This episode spells out the dynamic of persecution in the lives of believers. Persecution arises because of the Word sake. (Mark 4:17) Christians have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken. (Heb. 12:28) The sovereign purpose of God in persecution is therefore the removal of things which can be shaken so that the things which cannot be shaken remain. (Heb. 12:27) So typically God allows persecution in the lives of believers to expose residual unbelief and sympathy with the kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13). The Christian should then repent and be more committed to Christ. Amidst persecution, believers are called to identify with the sufferings and death of Christ, fully cognizant that this posture glorifies Christ, as it testifies to the veracity of the gospel. The episode finally notes that Paul was motivated to suffer for Christ because he knew Him intimately: he had "the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6)
See His Glory and Repent
This episode highlights the dynamics involved in the reversal of the Great Exchange. When we were not in Christ, we had exchanged the glory of God for images and produced a litany of sins based on this fundamental idolatry. In sanctification the Holy Spirit progressively reverses the Great Exchange, moving us to repent from dead works and live for the glory of God. Very interesting is one of the means that the Holy Spirit uses to inspire us to repent. The Holy Spirit uncovers some of the glory of Christ, and we perceive the vileness of our idolatry contrasted with the glory of Christ. The more we see the glory of God in the person of Christ, the more we sin our sinfulness, losing all hope apart from the mercy and grace in Christ. So when we have degrees of the beatific vision in this life, when we progressively behold God's glory, we repent and change our mind about our particular sins based on self-idolatry. The result is we become more and more like Christ. Struggling to repent of particular sins? Ask God to uncover His glory, and that experience will devastate and transform you.
Glorify God by Regarding His works
This episode contrasts sinners and saints by focusing on the attitude over the "works of the Lord." Psalm 29:4-5 states that the fundamental sin of the wicked is that they do not regard the works of the Lord. Paul in Romans 1 suggests the same thing, "they do not honor Him as God or give him thanks." (Rom. 1:21) The essence of sin is failing to regard the works of the Lord, or "missing the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) and it is followed by the Great Exchange, where man exchanges the glory of God for an image in the form of corruptible man. This sin "problem" is reversed in salvation. God forgives our sin, and Christians, in gratitude for what Christ has done at Calvary, progressively seek to glorify God by marveling at the works of the Lord. And this is principally done by gazing on the glory of Christ. We are transformed as our capacity to give God glory, acknowledging His works, is filled up..with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:19)