SERMON OUTLINE

The Glory of God 2 Corinthians 4.16-18

The Believer’s Present and Future Glory

Introduction

-We were created in the image of God to reflect the Glory of God but that image was distorted by sin, an image now renewed through God’s salvation.

-By God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven, we have a new nature, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to once again reflect the Glory of God.

-Colossians 1.27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

Presently Reflect the Glory of God

-Our salvation reflects the Glory of God. Ephesians 1.11-12; John 17.10; 2 Thessalonians 1.10

-We have the honor and privilege to glorify God in our salvation and living and thus fulfill God’s purpose.

Future Presence of the Glory of God

-Those who belong to God will see God’s Glory and ever live in God’s Glory. Romans 5.1-2; John 17.24; Colossians 3.4; 1 Thessalonians 2.12, 1.9; 2 Timothy 2.10; See also 2 Peter 1.2; Jude 24

-All who truly belong to God will be in the presence of God’s Glory forever.

Future Partakers of the Glory of God

-God’s Glory will be revealed in us. Romans 8.18, 21, 30.

-Paul’s suffering in comparison to his future weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4.16-18; 1 Peter 1.3-7

-See also Ephesians 1.18; Philippians 3.21; 2 Thessalonians 2.14; Hebrews 2.10.

Conclusion

Be encouraged and motivated by God’s present and future Glory.

SERMON NOTES

The Glory of God

The Christian’s Present and Future Glory 2 Corinthians 4.16-18

-I am helping to coach T ball this year on my grandson Oliver’s team, the Tigers. On Monday I was asked to call one of the parents whose daughter did not come out last week to let them know that the season started. During that conversation I realized I knew her grandmother. On Tuesday when this new girl came out I recognized her before she told me her name because I saw her grandmother’s features in her face. She was bearing the family likeness.

-We were originally created in the image and likeness of God. Not God’s physical image for God is Spirit, but with a mind, will, emotions, self-consciousness and a capacity for righteousness, love and relationship. We were originally created to reflect the Glory of God in motive, attitude and actions as we carried out His mandate to rule creation on His behalf. Today, as a result of mankind’s fall into sin, we no longer reflect the Glory of God in this world but the shameful effect of selfishness and sin. I rejoice this morning as I stand before this Communion Table because this Table testifies that through the death of Christ my sins have been forgiven, and I have been given a new nature in Christ, and I am empowered by His Holy Spirit to once again reflect the Glory of God in this world. That is your testimony today as well if you truly belong to God in Christ. I also rejoice that God has given those who belong to Him the great promise and hope of one day seeing His Glory and even more the promise of sharing in His Glory. I want you to know this morning that as a Christian you have a great hope before you. As Paul says in Colossians 1.27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

-There are many verses which teach us that we now reflect the Glory of God as His people and His Church. The Bible also makes it very clear that we will see God’s Glory and that we will share in God’s Glory as well. For me there is no greater motivation for obedience and perseverance in the Christian life than bringing Glory to God and the promise of seeing and sharing in His Glory. Let’s look at some key verses that tell us about these great truths.

1.  As believers we reflect the Glory of God to the physical and spiritual world. Our salvation from sin in Jesus Christ reflects the Glory of God. The fact that you are spiritually alive because of the work of God in Jesus Christ glorifies God for it is God who saved you. Ephesians 1.11-12 says, “In him (Christ) we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” God saving you reflects God’s Glory and causes God to be praised. The very fact that you are saved glorifies God.

-Jesus, in his prayer to the Father before he went to the cross said, “I am glorified in them”, speaking of his disciples. (John 17.10) The work of God in the disciples in response to the teaching of Jesus Christ glorified both Jesus and God the Father. The disciples glorified Jesus and Jesus glorified the Father so that God was glorified in the disciples. We too as God’s people glorify God by our salvation and when we obey God with our lives. God is glorified in His people.

-One more verse which teaches us that God is glorified in his saints is 2 Thessalonians 1.10. The context is speaking about the second coming of Jesus Christ and says, “when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed”. My fellow believers, it is your honor and humble privilege to glorify God in your salvation. By glorifying God you fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

2.  Not only do we reflect the Glory of God as believers but we will also see the Glory of God and will live in the presence of the Glory of God forever.

–Know for sure that if you truly belong to God that one day you will stand in the presence of the Glory of God and will live in the presence of God forever. Be encouraged by that truth as you think about it each day. Rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. (Romans 5.1-2)

-One of the prayers of Jesus in the Garden was that the disciples might one day see His Glory, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world”. (John 17.24)

-We are told in Colossians 3.4, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”. Paul writes to the believers, “We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory”. (1 Thessalonians 2.12)

-Those who do not believe and do not belong to God will not be in the presence of the Glory of God, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”. (2 Thessalonians 1.9)

-Paul gave himself for those who would obtain eternal glory, “Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2.10)

-Not one of those who truly belong to God will fail to be awed by the Glory of God and spend eternity in the presence of God’s magnificent Glory. Let this thought be an encouragement and an exhortation to you to live in a manner worthy of God’s promise of Glory.  -See also 2 Peter 1.3; Jude 24

3.  Today we reflect the Glory of God, and in the future we will be in the very presence of the Glory of God. But the Bible tells us of something even greater than this. In Jesus Christ we will also share in God’s Glory.

–Romans 8.18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”. Not only will God’s glory be revealed to us but God’s glory will also be in us. Romans 8.21 continues this idea, “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God”. You are destined for glory if you truly belong to God. Your glorification is as sure as the call of God on your life. Romans 8.30 promises, “those whom God predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified”.

-Paul suffered a great deal in his preaching of the Gospel yet he says in 2 Corinthians 4.16-18 these incredible words, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal”. As Paul looks with the eye of faith at his future glory, both the Glory of God’s presence and his own glorification, and then compares that to what he is presently suffering, he declares that his present suffering is a momentary, light, affliction in comparison to the weight of glory that awaits him.

–Are you suffering through a heavy trial right now? Physical suffering and pain, no job, depression that beats you down, relationship problems, lack of purpose, bills and more bills with no money to pay them, a sinful addiction? Paul says, compare what you are going through now to the glory that awaits you very soon and get a right perspective on your present sufferings. Find in your future hope of glory the strength to go on today and tomorrow because an eternal weight of glory awaits you that is beyond all comparison. Go on for another minute, another hour, another day and one day you will be there in the presence of the Glory of God and in your glorified body. Learn to look more and more at those unseen eternal things for the things of this world are passing away.

-Peter encourages this same kind of looking to the unseen future that God has promised in order to gain strength for the trials of this life. 1 Peter 1.3-7 [Read]

-Fellow believer, a great glory awaits you, an inheritance imperishable, and undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. Trust and obey with that prize in view.

-See also Ephesians 1.18; Philippians 3.21; 2 Thessalonians 2.14; Hebrews 2.10.

-I want to exhort you to read over the verses mentioned in today’s message and others that you have in your outline in the bulletin and let God encourage and motivate you through His promise of present and future glory because you belong to God in Jesus Christ.

Communion: 1 John 2.28-3.3; Revelation 5.6-14

Benediction: Jude 24