.

God wants the church to be a repository for His glory and the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV84 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

God has made your body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. He wants to do so much in you that His glory will be revealed in the church by Christ Jesus.

Every salvation, deliverance, healing and miracle brings Him glory in the church.