Weekly Sermon
James 2:1 reads, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
Herein the Biblical prohibition is delivered that we must not attempt to combine a daily Christian walk of faith with the practice of showing respect to persons. Involved in this presentation is the truth that our daily walk of faith is centered upon “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” By referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord Jesus Christ, James was publicly confessing his inclusion among those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In addition, by declaring that the Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lord of glory,” James was also confessing his belief in the true identity and full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as David referred to Jehovah of hosts as “the King of glory” in Psalm 24:7-10, and just as David referred to Jehovah God as “the God of glory” in Psalm 29:3, and just as the apostle Paul referred to God the Father as “the Father of glory” in Ephesians 1:17, and just as Stephen referred to the One who met who Moses through the burning bush as “the God of glory” in Acts 7:2, even so James here refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of glory.” Before Jesus sacrificial death on the cross and bodily resurrection out of the dead, James, as well as Jesus other biological brethren through Mary, had not accepted Jesus’ claims as the only-begotten Son of God and as the eternal Savior of the world. Yet it is apparent that after his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:7, James discarded his unbelief and wholeheartedly placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and sovereign Lord. Indeed, he set his wholeheartedly devotion upon the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of Glory,” as the One in whom dwells all the majestic fullness “of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) Even so, there are six facets of truth in this title, “the Lord of glory,” for us to consider. In this first part of the message, let us consider the first three of these truths.
James 2:1 reads, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
Herein the Biblical prohibition is delivered that we must not attempt to combine a daily Christian walk of faith with the practice of showing respect to persons. Involved in this presentation is the truth that our daily walk of faith is centered upon “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” By referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord Jesus Christ, James was publicly confessing his inclusion among those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In addition, by declaring that the Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lord of glory,” James was also confessing his belief in the true identity and full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as David referred to Jehovah of hosts as “the King of glory” in Psalm 24:7-10, and just as David referred to Jehovah God as “the God of glory” in Psalm 29:3, and just as the apostle Paul referred to God the Father as “the Father of glory” in Ephesians 1:17, and just as Stephen referred to the One who met who Moses through the burning bush as “the God of glory” in Acts 7:2, even so James here refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of glory.” Before Jesus sacrificial death on the cross and bodily resurrection out of the dead, James, as well as Jesus other biological brethren through Mary, had not accepted Jesus’ claims as the only-begotten Son of God and as the eternal Savior of the world. Yet it is apparent that after his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:7, James discarded his unbelief and wholeheartedly placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and sovereign Lord. Indeed, he set his wholeheartedly devotion upon the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of Glory,” as the One in whom dwells all the majestic fullness “of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) Even so, there are six facets of truth in this title, “the Lord of glory,” for us to consider. In this first part of the message, let us consider the first three of these truths.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is by divine nature majestically glorious.
Speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:14 declares, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God the Father. He is God the Son, the Second Person of the eternal Godhead. As such, He possesses all of the divine glory and majesty in His Person by nature. From eternity past He is the majestically glorious Son of God. Even so, in John 17:5 He prayed unto God the Father, saying, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Furthermore, He is the almighty Creator of all. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17) Even so, all of the creation, from the heavens above, to the earth beneath, to all that is contained in them, reveals the majesty of His divine glory. Thus in 1 Corinthians 2:8 God’s Word declares that if “the princes of this world” had known the wisdom of God in the gospel, they would not have crucified the One who is the very “Lord of glory,” who is by His eternally divine nature the very Son of God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the revelation of God the Father’s glory.
Speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:18 declares, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” At that time when the Lord God had led the children of Israel unto Mount Sinai, Moses made request unto the Lord God, saying, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” (Exodus 33:18) Unto this request the Lord God gave answer in Exodus 33:20-23 – “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” No living person can look upon the full glory and majestic radiance of God the Father’s face and remain alive. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son born and manifested in human flesh. (Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:16) Even so, as God the Son manifested in human flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ perfectly reveals the fullness of God the Father’s divine glory. Even as the opening portion of Hebrews 1:3 teaches, God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, is the very brightness of God the Father’s glory and is the express (or, exact) image of God the Father’s person. Just as the cloud of majestic radiance that rested upon the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and that filled Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3) revealed the divine glory of God the Father in the time of the Old Testament, even so our Lord Jesus Christ is the fully reveals the divine glory of God the Father for this time of the New Testament. Indeed, the fullness and glory of God the Father is actually embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) Thus in 2 Corinthians 4:6 gives the report, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Yea, the divine glory of God the Father is fully revealed “in the face” (that is – in the Person) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is exalted by the Father unto heavenly glory.
Speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:3 declares, “Who being the brightness of his [of God the Father’s] glory, and the express image of his [God the Father’s] person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Even so, speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 2:6-11 proclaims, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Indeed, we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lord of glory;” for at this present time He sits upon the throne of heaven in glorious majesty at the right hand of God the Father. Again speaking concerning the working of God the Father’s mighty power, Ephesians 1:20-22 proclaims, “Which [mighty power] he [God the Father] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ sits as “the Lord of glory” on the throne in heaven at the right hand of God the Father; for God the Father has highly exalted Him far above all others, and has given Him a name above all other names, and has given Him all authority over all of the creation. Yet again speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:22 states, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” And yet against 1 Timothy 3:16 gives the report, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God [that is – God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ] was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Who is the Lord and King of glory? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He is “the Lord of glory.”
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