At Colossians 3:4, Paul wrote, “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” God has graciously offered to share His glory with us. Potentially, this is an important part of the “riches” of our inheritance (Eph. 1:18). The Greek word doxa means things like “glory, splendor, preeminence, and magnificence.”[1] God’s glory is a principal part of God’s character and life that He wants to share with His obedient people. At John 5:44, Jesus said, “How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?” Routinely, humans seek glory from one another; however, we are told to seek only God’s approval and glory.
Jesus taught, “The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (John 7:18). Jesus Christ demonstrated the proper scale of values. He sought to speak and live only in ways that pleased God, the Father. God wants to share His glory only with those who routinely seek God’s glory. In fact, we are called to “obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14). The faithful have a “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Such believers do not seek their own glory or the glory from others. This is a radically different and new set of values. Jesus did not seek His own glory, but He was confident that God, the Father sought the Son’s glory (John: 8:50), and the Father is the one, true judge (John 8:50). Jesus explained, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me…” (John 8:54). Jesus had absolute confidence in His Father. This is how we should live. We should have confidence in the generosity of God. Our highest priority should be seeking God’s will. He will be more than fair with us. He wants to bring many sons and daughters to glory (Heb. 2:10).
As we grow spiritually and persevere in our Christian journey, we are slowly being transformed to be, more and more, like Jesus Christ. As Paul taught, “For we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). In this life, we will have our share of trials and tribulations, but these momentary and light afflictions are “producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). As to those who drift away from their Christian journey, there will be shame at the Judgment, along with destruction (meaning discipline in this life and a loss of blessings in the next) (Phil. 3:19). Paul explained that the apostates’ “god is their appetite” and their minds are fixed on “earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). In contrast, we are told to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [us] into His [K]ingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12). In fact, Paul endured many difficulties “for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10).
Peter taught that our inheritance is reserved for us in Heaven (1 Pet. 1:4). He also taught us that the “proof of [our] faith [is] more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire” (1 Pet. 1:7). However, this same faith can “result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7). The faithful will experience great joy at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 4:13; Jude 1:24). The receiving of our particular and unique resurrection bodies will be an important cause of this great joy. Paul explained that there are earthly bodies and heavenly bodies, “but the glory of the heavenly is one and the glory of the earthly is another” (1 Cor. 15:40). Then Paul added, “There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body” (1 Cor: 15:41-42).
[1] “G1391 – doxa – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Feb, 2023. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1391/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
