“…so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
(1 Thessalonians 3:13)
Just as a bride beams with beauty on her wedding day, the bride of Christ – His church of blood-bought saints – will be presented by Christ at His coming to God the Father… “blameless in holiness.” As Colossians 3:4 states, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory.”
Do you realize that as a saint of God, the glory of Christ adorns you? The Apostle Peter notes in 1 Peter 4:14, “… the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you.” To be sure, the full expression of God’s glory in us is now hidden under the veil of our sinful flesh. Yet the reality of this truth remains, which is why Paul can say in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “I take pleasure in my infirmities.”
Christ is glorified in His saints in two ways: He is praised by them now, and then in time, in heaven, the full impression and expression of God’s glory will be put on display through His saints. Even the angels of heaven will be amazed by the glory of Christ on His saints. They will wonder at this phenomenal grace imparted to us by our Redeemer (1 Peter 1:12).
Thomas Manton said, “These angels shall wonder at the final effect, the glory He puts on His people. They stand by and admire what Christ means to do with creatures that are but newly crept out of dust and rottenness. The wicked are amazed and astonished when they see them so much loved and honored whose lives they counted madness and folly; they counted them the off-scouring of all things, yet Christ makes them shine as the stars in the firmament.”
Not only that, the saints themselves will be filled with wonder when they are joined with Christ, finding their expectations of the glories of heaven so far exceeded. The righteousness of Christ will adorn us and we will be robed in His glory. And Christ Himself, the Great Shepherd of His sheep, will lead us into His everlasting fold where we will praise and adore our glorious God forever.
- What kind of glory will I experience in heaven? The glory of my Savior will be mine to enjoy forever with You, Lord.
- I am amazed that I will share in the glorious state of the redeemed in heaven for eternity, Lord. I am also amazed that I will know You more intimately and more immediately when I see You face to face. I will share in the knowledge of the mysteries of salvation, which now I am ignorant of, and I will know You then as truly as You know me now.
- I anticipate the day, Lord, when You will change my vile body that it may be fashioned like Your glorious body. When I appear with You in glory, I will shine as the stars of heaven in Your kingdom.
- What a place heaven will be, Lord… a glorious paradise! The company of You and Your Son and all the saints and elders and angels will be beyond glorious. Even our continual activity will be glorious, for we will live to give glory to You for ever and ever.
Further References for 1 Thess. 3:13
1 Cor. 1:8; Phil. 2:15; Col. 1:22; Jude 1:14; Matt. 25:31; 2 Thess. 2:1
