Edited by: Oshea Davis

          If you behold the glory of Christ as the great means of your sanctification and comfort, (as the only grounding for the beholding of His glory in eternal happiness), then consider what of God is made known to you in His Son.  God the Father did plan and designed to glorify Himself, in Jesus Christ.  This is what may be known of God, in a saving manner, especially: His wisdom, His love, His goodness, grace, and mercy.  In beholding these in Him does the life of our souls depend.  Therefore, since the Lord Christ is the only appointed way, then how exceeding glorious must He appear in the eyes of them who believe!

        The holy perfections, of the Divine Nature, are not only displayed to our faith in Jesus Christ, but also (in the exercise of their powers) for the salvation of the church.  In Jesus Christ we behold the wisdom, goodness, love, grace, mercy, and power of God.  Furthermore, these glories of God in Christ act themselves in the effective accomplishment concerning the marvelous work of our redemption and salvation.  Accordingly, this salvation displays to us, an indescribable brilliance concerning the pleasantness of the Divine Excellencies. 

        The wisdom and love of God, in themselves, are infinitely glorious. (Infinitely pleasant and welcoming - nothing can be added unto them, - there can be no increase of their essential glory) 

       Yet, because they are eternally in the Divine Nature, we cannot understand the satisfying and endearing-ness of their glory, expect in the work of the redemption and salvation of the church.  Here they are expressed, communicating their blessed effects to all believing souls.   Again, this is done only in the Person of Jesus Christ; so that beams of their glory shine to us with unspeakable refreshment and joy, (2 Corinthians 4:6).  The apostle, upon considering the acting of the holy perfections of God in this blessed work, overflows into worship, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen," Romans 11:33-36.  In and through Christ we do believe in God, (1 Peter 1:21).  This is the life of our souls.

       Indeed, "God is love," yet "his wrath is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness of men."  Clearly, all things, even at this present day, are filled with evidences of His anger and displeasure.  How then, shall we know, where to behold the glory of God in this, that he is love?  The apostle declares it in, 1 John 4:9, "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

       This is the only evidence given to us that "God is love."  Herein only is the Divine Nature made known to us, (namely, in the mission, Person, and work of the Son of God).  Without this, all is in darkness concerning the true nature and supreme operation of His Divine love.

       This is where we behold the glory of Christ Himself, even in this life.  The Father gave this glory to Him. (Namely, that He should declare and give evidence that "God is love."  This Jesus Christ did so, "that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.") Herein we may see how excellent, how beautiful, how glorious and desirable He is.   Only in beholding Jesus Christ do we have a true displaying of God that as He is love. 

       This is the most joyful sight of God that any creature can obtain.  He who does not behold the glory of Christ herein is utterly ignorant of heavenly mysteries.

      Therefore, they know neither God nor Christ.  This same person has neither the Father nor the Son.  They do not know God, because they know not the holy perfections of His Nature in the primary way designed by infinite wisdom for their manifestation.  They do not know Christ, because they do not see the glory of God in His Son.  Therefore, whatever notions men may have from the light of nature, or from the works of Providence, that there is love in God, (however they may adorn them in elegant, affecting expressions), yet from them no man can know that "God is love."  The displaying of Jesus Christ has the preeminence in making this known.  No man is able to comprehend anything of this rightly but in Him.  This revelation is something that the entire light of the creation cannot discover; for it is the spring and center concerning of the mystery of godliness.

       1 John 4:10, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

       1 John 4:9, "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

       Where does the happiness of the saints in heaven consist?  Is it not in beholding the glory of God in Christ?  Furthermore, what is the effect of this upon these heavenly souls?  Does it not change them into the same image, conforming them just like Christ? 2 Corinthians 3:18, "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."

       Does it not fill and satisfy them with joy, rest, delight, contentment, and overwhelming happiness?  Do we expect, do we desire, the same state of happiness?  It is our present view of the glory of Christ that is our initiation there.  We must be exercised in it, until we have an experience of its transforming power in our souls.

       This is the original glory of Christ, given Him by his Father.  Also it is by faith that we may behold.  Jesus Christ, and He alone, declares, represents, and makes known to all angels and men, the essential glory of the invisible God.  Particularly the Father's holy perfections and His will.   Without Jesus displaying the Father, a perpetual darkness would have covered the whole creation, especially that part here below.       

