2 Cor 3:16-18 Glory and Motivation Q&A

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Q1. What is glory?

A1. God's Glory is His expressed inherent essence, the energy of which the universe consists and manifests (Ps 19 handiwork). Out of His glory flow His riches (Phil 4:19), blessings, power, honor, and reward (Power {security-significance}/ Pleasure/Possessions), mediated by His Spirit of Glory who sets us free from darkness 2Cor 3:16 turn to the Lord veil removed 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18 But 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. God made man is His image, clothed with glory, 1Cor 15 which was lost thru rebellion, and regained thru Christ, and progressively restored to believers who become holy as He is holy 1Pt1) and thus share in the divine nature (from glory to glory). Sharing in Christ's glory is dependent in faithfully sharing in His life, obedience, service and suffering (Rm 8:17; Heb 2:10) as we eagerly expect His return and reward. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation/glorification has been manifested to all men, 12 training us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soundmindedly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope =even the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 

Glory results in not be naked (as Adam & Eve) but be clothed with immortality 1Cor 15 (cf eternal life) (Rm 2; 2Cor 4-5)

Since glory is a function of being Christlike (pleasing and righteousness in God's sight) it requires: 1) the same mindset (Phil 2) and loyalty of Christ (always doing the Father's will), emptying/denying self in the accomplishment of the Father's will (brought glory on earth by doing will Jn 17); 2) trustful submission 1Pt 5 cast care exalted in due time; 3) loyal covenantal love/faithfulness  (Mk 12:30 Love God 1^st, with ALL heart, mind, soul, strength;   Mt 6:24 can't serve two masters. hate vs love; 50% is not ALL, thus rebellion.

Thus a lack of following Christ daily and neither knowing nor doing God's will (godly) is rebelling against Him (since we're created to bring Him glory Isa 43), resulting in disqualification from reward (1Cor 9,10; 2Cor 5), deprivation of inheritance (Num 13-14, Col 3, Jn 15 branches burned cf 1cor 3), exclusion from the Banquet (Mt and His presence (Ezk 45, Mt 5,7) in the Kingdom and Eternal state

Q2. Motivation? 

A2. Compare the of Paul 2Tim 4, Christ Heb 12, Abe, Moses, et al Heb 11;  Nehemiah, etc. Are you more pious?

Love of relationship Ps Jn 14:26 Ps 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Q3. Can't manage what you can't measure?

A3. Interesting premise re measure and manage glory. I don't think we can measure nor manage glory, but we can take heed to our selves to see to what extent we are on the road to glory specified in the Bible (sacrificial faithful serving, and suffering for our loyalty to Christ and commitment to doing God's will -Mk 10). Are we seeking it - Rm2? Are we longing for His appearing? figuring out God's will/course for our lives and pursuing it wholeheartedly like Caleb? -2Tim 4. Are we righteous, holy, godly and blessable? Is our mindset like Christ's -Phil 2? How are we striving like Paul Phil 3; 1Cor 9 etc. Those are things we can manage.

Q4. Can you explain the difference between heaven and the Kingdom? 

A4. Where God lives and His rule over earth Mt 6. Ps 102:19

Q5. What is the difference between those who get into heaven (because they have their sins forgiven) and those who are in the Kingdom and those who are in Gehenna and those who are in hell? What is Gehenna?  Is it different from hell?  

A5. Gehenna is the garbage dump outside the city where the unprofitable works/branches are burned up (1Cor 3; Jn 15). The audience of Jesus in most of the NT and particularly Mt 5-7 are justified believers whose sins were covered/forgiven by the Day of Atonement. Thus there is no mention of the cross or blood sacrifice, bur rather of blessedness or reward and treasure in heaven, vs being least in the kingdom or excluded from it (the banquet and blessings as in Mt 8:12!!!) Outer darkness is the destiny of the unprofitable, unfit for services in the Kingdom that comes from the Heavens/God. The lake of fire is the destiny of those who refuse God's forgiveness.

Q6. If I don't get glory in the Kingdom  (because I haven't earned {worthy/merit} it in God's sight), what will life be like? What will I miss out on? If my aim is simply to get into heaven, is that pleasing to God?  

A6. If you seek to save/preserve your earthly/temporal life, you will lose it  Lk 9:2 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 whoever desires to save his life/soul will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 what profit (Mk 8:35 exchange 4 soul) is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. (Mt 16:26 reward each acc to their works.)  One gets glory as a reward for being like Christ and serving God as Christ did (Rm 8:17). He rewards those who diligently seek Him, (Heb 11:6), doing His will rather than their own (Jn 17:), and are pleasing/righteous in His sight. Jn 17:2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.(cf Phil 2 emptied Himself; consider others more important than yourself). Those who aren't pursuing holiness and righteous, and are loyally and diligently obeying/loving Him are displeasing to Him (1Cor 10) and thus will be deprived of blessings in the Kingdom (just like Israel was in the promised land -Num 14). 

Q7. Is glory/reward only for super-saints? What can I do if I don't think/feel like I am doing enough for God/not earning maximum glory because I'm not Jim Elliot or George Mueller? 

A7. Give account (Rm 14:12) Each reward acc works (Mt 16:27; 25:23,30 unprofitable vs faithfulness) 

Q8.If God says there is going to be no more pain, tears, death, etc then how can there be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (I know this is context-driven - eternal state vs Kingdom (I think), Rm 8:17 - Seems pretty clear that if I don't suffer for/with Him, then I won't be glorified (get glory). How do I know if I'm suffering for Him vs. experiencing consequences of my own choices vs experiencing "suffering" thru the daily inconveniences/trials of an imperfect world?

A8. Take heed to/examine if in faith. See Stupid Suffering DTB

Q9. How can I train myself to better take heed and purify my heart?  (Js 4:8, 1Jn 3:2-3, 1Pt 1:22) My actions may appear God-pleasing on the outside but what happens if I don't take the time to objectively and accurately identify and assess my true motivation to make sure it's God-&-other-centered rather than self-centered?

A9. You lose thru your disobedience, unfruitfulness and unpurposeful living (Mk 4;19 cares/desires)