The Glory is Christ!
“Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.” -II Corinthians 3:16 [KJV]
From our perspective, it generally looks as though the moon has a light of its own. But during an eclipse – when the moon comes between Earth and the sun – the moon is shown for what it is: a dark and dead body. Rather than adding light to the sun, it actually diminishes the sunlight that reaches us.
So it is with doctrine. While in its proper position, it shines with a brilliant light or glory. But, just as with the moon, the glory of doctrine is not its own, it is Christ. The proof of this is simple. Let any doctrine occupy a place between Christ and us, and it will ‘eclipse’ the glory of Christ and become a dead and darkening thing to our souls.
Election is a glorious and wonderful doctrine. But its glory is wholly borrowed from Christ. There is no glory in election apart from the fact that “We are chosen in Him…” Predestination has no glory apart from the fact that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Redemption viewed by itself becomes nothing more than a point of contention and pride.
Arguments arise over its extent and scope are silenced and a glorious, God-honoring, soul-comforting truth appears: that every blood-bought sinner IS redeemed with a redemption that cannot be undone.
And so the principle applies to every truth: until truth is seen in its proper relation to Christ, it is a dead and dark thing. But when it is viewed in proper relation to Christ, it shines with His glory and reveals His glory to us.
-preacher Joe Terrell
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