Message delivered by賴若瀚牧師at New York Summer Conference Reflection: 7/1 –7/3/2011
Disclaimer: This is my personal note and is not meant to be exhaustive and totally accurate. I will use my personal “aged” memory and notes to recall what I remembered.
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Pastor Lai was very instrumental in articulating this special topic – God’s glory and Spiritual life. I will try to elaborate as much as I can remember. The topic was from one of his books “求你顯出你的榮耀”. It contains 9 classes originally and it was condensed to fit into these 6 sessions this time.
Firstly, Pastor Lai explained the reason why we need to study God’s glory. Because it is one of the consistent messages in the Bible in terms God’s everlasting plan. Below is table provides a comparison of the 3 key messages in the Bible.
| Consistent message in God’s everlasting plan | |
| 救贖紅線 (The Red Line of Salvation) | J. Barton Payne: 一十架, 一聖經, 一教會
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| 國度紫線 (The Purple Line of Kingdom) |
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| 榮耀金線 (The Gold Line of Glory) |
|
- The meaning of Glory 榮耀的意義
o The two usages of glory:
Verb: to glorify
Noun: God’s glory
=> Question: What do you think of when we are talking about “Glory”?
For glory, its meaning have 3 folds:
a). Weight or measure or quantity 重量或份量
For example: Everybody respects him because he is “heavy-weight” in the area.
b). Fame or good commendation 名聲或佳評
For example, the “Doxology” prefixed with “Doxa” -> good commendation, glory
In modern world, we have a word called “fans”, 人氣
c). Flame or radiance or light 火焰或光輝
For example:
o There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush耶和華的使者從荊棘裡火焰中向摩西顯現 (Exodus 3:2a)
o Pillar of cloud and pillar of fire in the wilderness
o Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. 下雨的日子，雲中虹的形狀怎樣，周圍光輝的形狀也是怎樣‧這就是耶和華榮耀的形像‧我一看見就俯伏在地，又聽見一位說話的聲音‧ (Ezekiel 1:28)
o who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 就是那獨一不死，住在人不能靠近的光裡，是人未曾看見，也是不能看見的，要將他顯明出來‧但願尊貴和永遠的權能，都歸給他‧阿們 (1 Timothy 6:16)
ð Question: What is “God’s Glory”?
God’s glory is directly connected with God’s character attributes.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀 à can’t reach the standards set by God’s holiness and righteousness
God’s glory is “An external manifestation of all God’s attributes” 神的屬性的總和的外在彰顯
God’s glory is a perfection of His attributes, an accumulation of all His attributes; this includes His mercifulness, righteousness, power, holiness, etc.
ð The worthiness and unworthiness of glory
o Who is worthy of glory
1. The meaning of worthiness
It is the result of others’ good commendation because of one’s good attributes.
We can see repeating occurrences of “worthiness” in Revelation chapters 4 and 5.
ð The longing for God’s glory
Example: Moses
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18) 摩西說，求你顯出你的榮耀給我看‧
Question: What is your greatest desire in your life (什麼是你一生中最大的渴求?)
- Glory and Judgment 榮耀與審判
The ark of covenant is a manifestation of God’s presence with the Israelites. We know that God’s glory is an external manifestation of all God’s attributes à it is also meant for “God Himself”
Therefore, when God’s glory left the Israelites, it represents God’s judgment – God disagrees with Israelites. Consequently, God’s presence represents a “double-edged sword”.
1). God’s judgment against disobedience of His people 神審判百姓不順從的罪
for example:
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 6於是耶和華使火蛇進入百姓中間，蛇就咬他們‧以色列人中死了許多‧百姓到摩西那裡，說，我們怨讟耶和華和你，有罪了‧求你禱告耶和華，叫這些蛇離開我們‧於是摩西為百姓禱告‧ (Numbers 21:6-7)
2). God’s judgment against the sins of hypocrisy神審判百姓虛有其表的罪
For example, the defeat of Israelites in front of Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11-22)
3). God’s judgment against the sins of idolatry神審判百姓拜偶像的罪
For example: The book of Ezekiel
Chapter1 – God’s glory and Ezekiel’s serving
Chapter 8 – Idolatry in the Temple
Chapter 9 – Judgment on the Idolaters
Question: Where is God’s glory?
