The excellency and glory of Christ, as revealed in Scripture, is a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing His divine nature, redemptive work, and the transformative power He imparts to believers. This glory is not only inherent in Christ but is also shared with the saints, who are called to reflect His character and partake in His divine nature.

Christ's Excellency and Glory

The glory of Christ is rooted in His divine identity as the Son of God. John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." This passage highlights the incarnation as a manifestation of divine glory, revealing Christ's unique status and His embodiment of grace and truth.

In His earthly ministry, Christ's glory was further demonstrated through His miracles, teachings, and ultimately, His resurrection. Hebrews 1:3 states, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word." This verse underscores Christ's role as the perfect reflection of God's glory, sustaining the universe by His authority.

Impartation to the Saints

The glory of Christ is not confined to His person but is imparted to His followers. This impartation is both a present reality and a future hope. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 , Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Here, the transformative process of sanctification is described as believers progressively reflecting Christ's glory.

The apostle Peter also speaks of this participation in divine glory. In 2 Peter 1:3-4 , he writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature." This passage emphasizes the believer's call to partake in the divine nature, facilitated by Christ's glory and excellence.

Eschatological Fulfillment

The full realization of Christ's glory imparted to the saints is eschatological, pointing to the future consummation of all things. Romans 8:17-18 states, "And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us." This future glory is a source of hope and encouragement, assuring believers of their ultimate transformation and union with Christ.

In Revelation 21:23 , the New Jerusalem is described as having "no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." This imagery portrays the ultimate fulfillment of Christ's glory, illuminating the eternal dwelling of the saints.

Practical Implications

The impartation of Christ's glory to the saints carries profound implications for Christian living. Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of this high calling, reflecting Christ's character in their daily lives. Colossians 1:27 speaks of "Christ in you, the hope of glory," highlighting the indwelling presence of Christ as the source of hope and transformation.

Furthermore, the shared glory of Christ fosters unity among believers, as they collectively reflect His image. In John 17:22 , Jesus prays, "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one." This unity is a testament to the world of Christ's transformative power and the reality of His kingdom.John 17:22
And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Priesthood of Christ
... to this I shall say, that Christ is styled "the brightness of the Father's glory,"
"the express ... God," I shall have expressed its excellency as fully as ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration iv the priesthood of.htm

Questions and Answers
... the light of the knowledge of the glory of God ... this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the ... for the race through redemption in Christ, and is ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xii questions and answers.htm

the Nature of this Oversight
... will tell them that you excel them in spiritual excellency. If you believe that
Christ is more worthy of imitation ... Alexander, and that it is more glory to be a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/section 1 the nature.htm

The Water of Life;
... happen to thee are, for Christ's sake, turned ... No, no, this quality, virtue, excellency,
what shall ... authority, the highest authority, glory, wisdom, faithfulness ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... the treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the ... The glory of their Master,
and the salvation of ... admiration which was due to Jesus Christ, from whom ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... it was: I writing of the way, And race of saints, in this our ... all on a flame to be
converted to Jesus Christ; and did also see at that day, such glory in a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... up to heaven, signifying the superhuman excellency of the ... Sabaoth sitting on the
Throne of glory, [3474] and ... who threatens to give proof of Christ speaking in ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... such titles; but these having neither holiness, excellency, [1292] nor ... Christ desires
us not to be anxious about our ... to show the vanity of such as glory in the ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

The Child-Life in Nazareth
... of what was regarded as the superlative excellency of his ... therefore, as this period
was, if the Christ was to be ... by his pupils, as by a crown of glory (to use ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the child-life in.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1808, to the ...
... and immediately broke forth in praise, shouting glory to God. ... and many were gathered
into the fold of Christ. ... all things but loss for the excellency of the ...
/.../chapter 8 from the close.htm

What is the Letter to Diognetus? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God create the world / earth? | GotQuestions.org

Excellency: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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