The Characteristics Of Christ's Glory - Bible Witness

Our Lord Jesus Christ is also called “the Lordof glory (1 Corinthians 2:8; James 2:1). Paulcalled Him, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”(Colossians 1:27). His glory surpasses all theglories of this transient world. He is theeternal God of glory.It is essential that Christians understandthe peculiar characteristics of Christ’s glorythat they may have the proper attitudeand approach towards it. Some significantaspects of the characteristics of His glory arediscussed in this article.Christ’s Glory isComplete in ItselfThe Characteristicsof Christ’s GloryThe glory of Christ lacks nothing that weneed to contribute anything to it. It needs noaddition. His glory is so perfect, so completethat if anyone were to suggest something oract in order to embellish it, he is being veryfoolish. In fact, it is diabolical to cherish anyThe Glory of Christidea that we can help to improve His glory.Christ’s glory is so complete that we shouldalways yield to His glorious will. We shouldnever attempt to add to it or subtract fromit.His glory can never be diminished; neitherwill He allow His glory to be tarnished. John,the Apostle, said, “And the Word was madeflesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld hisglory, the glory as of the only begotten of theFather,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).Though His glory has been shining throughall eternity, it suffers no weakness and shallcontinue to dazzle in all its fullness withoutsuffering any flaw. Time does not wear awaythe glory of God.Even in His incarnation, the full glory of Godwas with Him. That is why John said, “Webeheld his glory, the glory as of the onlybegotten of the Father.” If Christ’s incarnationinvolved any abandonment of His gloriousattributes, it would mean thatHe lived on earth as one whowas less than God. But it couldnot be so because Jesus Christis immutable or unchanging.Hebrews 13:8 declares, “JesusChrist the same yesterday,and to day, and for ever.” TheIncarnated Christ was, as Paulsaid, One in whom “dwellethall the fulness of the Godheadbodily” (Colossians 2:9).It is very significant in thisregard that we be remindedof Paul’s warning that God’sBible Witness 7

The Glory of Christjudgment is upon those who add theirideas and corrupt His glory. Paul wrote inRomans 1:22-24, “Professing themselves tobe wise, they became fools, and changedthe glory of the uncorruptible God into animage made like to corruptible man, and tobirds, and fourfooted beasts, and creepingthings. Wherefore God also gave them upto uncleanness through the lusts of theirown hearts, to dishonour their own bodiesbetween themselves.” It is an abominablething to add our own devices, which arecontrary to God’s own plan, in the pretenceof beautifying further the glory of God.Do you remember the devil’s offer of earthlyglory to Christ? In Matthew 4:8-11, we readabout that incident. “Again, the devil takethhim up into an exceeding high mountain,and sheweth him all the kingdoms of theworld, and the glory of them; and saith untohim, All these things will I give thee, if thouwilt fall down and worship me. Then saithJesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for itis written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thyGod, and him only shalt thou serve. Then thedevil leaveth him, and, behold, angels cameand ministered unto him” (cf. Luke 4:6-8).The devil expected Christ to fall down andworship him at his offer of earthly glory. IfChrist had yielded to the devil’s demand, itwould invariably have proven that Christ’sinherent glory is inferior to the earthly gloryoffered by the devil. But it was not the case.The Lord of glory expressed His utter disgustat the devil’s proposition and banished thedevil from His presence, saying, “Get theehence, Satan.” By these words, the Lord alsodeclared the magnificence and excellenceof His glory. The glory of the Lord is indeedmatchless. All other “glories” fade away inthe eternal brightness of His glory. The Lordalso declared at the face of Satan that “thoushalt worship the Lord thy God, and himonly shalt thou serve.” What an authoritativeaffirmation of His majestic, sovereign glory!Instantly, the usurper, the devil, fled from Hisglorious presence.It is devilish for anyone to think, speak, or doanything as though one’s clever contributionsare needed to enhance Christ’s glory. Wemust remember that we can only be useful inHis hand when we accept our unworthinessand yield to Him in repentance and faith.If we ever engage in self-promotion in Hisglorious presence, He will make us flee, justas He did to the devil.Christ’s Glory is Exclusively HisHis glory is to be His alone. He will not giveto any other. It is neither exchangeable. It isexclusively His. In Isaiah 42:8, the Lord said, “Iam the LORD: that is my name: and my glorywill I not give to another, neither my praiseto graven images” (cf. Isaiah 48:11). Likewise,while He was on earth, Christ also said, “Thatall men should honour the Son, even as theyhonour the Father. He that honoureth notthe Son honoureth not the Father whichhath sent him” (John 5:23).The Lord has prohibited all from ever takingglory in His presence. Paul explained that itis for His own glory that He designed thesalvation of sinners, so no Christian shouldtake glory to himself. “But God hath chosenthe foolish things of the world to confoundthe wise; and God hath chosen the weakthings of the world to confound the thingswhich are mighty; and base things of theworld, and things which are despised, hathGod chosen, yea, and things which are not,to bring to nought things that are: that noflesh should glory in his presence. But ofhim are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is8 Bible Witness

The Glory of Christmade unto us wisdom, and righteousness,and sanctification, and redemption: that,according as it is written, He that glorieth,let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).The Scripture also cautions strongly againstthose who try to take glory that is due untoGod. The record of Herod’s tragic end inActs 12:21-24 is a case in point. “And upona set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, satupon his throne, and made an oration untothem. And the people gave a shout, saying, Itis the voice of a god, and not of a man. Andimmediately the angel of the Lord smote him,because he gave not God the glory: and hewas eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.But the word of God grew and multiplied.”Herod was willing to receive the worship dueto the Lord. He was proud, and willing to beflattered, and even adored. He had soughttheir applause; he had arrayed himself in asplendid manner to excite their admiration;and when they carried it even so far as tooffer divine homage, he did not reject theirimpious flattery, but listened continually totheir praises. So the Lord judged him; andGod vindicated His own insulted honour byinflicting severe pains on him, followed by anawful death. May this be a warning to all ofus: never desire the praise and honour thatshould be God’s alone.Christ’s Glory is PraiseworthyConcerning Christ, we read in Revelation4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receiveglory and honour and power: for thou hastcreated all things, and for thy pleasure theyare and were created.” In Revelation 5:12-14,we read how the glorified saints and angelswould praise the glorious Lord and SaviourJesus Christ – “Worthy is the Lamb thatwas slain to receive power, and riches, andwisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory,and blessing. And every creature which is inheaven, and on the earth, and under theearth, and such as are in the sea, and all thatare in them, heard I saying, Blessing, andhonour, and glory, and power, be unto himthat sitteth upon the throne, and unto theLamb for ever and ever. And the four beastssaid, Amen. And the four and twenty eldersfell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever.”We must always be part of the great praiseof the Lord that is ceaselessly being offeredbefore Him. We should never attempt tostop anyone from praising the Lord. Whenthe Pharisees attempted to stop the discipleswho blessed the Lord, saying, “Blessed be theKing that cometh in the name of the Lord:peace in heaven, and glory in the highest”,Jesus responded and said, “I tell you that, ifthese should hold their peace, the stoneswould immediately cry out” (Luke 19:38-40).In fact, Christ had issued a warning to thosewho are embarrassed to give glory to Hisname. He warned, “For whosoever shall beashamed of me and of my words, of him shallthe Son of man be ashamed, when he shallcome in his own glory, and in his Father’s,and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).He has created all things for His glory; so letall creatures exalt His glory. He has redeemedus for His glory; so let all the redeemed glorifyHim. “For of him, and through him, and tohim, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.Amen” (Romans 11:36).“Now unto the King eternal, immortal,invisible, the only wise God, be honour andglory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy1:17).Bible Witness 9