The word "glory" carries with it the thought of honor and dignity--sometimes also that of brightness,
shining. The Scriptures speak of the Heavenly Father as having the excellent
glory, that glory unto which none others can approach. Our Lord Jesus is said
to have been received up into glory--honor and distinction. Of Adam it is said
that he was "crowned with glory and honor," was put over the beasts
of the field, the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea. (Psalm 8:5-8; Genesis 1:28.) In this connection the word
"glory" seems to indicate that Adam was made in the image of his
Creator.
Applying these same thoughts to ourselves, we
find that as yet we have no glory. What blessing we have received is the
possession of the Holy Spirit, the evidence of our adoption into the family of
God. This, however, is merely the beginning of the glory which God has promised
to those who are faithful--merely the earnest. To have the Holy Spirit in us is
to have the anointing in us. If we allow the Holy Spirit to operate in us, and
ourselves faithfully co-operate therewith, the end will be glorious.
Thus the anointing which we have received--the
Spirit of Christ in us--is the hope or basis of the glory which we are
expecting--a glory which is to be like that of our Redeemer--a glory which is
above that of angels, principalities and powers--a glory which is next to that
of the Lord. This anointing, this Spirit of Christ within us, is the earnest,
or hope, or basis, of all that is coming. Hence we should heed the admonition
of the Apostle that we quench not the anointing, this Holy Spirit of Christ. On
the contrary, we are to cultivate it, develop it, give attention to it. If we
should allow it to die, because of neglect of the help which God has supplied,
if we should quench it by indulgence in sin, we should thereby demonstrate that
we are unworthy of the blessing and fit only for the Second Death.
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
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 blameless
before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise
of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In Him we
have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according
to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us.
In all
wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to
His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration
suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in
Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.
In Him 11
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His
purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that
we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of
your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy
Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view
to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
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