Rsbc Date of Sermon:
Series: The Unchangeableness of God
Subject: “ The Unchangeableness of God In His Glory”
Text: 2 Cor 4:6
Sermon # 2
Intro: What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the “glory of God” based upon the definition of the word “glory” a thing belonging to Christ, the kingly majesty of the Messiah the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty as apparent in their exterior brightness a most glorious condition, most exalted state, of that condition with God the Father in heaven is surrounded by and with.
Keep in mind that all that God is, he has always been. Keep in mind that all that he is and that has never changed, never will change, cannot change even though we in our frailty come way short of explanation of this greatness of God.
Moses said to God on the Mountain: Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. God allowed him to see his backward parts as he passed by and revealed his glory to him. David declares: Psalm 8:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
All men of God and all saints of God should desire to see the glory of the Lord.. David did listen to what he says:
Psalm 63:1‑2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Oh that we as the people of God even today in this sanctuary would desire the LORD that we would thirst for him, to see his power and his glory in our lives. Our text present a number of things for our consideration this morning on this subject.
I.. “ THE SOURCE OF THE MANIFESTED GLORY OF THE LORD THAT DOES NOT CHANGE:
Simply but profound: GOD Edward Pearse said and I quote him, “ He is the first cause and the last end of all things”. He cannot change into another essence what ever he has been he will always be. His glory never changes.
Moses was told by God out of the burning bush which did not consume by the way, “I AM WHAT I AM”
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II... “ THE COMMAND OF THIS GLORIOUS GOD”..
The great force by which the LORD commanded the light to shine out of darkness in the act of creation has shined in our hearts. This is the first step to seeing the glory of the Lord. This is that wonderful work of regeneration.
1st. Jesus called this being born of the Spirit: John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
2nd. Paul said that it was a translation: Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
3rd. Paul said that it was transformation: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God’s glory is seen in this wonderful act of pure grace for his people and God does not change in this act. Men change it, preachers change, churches write doctrinal statements about it and ad to it. But remember the GOD and all his attributes, all that he is in saving souls does not change.
III... “ THIS UNCHANGEABLE GLORY OF GOD IS CLEARLY MADE MANIFESTED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”...
Last Sunday we used one text that specifically says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever”
1st. That this unchangeable glory of God is seen in is wonderful birth:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Wise men came from a far to see this great event: Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. John said it like this: John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
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2nd This unchangeable glory of God is also seen in his perfect life:
John 8:45‑46 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Christ while on earth in his human body displayed the glory of his Father in all that he did. When he was Baptized the voice from heaven said “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”. On the Mt of transfiguration this same essence same God same Father with whom there is no shadow of changing nor variableness said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
Our text says in his face the glory of the Lord shined : Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
After Moses went on the Mt and saw the Lord’s glory it is said: Exodus 34:30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
Know we don’t have this same effect on our faces today, but more importantly than outward is inward. Don’t misunderstand, we done show an outward change because this glorious God lives in us. But just remember this change can be imitated..
The GOD of all glory lives in us, WOW how can we not get excited and moved with emotion when we think of this wonderful transformation from the perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ living in us.
When Jesus faced Pilate he said it three times, I find no fault in this man. In the book of Hebrews it is clearly stated: Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
3rd. This unchangeable glory of God is also seen in his glorious kingdom:
a. This is also seen in his greatness:
He was a great preacher: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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Luke 1:32‑33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
b. His great sonship:
Acknowledged by the Father: “ This is my beloved son”
Confessed by his disciples: Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Questioned by the devil: Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Declared by John the Baptist: John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Confirmed in the hearts of many: John 11:26‑27 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
c. His great dominion: Give unto him the throne of his farther David:
This glory and glorious glory of God manifested after our Lord went back to heaven. Note what he said to John: Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
This house of Jacob is none other than the true Israel of God, Paul in showing that once Christ came and died and rose again that their was no distinction between Jew and Gentile that Christ in his glory was able to make them one:
Galatians 6:15‑16 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
d. The eternal reign of Christ in his kingdom:
His kingdom knows no end. When the prophets of old were given a glimpse of the majesty of the LORD and his kingdom they all viewed it as eternal. Daniel 4:3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.
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d. This glory of God the Father which is unchangeable will be more clearly defined and seen when Christ comes for us:
Daniel 7:26‑27 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
This dominions has to do with realms of heaven and earth. That is when Christ comes he will lead us into that visible Kingdom where we shall serve him unrestricted, through out eternity. Here we are restricted, here not all men serve him but there they will.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Conclude this morning:
When Saul of Tarsus was converted on the road to Damascus it is said of him these words concerning the glory of the LORD. Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: Believe me when I tell you this morning that it takes this glorious light which is Christ to shine in the dark heart of a sinner for as sinner to confess their need of Christ.
What is your condition this morning? Have you seen this light of Christ, in the word, in your heart, in your life. Remember he never changes and thank the LORD he doesn’t are we would be lost forever.
One day we will bow, in the presence of the “LORD GOD ALMIGHTY” and we shall be glad he shined in our hearts...