Life #17 - Future and Present Glory

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The future “glory” is for all Christians who resurrect from the dead (1 Corinthians 15: 42, 42); while the present “glory” is for all Christians to transform into God’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In Genesis 1:26, God made a people in his image. Though the people ruined the plan, time and failure did not diminish or alter it. Thus, the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transformed Jesus on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:17), is the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transforms believers into God’s image.

• “…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 by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

“From glory to glory” is the present ministry of the Spirit, of life, and of righteousness. Glory transforms believers into God’s image, so that what remains is more glorious than what is passing away (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11).

Jesus’ death reconciled us to God, but his life saves us (Romans 5:10). Thus, the Son promises to those who die and to those who live: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26).

Being made in his image, we are equipped with his life. Thus, the Son of God insures that we neither frustrate God’s grace nor fall short of God’s glory (Colossians 1:27).

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

• Transfigure #3339. mĕtamŏrphŏō, met-am-or-fŏ’-o; from 3326 and 3345; to transform (lit. or fig. “metamorphose”):—change, transfigure, transform.

excerpts from our book to be released next year.