The Glory of Christ

There is a fascinating phrase in 2 Cor. 4:4 -- "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." I've often pointed to the fact that the unregenerate are blind and can't see the gospel, but right now I'm looking at that fascinating phrase, "the gospel of the glory of Christ". Apparently Paul believes that the Gospel that we preach is all about the glory of Christ.

To unpack this concept it is necessary to revisit the Gospel. A lot of "Christians" have forgotten what it is exactly. Let's review. I prefer Paul's clearest, most straightforward explanation of the Gospel:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also (1 Cor. 15:1-8).

There it is; the gospel in unvarnished form. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Now, we can debate until the cows come home (which would be a long time for me since I have no cows) whether or not the "essentials" include the doctrine of the Trinity, belief in the Virgin Birth, an inerrant Bible, or a myriad of other things. My focus here is, first, "the gospel of the glory of Christ" and, second, exactly how that gospel is "the glory of Christ."

Paul embellishes his account with lots of important stuff. The Gospel is "according to the Scriptures". The facts of the Gospel are attested to by witnesses ... lots of them. The Gospel is "of first importance". Yes, yes, all of that. But the Gospel is, first and foremost, about Christ who paid the price for our sins and who rose again. That's the Gospel. When we embrace that payment on our behalf and the One who made it (since He is alive), we have forgiveness of sins, His righteousness, and a living relationship with God. If we do not embrace the Gospel, we do not have any of those things. It is such good news ("Gospel") to those of us who have embraced Him and His sacrifice on our behalf!

That Gospel, then, is "the glory of Christ". How is Christ glorified in the Gospel? He is glorified as the Lamb who was slain. John writes about this in the Revelation of Jesus Christ (that is the correct name, folks):

I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

"To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb , be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped (Rev. 5:11-14).

Now that is a worship service. "many angels" and "the living creatures" and "the elders" and "myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands" all in one voice declaring that "the Lamb that was slain" is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing ... "forever and ever." What a choir! What an event, one I can hardly imagine! And it is all to the glory of "the Lamb" ... "that was slain". Because He came and died, because He willingly laid down His singularly perfect life on our behalf, because of that choice, that love, that unparalleled act of mercy, Christ is glorified.

Christ is also glorified in the Resurrection. It serves first as confirmation that His sacrifice on our behalf was accepted by God. It concurs with Scripture that says, "Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay" (Psa. 16:10). It also provides a map for us. Christ was a forerunner that showed that we, too, will enjoy Resurrection. This is the primary point of the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Christ is "the first fruits of those who are asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20). His resurrection is part of the plan of subjecting all things to Him, and "when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28). His resurrection provides a blueprint for our resurrection. Paul says, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body" (1 Cor. 15:42) and promises "I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51). In the end, the bottom line is that on our behalf through His resurrection Christ has conquered death. "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:56-58). Through His resurrection He gives us victory over death and a reason to abound in "the work of the Lord". That's glory!

The Gospel is indeed good news for us. We must not lose sight of its simplicity (His death on our behalf and His resurrection, in which, if we believe, we are saved and defeat death itself), its power, and its wonder. On the other hand, let us be careful to remember continually that the point of the Gospel, as is the point of everything that exists and everything that occurs, is the glory of Christ. We benefit, but it's really about Him. And we, too, someday will be among the myriads and myriads shouting, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"