        This is the foundation of our religion.   Moreover it is the Rock upon which the church is built, and the ground of all our hopes of salvation, of life and immortality.  All is resolved into this: namely, that the representation of the nature and will of God in is the Person and work of Christ.  If this fails us, we are lost forever!  If this Rock stands firm, the church is safe here, and shall be triumphant hereafter.

       This is why the Lord Jesus Christ is so exceedingly glorious.  Namely, that He is the great Divine ordinance to display God to us.  Those who cannot behold, by faith, His Glory do not know Him.  In their worship of him, they worship but an image of their own devising.

         In the ignorance and neglect of this beholding consists the official nature of unbelief, which inevitably ruins the souls of men.  He that discerns not the representation of the glory of God in the Person of Christ, is an unbeliever.

       This beholding of the glory of Jesus Christ, may be of little use to some!  These same persons are babes in spiritual knowledge and understanding.  This arises from two reasons.  First, they are carnal, (1 Corinthians 3:1,2) or secondly they are slothful in hearing, (Hebrews 5:12-14, meaning they are not capable of these Divine mysteries).  Therefore, the apostle declares this wisdom of God in a mystery to them that were mature, 1 Corinthians 2:6,7.  In other words, those who were more grown in spiritual knowledge, and had their "senses exercised to discern good and evil."  It is to them who are exercised in the contemplation of invisible things, who delight to walk in the more retired paths of faith and love, that they are precious.

       Some men speak much about the imitation of Christ (being like Christ), and following of His example.  It would better if we could see more of this really in effect.  But no man shall ever become "like unto him" by bare imitation of His actions, without that view of His glory.  This view alone is said to have the transforming power to change them into His same image!

       Thoughts of this glory of Christ are too high for us, or too hard for us.  They are so high that we cannot long delight in them before we turn away with a kind of weariness.  Yet, ironically this is the same nature of our beholding of the glory of Christ in heaven, where there will be no weariness for all eternity!  Is not the cause of it that we are unspiritual or carnal?  Is it not that our thoughts and desires are too familiar with entertainments and other vain things?  Yes, this is the chief cause of our unwillingness and failure to exercise our minds in and about the great mysteries of the Gospel, (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).  Furthermore, it is so with us, because we do not stir up ourselves with watchfulness and diligence in the continual acting of faith on this beautify object.  This is that which keeps many of us in such an empty life, as unto the powers of a heavenly life and spiritual joys.

       If we did abound in this exercise of faith, our life in walking before God would be more sweet and pleasurable to us.  Yes, our spiritual light and strength would have a daily increase.  If we would view more, the glory of Christ, in our ways and walking than we usually do, then death itself would be most welcome unto us.

       Nothing is more clearly revealed in the gospel, than that Jesus Christ is to us, "the image of the invisible God."   Moreover, that He is the character of the Person concerning the Father, so that in seeing Him we see the Father.  This is why it is said that we have "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in his face alone."  This is the primary mystery and truth of the Gospel.  If this is not received, believed and loved then all other truths are useless for our souls.  To teach all the truths given in the doctrines that Jesus taught, yet teach in contradiction about His person in the work of His life's goal, is anti-evangelical, anti-Christian.  It would turn the whole Gospel into a fable.  Furthermore, the light of our faith (in Christ in the gospel) is given to us first and foremost for the beholding of the glory of God in Christ, (to contemplate on this, as to all the ends of its brilliant manifestations)! So is it expressly confirmed, 2 Corinthians 4:6.

       Therefore, reckon in your minds, that this beholding of the glory of Christ by beholding the glory of God, and all His holy perfections in Him, is the greatest privilege in this life we share in. The dawning of heaven's brightest light is in it.  This is life eternal, which is to know the Father, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, (John 17:3).  Unless you above all value it, unless you love it as such a privilege, then you will not enjoy it.  Things that are not valued according to its worth is despised!  It is not enough to think this is a privilege,  or an advantage.  It must be valued and love above other things, according to its Greatness and Excellency.  Yes, even "Destruction and death say, We have heard [about His] fame with our ears," Job 28:22.

(The above comes from personally selected quotes from John Owens in his book, The Glory of Jesus Christ.  My editing ranged from anywhere from a mere proofreading to a medium copyediting.)  This is going in my book so please do not copy this, or print, unless for church and teaching use.  Please link this page and not copy this entirely to your website.

Thanks you: Oshea Davis