Kingdom Building

June 13, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

I recently concluded that I do not know what “glory” is in relation to its use in the Bible. I understand it in terms of giving honor to someone or something. I sing it lustily in the chorus of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and majestically in the hymn To God be the Glory.  But I have an uneasy feeling neither is what Paul is describing in Romans 5:2 included in the scripture above. Perhaps they skirt on the edges of its meaning but do not convey the complete substance.

Having never taken courses in either Hebrew or Greek, I regularly stumble around in Strong’s Concordance* searching for deeper understanding. Hear is what it says about the word “glory” in both the Hebrew and the Greek, in general:

dóksa (from dokeō, “exercising personal opinion which determines value”) – glory. 1391 /dóksa (“glory”) corresponds to the OT word, kabo (OT 3519, “to be heavy”). Both terms convey God’s infinite, intrinsic worth (substance, essence). a most glorious condition, most exalted state

And specifically, as used in Romans 5:2

“the glorious condition of blessedness into which it is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Savior’s return from heaven” which God bestows

I get the part about glory conveying God’s infinite, intrinsic worth as we worship God. The part I think I am missing is the blessedness God bestows on us. Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. I need that peace now and forevermore as it keeps me balanced in dealing with the challenges of the world.

Prayer: We do praise and give you glory for who you are, O God, and we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who endowed us with the legacy of your peace as you empowered us to carry forth your cause. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/1391.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.