Dear brethren in Christ, It is very interesting to me, and it also stretches us, to consider in what sense God has called us as Christians to share His glory. I think you make a good point, Terry, that glory and credit are not the same thing. I guess to be more precise we would say, not always the same thing, as sometimes they are synonymous e.g. 1 Cor. 1:30ff (KJV) (boasts or takes credit for). Although, I think you agree. Now, on to glory. Romans 8:19-20, "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Do not focus on this clear proof of a literal millenium (:-), but notice how the measuring rod for the creation's deliverance, is the condition of the children of God. Rom. 8:30, "and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." Col. 3:4, "When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." 1 Thess. 2:12, "so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." 2 Thess 1:10, "when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed..." 2 Thess 2:14, "And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Tim. 2:10, "For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." I must run now, after looking up these verses, all I can do is bow and worship. To think that you have been called to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think the glory is associated with having Him and derrived from God, its source.... comments please...... Mike Pa. On Fri, 7 Oct 2005 07:26:01 -0700 (PDT) Terry Rayburn <terryrayburn@...> writes: > Mike, > > You make some good points. I've never liked the bumper sticker > that say, "Christians Are Not Perfect -- Just Forgiven". > > It's true we're not perfected yet, but it's NOT true that we're > JUST forgiven. A lot more has been accomplished with our > regeneration. We are a new creation. Old things have passed > away, all things have become new. > > It also makes ridiculous the common phrase, "It's not about us, > it's all about Him." He has MADE it "about" us, as well as > "about" Him. He died for us, having set His love on us. He > prays for us. He has made us "fearfully and wonderfully". > > There is sometimes a real *pride* in *self-abasement* (see Col. > 2:18, "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by > delighting in self-abasement..."). How's that for an oxymoron. > I have a couple friends who are so into self-abasement that they > actually say that God didn't send Jesus to die for us because He > loved us, but *only* for His own glory. He certainly did it for > His own glory, but how absurd to deny the very clear John 3:16, > "For God so loved the world, *that*...". One friend even claims > his favorite Bible verse is in Job 42, when Job says, "I abhor > myself". When it's pointed out that "abhor" is an incorrect > translation, he says it's still his favorite verse. > > We need to be Christ-centered. Indeed, the more Christ-centered > we are, I believe the more we will be amazed at what He has done > in us. And the more Christ-centered we are, the more we will > walk by the Spirit. Yet, I believe that, ironically, to deny > what God has done *in* and *to* us, is a sort of unbelief that > quenches the Spirit. > > Glory and credit is another matter. Who should get the glory > and credit for all this? Well, the one who *did* it all, of > course. Whatever we are is by grace. "What do you have, O man, > that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7) > > "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; > For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were > created." (Rev. 4:11) > > Blessings, > Terry Rayburn > > > > --- Anne K Murray <malajaa@...> wrote: > > > > > Brethren, > > > > Two things have been impressed upon me lately. One is the > > sinfulness of > > man and the other is the exaltation of man in salvation. I > > use the term > > exaltation with a careful meaning that does not deify man, but > > seeks to > > see the glory and the wonder of what it means to be the > > "children of > > God", "partakers of the divine nature", "raised up together > > with Him > > and seated together with Him in the heavenlies in Christ", > > "one spirit > > with Him". "When Christ who is our life is revealed then > > shall you also > > be revealed with Him in glory". It's not easy to dive into > > the cesspool > > of sin after seeing who we truly are in Christ, "created in > > Christ Jesus > > unto good works". We can still do it if we want to, but we > > don't have > > to, and it is not as easy. > > > > We would never see how truly vile and filthy we were/ are in > > ourselves > > without the revelation of the word of God. I don't think a > > natural man > > would ever be able to admit that he is, "by nature an object > > of wrath" > > without the revelation of the word by the Spirit. Often the > > children of > > God are very shallow in this regard. It is the Word that > > reveals the > > depths of this truth to us as well. So too, the born again > > man must go > > to that word to understand his new position and nature in > > Christ- and > > receive that testimony by faith. "Put on the new man, which > > in the > > likeness of God has been created in holiness and righteousness > > of the > > truth." Yes brethren, "if any man be in Christ he is a new > > creation". > > "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, > > walk as > > children of light". There is the whole positional, > > transformation to > > obligation represented in one verse. It seems to me that the > > less we > > admit our former state in sin, the less we are able to enjoy > > being risen > > with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The flesh > > has no place > > there. > > > > Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord > > Jesus > > Christ, > > > > Mike M. > > > > PA. > > > > -- > > Read the Sound of Grace pages at > > http://www.soundofgrace.com > > > > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > > soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > > > > To view our online archive go to our web page at > > http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > > > > > > > > > > Visit "Grace For Life" > An Oasis of Rest for the People of God > http://www.graceforlife.com > > Get A Free XBox 360. No Kidding. > http://xbox360s.freepay.com/?r=23305323 > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 > http://mail.yahoo.com > > -- > Read the Sound of Grace pages at > http://www.soundofgrace.com > > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > > To view our online archive go to our web page at > http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > > > >