"With all this talk about God's glory, why do we see so little of it now?" This episode answers that question and invites believers to tap into God's glory narrative. The angels remark that the whole earth is full of God's glory, but fallen mankind, consumed with self-centered desires exchanges the glory of God for images, and big surprise, sees very little of God's glory. In salvation, the moral image of God in man is being restored, and his capacity to perceive God's glory is enlarged. This episode calls believers to ponder the glory of God just in the created order, beginning with reflecting on our own creation ("fearfully and wonderfully made") and marveling at the entire universe. Holistic salvation means we can dump the near-sighted, self-centered lens of distorted fallen humanity and embrace our renewed capacity to behold God's glory through Christ. And, if that weren't enough, we ourselves partake of that glory and are transformed from glory to glory.
The Trinity Revealed in Salvation
This episode unpacks the role of each member of the Trinity in leading believers towards the beatific vision. In addition to uncovering the glory of Christ, the Holy Spirit reveals the thoughts of God the Father. (1 Cor. 2:11) The next verse states, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we many know the things freely given to us by God." (12) Of course, the greatest gift "freely given to us by God the Father is Christ. (John 3:16) The Holy Spirit reveals Christ and the thoughts of the Father and Christ has "explained the Father." (John 1:18) That every member of the Trinity is united in uncovering the Godhead points to the inescapable conclusion that holistic salvation is all about the knowledge of God.
The Holy Spirit: Our Partner from Glory to Glory
This episode reviews and expands on the role of the Holy Spirit in every part of the believer's salvation journey, culminating in the beatific vision. "He CONVICTS the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:8-11) Christians CALL Christ Lord "through the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:3) The Holy Spirit CONFORMS believers into the image of Christ. (Rom 8:29) And He unCOVERS Christ's glory. (John 16:13-15) The sanctifying Spirit is our indispensable partner on the road towards the beatific vision.
Conviction and Illumination: Uncovering the Glory of Christ
This episode highlights the Holy Spirit's activity of uncovering the glory of Christ, the unveiling of which leads to personal transformation, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18. That uncovering was initially a dreadful encounter with the God of Truth, as the Holy Spirit convicted the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. Upon conversion, the Holy Spirit continues his work of uncovering the glory of Christ. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you." (John 16:14) The work of the Spirit is indispensable for "beholding the glory of the Lord" and "being filled up with all the fulness of Christ," degrees of the beatific vision available in this life.
A “milk will do” attitude might indicate a fake conversion
Based on the Scriptural description that the ultimate purpose of salvation is service to God and not merely the forgiveness of sins, this episode unpacks the "milk will do" attitude towards spiritual growth and shows how this nonchalant attitude towards growth in Christ might be a sign of false conversion. True Christians are not ultimately content with their "sins being forgiven for Christ's sake." Based on the born again experience, they have a principle within them that they long to please and serve God, irrespective of the ultimate consequences of sin in heaven or hell. So true repentance from dead works is not content will a "milk will do" attitude, resting in the forgiveness of sins. It presses on to maturity to serve God.