2Th 2:13-15; What Will You See When You Kiss the Son?
length: 60:51 - taught on Sep, 27 2023
Class Outline:
Wednesday September 27, 2023
Theme: If you see Christ’s glory you will experience shame and regret over yourself, but if you do not look away, but even look intently, Christ will draw you into the likeness of Himself. Would you like that?
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
There continues in this thought the idea of “already - but not yet” in what is church eschatology.
when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Yet, in this passage it says to keep seeking your life that is hid with Christ in heaven.
to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Does Peter mean the revelation of His glory after our death, or at His return, or now, or all three?
We know that we are to behold His glory now. And we are given insight into what it is we are supposed to see. Knowing some of the specifics of what we’re supposed to see reveals to us any false christ’s who are presented to us.
A key passage to our beholding the glory of Christ now is in 2Co 3.
The context is Paul’s great struggle in his ministry.
Paul understood that the glory to his ministry was Christ.
Success was in showing Christ truly and purely.
Success was not to be measured in how well he or his message was received. If that were the case then his ministry could be judged a failure. “all who are in Asia turned away from me” (2TI 1:15). He died in prison. Many of his converts seem to have been ashamed of his chains (2TI 2:16).
Seeking glory in the wrong places gets us nowhere but more deceived.
Torah revealed God in a way that would always leave the believer in that age wanting more. It was designed for this.
The OT Scriptures did not leave us in the dark. The glory was coming in the Christ (Messiah).
Now we who are elected, saved through the sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth of the gospel have gained that very glory and we can look right at it (2TH 2:13-14).
2 Co 3:17-18
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 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 from the Lord, the Spirit.
Liberty - the freedom to look at the glory of the Lord.
Too much neglect of the word of God in the churches has failed to mature Christians and they do not see the glory of the Lord and the quality of their lives testifies to that.
What are some things we see?
The glory of the Father (HEB 1:3).
His grace and power (JOH 2:11).
His power over death (JOH 11:4, 40).
The unity of divine love (JOH 17:22).
Heaven’s riches (COL 1:27).
These are just a few. When we’re considering the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, we’re contemplating all that He is and does that have been revealed to us.
Do you praise the Father’s glory (Hallowed be Your name)?
Are you strong in the face of the storms of life (power)?
Do you worry about not having enough (grace)?
Are you often fearful about what is coming (death)?
Do you despair in loneliness (divine love)?
Do you fail to reach out to others and always expect them to reach out to you (unity in love)?
Do you evaluate yourself as not enough and so lack consistent joy in your heart (riches of His glory)?
We can take every aspect of Christ’s life and apply it to our daily lives.
We also see ourselves in light of His glory and get a feeling in ourselves that we should shrink away (1JO 2:28). James in chapter one deals with that aspect of the mirror of Christ’s glory.
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
In chapter 4, Paul references the gospel of glory and the knowledge of the glory of God.
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
So we have the mirror, the word of God, and then liberty in 2Co 3 and Jam 1.
The mirror of Christ’s glory reveals all of our faults and sins (over time).
God asks us, “What are you going to do about it?”
This is true of everyone. What are we going to do about it?
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?
from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
If some, all, or one of these (and many other commands and exhortations in Scripture) are generally true about us, there are some aspects of truth that we are not applying. We’re seeing the glory of Christ in the mirror of God’s word and we’re turning aways in shame or hurt. God tells us, “I know it hurts and I know you’re ashamed, but don’t turn away. I do not condemn you. You are My beloved.”
James says that if we see ourselves and then leave, forgetting what we saw, we are hearers only.
God adds more to our learning as we feel the need to shrink away in shame and forget. He strengthens and comforts us (2TH 2:15 - our next verse).
If we are hearers and doers of the word what are some of the results we will see?
Let’s pray with David.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
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