The Glorification of the Saints

People know who we are by our words and by our actions. Our words and actions reveal us, and for Christians, they reveal Who lives inside of us. It was just the same with Jesus’ disciples, who knew Jesus came from God because of the words He spoke (Jn 17:6-10). They believed His words were from God, therefore the development and growth of the disciples brought Jesus glory. Jesus taught them about God’s kingdom and demonstrated God’s nature so that they, the disciples, could be like Him, as He was like His Father. In this same way people will know our words are from Jesus’ Spirit as God entrusts men to us to minister to. Just as the disciples became Jesus’ glory, so do those whom we disciple become our glory.

Jesus’ goal with the disciples went beyond their personal development. His nature in the disciples would cause many to become like Him. The apostle Paul asked the Christians he discipled to follow him, as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1). It was God’s design that we should be like Him in order to help others become like Him.

Jesus was gloried by discipling the men entrusted to Him, and by the works the Father gave Him to do; giving eternal Life (Jn 17:1-4). This work of Jesus is unfinished, left for us to do. We know preaching the gospel and discipling as the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-20). This commission is part of God’s plan to be glorified through us, and thereby be glorified in many people. He qualified us in order to be glorified in us (Rm 8:30). Jesus was the first-born among many brethren. Those many brethren do not stop at us but because of us, more and more are born into God’s family. Preaching, teaching, and every ministry Jesus gave as gifts to the Church enable us to follow in the righteous works appointed to the saints of God.

Like a fine linen garment the works left for us to do clothe us and prepare the Church for the wedding of the Bride to the Lamb of God (Rev 19:7-8). Though God’s plan is for the saints to do works that glorify them, and Him, not all people, and not every church is seeking after God’s glory. Sadly, some seek to glorify themselves. We read in Revelation 18 about the great harlot that seeks to glorify herself (Rev 18:7b). She believes her place with God is permanent and unaffected by her many sins. She turned God’s church into a market-place, so much distorting the discipleship of men that it could not be distinguished from the world. She did not bear the fruit of the Spirit, neither were faith, truth, or any eternal riches found in her (Rev 18:9-17). Smug towards God, and abusive towards apostles, prophets and saints . . . God will not be glorified in this kind of church, nor in these kinds of people (vs 20).

I believe that every Christian has a yearning to be glorified in Christ. We are pulled by His Spirit towards ministry to others so that, by His words through us, others may be born into God’s family. We speak of His nature so that others may be discipled through our words. We will yearn and groan inside until we find a way to speak and teach, prophesy and minister, establish and disciple men and women. And this is my prayer; that we each, and together, would do those works of Christ left to us to do. Then we will be clothed and ready for that great Day that awaits us when we marry the Lamb of God. Amen.