It’s Glory All The Way
In our men’s study group, we have been studying and reading a book called Twelve Ordinary Men. It is basically a book about the choosing of the 12 disciples and the qualities that each possessed.
I want to tip my hat to Jimmy Anderson and Bruce Davis because our study has been outstanding, and I can sense the shock coming from those of you that know Jimmy and Bruce. Just kidding!!!! It has really been a blessing, and we invite anyone who would like to join us to do. Our church calendar is on our website, and it shows the night that we meet.
We discovered in our men’s study group that Peter was a man that experienced incredible spiritual growth, and that growth can be seen easily in his writings. I want to share with you four wonderful discoveries that Peter made about the glory of God.
1. Christians are born for glory.
1 Peter 1 : 2 – 4
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Because of Calvary and the Resurrection, believers have been “born again” to a living hope, and that hope includes the glory of God, but just exactly what does the glory of God mean? The glory of God is the sum total of all that God is and does. Everything God thinks and does is marked by glory.
His glory is revealed in His Creation.
Psalm 19 : 1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.
His glory is revealed in His dealings with the nation of Israel.
1 Kings 8 : 10 – 11
10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
His glory is revealed in His plan of salvation for lost sinners.
2 Peter 3 : 9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
When we were born into this world. We were not born for glory. Whatever feeble glory man has will eventually fade and disappear, but the glory of the Lord is eternal.
Isaiah 40 : 5 – 8
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
The works man does for the glory of God will last and be rewarded, but the selfish achievements of sinners will one day vanish to be seen no more.
Peter gave two descriptions to help us better understand the truth about glory.
A. A Christian’s Birth Described
We are chosen by the Father.
Ephesians 1 : 3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
This took place in the days before Genesis, and it is called divine election. This election was not based on anything we have done because we were not even on the scene. Nor was it based on anything God saw that we would be or do. God’s election was based wholly on His grace and love, and there is no one that can explain it, but I sure do praise God for Him electing me. AMEN!!!!
Romans 11 : 33
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Look again at 1 Peter 1 : 2.
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Foreknowledge does not mean that God knew ahead of time that we would believe, and therefore because of that He chose us. This would raise the question of who or what made us decide for Christ? It would completely take our salvation out of God’s hands. In the Bible, to foreknow means to set one’s love on a person or persons in a personal way. It is used like this in Amos 3 : 2.
2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
Of course, this is talking about God’s electing love for the nation of Israel. There are several verses in the Bible that also use “know” in this special sense.
Psalm 1 : 6
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Matthew 7 : 23
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
1 Corinthians 8 : 3
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
God knows each of us in a personal way, yet He still chose us. That ought to make you say Amen!!!!
The plan of salvation, however, includes more than the Father’s electing love, it also includes the work of the Spirit in convicting the sinner and bringing that sinner to faith in Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2 : 13 – 14
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Also, Jesus had to die on Calvary for our sins or there could be no salvation. We have been chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son, and set apart by the Spirit. All are necessary to experience salvation. In other words, salvation does not happen apart from any of those things.
It takes all three persons of the Godhead to bring a sinner to salvation. If we try to separate the Trinity, we will either deny divine sovereignty or human responsibility. Now, this does not deny man’s part in God’s plan to save sinners.
Matthew 10 : 32 – 33
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
God can choose you. Christ died for you, and the Spirit can convict you and call you, but if you do not confess Jesus, you will not be saved.
B. A Christian’s Hope Described
1 Peter 1 : 3 – 4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
A Christian’s hope is a living hope because it is grounded on the living Word of God and was made possible by the living Son of God who rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15 : 3 – 4
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
A living hope has life in it and therefore can give life to us. A living hope grows and becomes greater and more beautiful as time goes on. Time destroys most hopes. Hopes will fade and die, but the passing of time only makes a Christian’s hope that much more glorious.
In verse 4, Peter called this hope an inheritance. As children of the King, we share His inheritance in glory.
Romans 8 : 17 – 18
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Ephesians 1 : 9 – 12
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
We are included in the last will and testament of Christ, and we share the glory with Him. Verse 4 also tells us this inheritance is incorruptible. Nothing will be able to ruin it. It is undefiled which means it cannot be stained or cheapened in any way. Our inheritance is called salvation, and the believer is saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2 : 8 – 9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The completion of our salvation awaits the return of the Lord when we receive our new bodies. Paul referred to this in Titus 2 : 13 the blessed hope.
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
We who are saved are born for glory!!!! When we were born again, we exchanged the passing glory of man for the eternal glory of God.
2. Christians are kept for glory.
1 Peter 1 : 5
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Our reservations in glory can never be cancelled. Our future home and inheritance are guaranteed and reserved. All believers are kept by the power of God. Jesus told us.
John 10 : 28 – 30
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
That translated word kept in 1 Peter 1 : 5 is a military word which means guarded or shielded. We are not kept by our own power. We are kept by the power of God. Our faith in Christ has so united us to Him that His power now guards us and guides us. We are saved forever. If a believer could lose his salvation, it would rob God of His glory. God has already given us His glory as the assurance that we will be in Heaven.
John 17 : 24
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
3. Christians are being prepared for glory.
1 Peter 1 : 6 – 7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
We need to keep in mind that all God plans and performs here is preparation for what He has in store for us in Heaven. He is preparing us for the life and service for the eternity to come. Life today is a school in which God trains us for our eternity.
That’s why we have trials in our lives; they are some of God’s tools and textbooks in the school of Christian experience. Peter uses the words trials because he was dealing with the same general problems you and I face as we are surrounded by unbelievers. Listen to what Peter shared about trials.
A. Trials meet needs.
1 Peter 1 : 6
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
The phrase “if need be” indicates that there are special times when God knows that we need to go through trials. Sometimes trials discipline us when we have disobeyed God’s will.
Psalm 119 : 67
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
At other times, trials prepare us for spiritual growth or even helps to prevent us from sinning.
2 Corinthians 12 : 9 – 10
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We do not always know the need being met, but we can trust God to know and do what is best.
B. Trials are varied.
Look again at verse 6.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
In the King James, the word manifold is used instead of various. In this context, both words literally mean many-colored or like the different colored markings on a plant or animal. In other words, our trials will come in all forms and colors. The point is that no matter if you are having a “BLUE” Monday or a “BLACK” Friday, God has grace sufficient to meet the need. We must not think that because we have overcome one kind of trial that we automatically win them all. Trials are varied, and God matches the trial to our strengths and needs.
C. Trials are not easy.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
“You have been grieved” means to experience grief, sorrow, or pain. It is used to describe Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is referring to that type of suffering.
Matthew 26 : 37
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
TO deny trials are painful is to make them even worse. Christians must accept the fact that there are difficult experiences in life, but God’s grace is sufficient.
D. Trials are controlled by God.
Trials do not last forever; they are for a season. When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. If we rebel, He may have to reset the clock, but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute too long. The trials of this life test our faith to prove its sincerity. A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. Too many Christians have a false faith, and this is revealed in the trials of life.
A person who abandons his faith when the going gets tough is only proving that he really had no faith at all. Remember Job. He went through many painful trials, and all of them were allowed at God’s approval. Satan thought he was in control of what was happening to Job, but who really was? It is encouraging to know that we are born for glory, kept for glory, and being prepared for glory.