“…God hath chosen the foolish…the weak…the base…the despised…the things which are not…that NO flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
Dear Ones:
It is because God is holy, the thrice HOLY GOD, maker, redeemer, sustainer of all life…everlasting Keeper, that we need to understand that He does NOT share His glory with men. This does not mean that we cannot see His glory, nor that He will not glorify His name in us…but it does mean, that He WILL receive all the recognition for it. This is so because He is the God of Truth, and the truth is: His glory, that manifestation and revelation of His nature and character, belong to Him…for He IS its essence and source…NOT sinful man. How does this apply to us?
The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians that …the Lord had sent him to preach the gospel, the cross,…Christ crucified,…Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The purpose of this preaching was to reveal to unsaveable man, that it is ONLY by the intervention of God that he can KNOW the reality of a clean, and good conscience towards God, and this because of the complete washing, cleansing, and forgiveness of all sins. How can this be? It is because of the preaching of the cross, and of Christ crucified. The writ of our condemnation because of sin, was NAILED to the cross. Christ’s sacrifice, by His blood, became the terrible payment for all our sins. This mighty work on Calvary, because of the holiness and greatness of God, does not stop there. Christ has dealt with ALL our enemies, without and within. Since He is perfect and holy, so must be the work done to save us. And so, we died IN Him! Not only does God deal with all that is not of Christ, and this, by crucifying and burying it (the old man), but He deals with the old “self” nature, which relies, depends, and acts independently of God. All this occurred, and was nailed to that cross in Christ. Paul writes: “I AM crucified with Christ.” (Gal. 2:20) Not only did He take ALL of our sins with him to that cross, and pay the price to purchase us, but He took US to that cross, that the power of “self” would be broken, and cease to rule. Lastly, there is the issue of the “new man” in Christ, who now lives by another principle, by the very power of God. And this life is lived “…by the faith of the Son of God,” this gift by the Spirit.(Gal. 2:20) From beginning to end, in the consideration of being IN Christ, we see that it is ALL of God. THIS is why NO flesh shall glory in His presence, for it is all of Him, by Him and for Him.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see Your glory, and give us grace to ALWAYS praise and bless You for the Lord Jesus, and for His perfect, sacrificial work on Calvary. Enable us to grasp the wonder, and enormity of Christ’s work, so that we may live truly for Your glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad