Glory of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 14 (Other differences between our beholding the glory of Christ by faith in this world and by sight in heaven).
Firstly he looks at how by faith we learn of the glory of Christ by gathering things one by one, in several parts and parcels, out of the Scriptures. Whereas in heaven the whole glory of Christ will be at once and always represented unto us.
Secondly Owen discusses the effects of the glory of Christ when we behold it in heaven - it will be absolutely transforming and beatifical (giving perfect rest and blessedness).
As usual, I loved the descriptions of heaven.
Particularly this one: 'In the vision which we shall have above, the whole glory of Christ will be at once and always represented unto us; and we shall be enabled in one act of the light of glory to comprehend it. Here, indeed, we are at a loss; — our minds and understandings fail us in their contemplations. It will not yet enter into our hearts to conceive what is the beauty, what is the glory of this complete representation of Christ unto us. To have at once all the glory of what he is, what he was in his outward state and condition, what he did and suffered, what he is exalted unto, — his love and condescension, his mystical union with the church, and the communication of himself unto it, with the recapitulation of all things in him, — and the glory of God, even the Father, in his wisdom, righteousness, grace, love, goodness, power, shining forth eternally in him, in what he is, has done, and does, — all presented unto us in one view, all comprehended by us at once, is that which at present we cannot conceive. We can long for it, pant after it, and have some foretastes of it, — namely, of that state and season wherein our whole souls, in all their powers and faculties, shall constantly, inseparably, eternally cleave by love unto whole Christ, in the sight of the glory of his person and grace, until they are watered, dissolved, and inebriated in the waters of life and the rivers of pleasure that are above for evermore. So must we speak of the things which we admire, which we adore, which we love, which we long for, which we have some foretastes of in sweetness ineffable, which yet we cannot comprehend.'
To see Christ in all his glory, oh what a pleasure it will be!
Next week's reading
Commence Part II by reading Chapter 1 (Application of the foregoing meditations concerning the glory of Christ — first, in an exhortation unto such as are not yet partakers of him).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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