Christ`s Glorious Character: Part 1. Introduction & God the Source.

Marilyn C

Marilyn C

INTRODUCTION​



How do you express the inexpressible?

It is only by God`s revelation of His Son in His word that we can ever comprehend in part the Father. The Son clearly reveals the heart of His Father by His own character. And we are privileged to not only read of Him but to know Him in our own hearts.

More and more, I believe we need to meditate upon Christ`s glorious character as shown in His word. Then we will see ourselves changed `from glory to glory,` and the old slipping away.

Truly we are a most blessed people to know the love of Christ in all its many aspects. So let`s together learn to look afresh on Him who gave His all for us, and is making us like unto Himself.


`For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.....hat He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with the fullness of God.` (Eph. 3: 14 - 19)
 

The Godhead.​



`God...who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see,...` (1 Tim. 6: 16)

The Godhead would be beyond our understanding except the Father sent His Son to be the true and faithful witness of Him. Christ alone reveals the Father for He is deity, and Christ alone can reveal His character as well as His purposes.

`For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.` (2 Cor 4:6)

Christ Reveals the Father.

Thus it is by the Holy Spirit we are able to understand about God the Father and His great love for us. Christ, Himself, is the very image of the Father.

`Christ....who being the brightness of His (Father`s) glory and the express image of His person..` (Heb. 1: 3)

So as we look upon Christ and learn of His character, then we ourselves are changed from glory to glory.

`we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.` (2 Cor. 3: 18)



So what is the character of Christ?

We would think of words like, kind, caring, truthful, compassionate, faithful etc. Actually there are 42 revealed aspects of His character in His word.

Have we really taken time to meditate upon each part of His character and give Him the praise due? Often we are too taken up with our everyday life and do not take to heart His words -

`Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.` (Matt. 4: 4)



God`s word is all about revealing His Son, His work and His character. So as we learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ then we come to know the Father more also.

 
The Glory of God.


`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.` (John 1: 14)

Glory is the exclusive excellence of the divine character in its essence. Glory consists of all the attributes essential to Deity blended in harmony and perfect unity.

Each characteristic is of equal proportion whether it be -

Divine goodness, gracious, gentle, greatness, righteousness, restful, pure, perfect, peaceful, precious, loving kindness, fullness, tender, merciful, changeless, truthful, meek, blessed, holiness, joyful...

or many other incorruptible qualities that comprise the very nature of the Godhead. Christ in person is the full expression of every feature of Deity.

The glory of His moral characteristics are seen in His meekness as well as His might, His humility as well as His honour, His service and His sovereignty, his gentleness and His greatness.



Administering the Glory.

Christ is not only the glory of the Father, but the Lord (administrator) of that glory.

`Christ...who being the brightness of His (Father`s) glory...` (Heb. 1: 3)

`...our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory...` (James 2: 1)

This means that Christ administers the glorious aspects of His character to those who desire to partake of His divine nature.

`..as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God....` (John 1: 12)

Being a `child of God,` means that the character is of the Father. And this is through the very life and character of Christ. His glorious character is imparted to us as we meditate upon Him, upon the various aspects of His glorious character and work with the Holy Spirit to let Him form Christ within.

`the Lord Jesus Christ....that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints....

to know the love of Christ...` (Eph. 3: 16 - 19)

 
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