The doctrine of glory

1. Glory is used in a number of ways in the scripture. The first way it is used is connected with the essence of God. The essence box is the glory of God. Since His essence is perfect glory is used for the entire essence box. E.g. Romans 3:23, “… all have come short of the glory [essence box] of God.” Ephesians 1:17; Deuteronomy 5:24; Psalm 21:5 are used as illustrations of where the word “glory” is used for the essence of God. Since God has an inherent glory one of the objectives of Bible doctrine is the realisation of this inherent glory and provision.

2. Glory is used for the edification complex of the soul. The first objective of the Christian way of life is the ECS. Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.

3. The right woman is the glory of the right man — 1 Corinthians 11:7,15. When right woman finds her right man she so responds to him as to become his glory. The woman’s long hair is the sign of her glory but her soul’s function is the actual glory. Just as the ECS reflects the glory of God when a man finds his right woman she reflects his glory.

4. The grace of God is also described as glory — Ephesians 1:6. That is another way in which the believer demonstrates the glory of God with his capacity for grace in the supergrace life. In the supergrace life grace pursues him. The pursuit of grace means living by grace and living by grace glorifies God.

5. The provision of God’s grace is also called wealth — “the riches of his glory,” Ephesians 1:18; 3:16; Philippians 4:19.

6. There is a glory in the future which is beyond human cognisance. This is called the glory of eternity. Heaven and eternal life are described as glory in 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3.7. There is

another rather negative use of the word glory in scripture. Human glamour is described as glory in 1 Peter 1:24; Philippians 3:19. This is a limited use of the word.

8. Glory is used to describe the wonders of the universe — 1 Corinthians 15:40,41.

9. Glory is used to describe the resurrection body of the believer — 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Thessalonians 3:14.

10. Glory is associated with operation footstool and the presentation of the Church as the bride of Christ at the second advent — Hebrews 2:10.

The doctrine of glory #2

1. Glory is used for the essence of God. Many times when glory appears in the scripture it refers to who and what God is. Romans 3:23 — sin is failure to measure up to the character of God; Ephesians 1:17; Deuteronomy 5:24; Psalm 21:5.

2. Glory is also used for the edification complex of the soul [ECS] — Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.

3. The right woman is the glory of the right man — 1 Corinthians 11:7, 15.

4. The grace of God is described as glory — Ephesians 1:6.

5. The provision of God’s grace is called “the riches of glory” — Ephesians 3:16; 1:18; Philippians 4:19.

6. Heaven and eternal life are described as glory in 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3.

7. Human glamour is described as glory in 1 Peter 1:24; Philippians 3:19.

8. Glory is used to describe the wonders of the universe — 1 Corinthians 15:40,41.

9 Glory is used to describe the resurrection body of the believer — 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.

10. Glory is related to the angelic conflict. It is associated with operation footstool and the presentation of the Church as the bride of Christ at the second advent — Hebrews 2:10.