4). God’s judgment against the sins of forsaken the love one had 神審判百姓離棄起初愛心的罪
For example: Revelation 2:4-5
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
- The radiance of God’s glory 神榮耀所發的光輝
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 他是神榮耀所發的光輝，是神本體的真像，常用他權能的命令托住萬有，他洗淨了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右邊‧ (Hebrews 1:3)
Glory = weight / measure + good commendation + radiance (份量+佳評+光輝)
Human glory, power, position, wealth, etc., was added externally. God’s glory is manifested from inside to outside.
Question: Who is the exact representation of God’s glory? Jesus!
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form 因為神本性一切的豐盛，都有形有體的居住在基督裡面(Colossians 2:9)
Angels sang praises on 3 important occasions:
- God’s creation of the world
- The birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13-14)
- The great praises in heaven (Revelation 4:8, 5:11-12)
A. Jesus is “the Word became flesh” and made his dwelling in us. 道成了肉身住在我們中間 (John 1:14a)
1. Tabernacling in us 支搭帳幕在人間 (Exodus 33:7)
2. Jesus’ supremacy (John 1:16-18, Hebrews 1)
B. The transfiguration – radiance of glory
1. Transfiguration – the foretaste of God’s kingdom
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
我們從前，將我們主耶穌基督的大能，和他降臨的事，告訴你們，並不是隨從乖巧捏造的虛言，乃是親眼見過他的威榮‧他從父神得尊貴榮耀的時候，從極大榮光之中，有聲音出來向他說，這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的‧我們同他在聖山的時候，親自聽見這聲音從天上出來‧ (2 Peter 1:16-18)
2. The curtain was removed
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 過了六天，耶穌帶著彼得，雅各，和雅各的兄弟約翰，暗暗的上了高山‧就在他們面前變了形像‧臉面明亮如日頭，衣裳潔白如光‧(Matthew 17:1-2)
C. Return to His throne enter His glory
Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? 基督這樣受害，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的麼‧(Luke 24:26)
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.大哉，敬虔的奧秘，無人不以為然，就是神在肉身顯現，被聖靈稱義，﹝或作在靈性稱義﹞，被天使看見，被傳於外邦，被世人信服，被接在榮耀裡‧ (1 Timothy 3:16)
- Glory and the Cross 榮耀與十字架
o Cross and glory were integrated in Jesus’ life榮耀與十字架結合在耶穌的生命中
1. The sign of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8-14; 2:30-35; Acts 2:36)
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 因為我的眼睛已經看見你的救恩‧就是你在萬民面前所預備的‧是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的榮耀‧(Luke 2:30-32)
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 故此，以色列全家當確實的知道，你們釘在十字架上的這位耶穌，神已經立他為主為基督了‧(Acts 2:36)
2. The talking on the mountain of transfiguration
Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 忽然有摩西以利亞兩個人，同耶穌說話‧他們在榮光裡顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事‧(Luke 9:30-31)
3. The glory and the cross (The Gospel of John)
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來‧他的門徒就信他了(John 2:11)
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 耶穌聽見就說，這病不至於死，乃是為 神的榮耀，叫 神的兒子因此得榮耀‧ (John 11:4)
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 耶穌說，人子得榮耀的時候到了‧我實實在在的告訴你們，一粒麥子不落在地裡死了，仍舊是一粒‧若是死了，就結出許多子粒來‧(John 12:23-24)
4. The prophecy of Peter’s death (John 21:18-19)
The prediction of how Peter’s death is going to be, how it will be used it to glorify God.
信仰不是用來解釋苦難，信仰是用來承載苦難 (楊牧谷)
5. The overview of Jesus’ life
Jesus was humble and obedient. He didn’t use miracles to make himself rich and famous.
We have to be careful not falling into myths of the Gospel of Success – desire glory without the cross