FROM GLORY TO GLORY

Dr. Joseph Hazan

“We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.”

(II. Cor.3.18)

Everyday we learn more and more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and get to know him more, becoming more like him. This is possible through his Holy Spirit. Growing into his likeness, you go from glory to glory, from one level of glory to the next.

The “light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God” shines on you when you believe. As St. Paul says,” for we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”(II. Cor.4.5).

“Because, God who said “let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus.”(II. Cor.4.6).

GLORIOUS FREEDOM

Being made free from bondage to sin and death, now frees you to serve God wholeheartedly. Serving him means serving his children.

Since Jesus came to serve and he now lives in you, this is what you do.

Since he is free in its truest sense, to the fullest extent (free from fear, worry, selfishness), you too are free when he lives in you. “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8.36).

The true freedom of salvation releases us to realize our full potential as born-again sons and daughters of God:

“ See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (I. John 3.1-3).

Since Jesus is full of glory; to see him, you will also be glorified. In fact, this is what Jesus ardently prayed about, on the night before he was crucified:

“ I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”(John 17.20 & 21).

We see that the unity we attain by being one in Jesus, the world will believe the authenticity of the Good News. Jesus Christ bestowing on us the glory given him by the Father makes this unity possible:

“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17.22&23).

His love for us is so great that he endured the agony and shame of the cross. We know that “for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. “(Heb.12.2).

Here we see the deep desire Jesus has to have us with him:

“Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17.24).

By asking the Father to let us be with him to see his glory, Jesus is asking that we also receive glory, because as we have already read, we can see him when we are like him:

“When he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” (I. John 3.2).

AMAZING LOVE

Jesus in the same prayer asked that the same eternal love the Father has for him be in us with him:

“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.

I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17.25&26).

As we know the Father through Jesus, the Son, we partake and incorporate the same love the Father has for the Son.

We partake of this amazing love at Communion. This is when we receive of his body and blood. We become one with him, thus becoming one with the Father, also one with the church, which is his body.

In this way, Jesus and the Father’s love is embodied in us individually as well as in the church community.

GLORIOUS FUTURE

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans wrote, that by becoming Spirit-led, we can truly live.

Because, he says,” all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry,”Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ- if in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”(Rom.8.14-17).

HOPE FOR THE SUFFERING

St.Paul also told the Corinthians in his second letter “our light affliction, which is for a moment is producing in us an eternal, immeasurable weight of glory.”(II. Cor.4.17).

The same future glory is expressed in his letter to the Romans:

“ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8.18).

HOPE FOR THE UNIVERSE

The entire universe has been subjected to abject uselessness and frustration until now. But this too will change.

“ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that THE WHOLE CREATION has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. . Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom.8.19-27).

MANIFEST DESTINY

St. Paul continues in the next verses,

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.”(Rom.8.28-30).

We see from all these scriptures the magnificent love and fantastic plan God has for you.

Let’s glorify him in word and deed.

Join us in worship services at a time and location available to you. Please check this website for directions.

The grace, peace and glory of the Lord are with you and yours always. AMEN!