Called to Glory! Revised!

2 Peter 1:3-His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence” RSV

As believers, we want to experience and need to experience the glory of God. We talk about it, sing about it, and preach about it, but for most of us, it is as mystical as most things about God. In our text, Peter’s words, in the Revised Standard Version, convey an important message that I want to discuss with you.

Years ago, I was studying the glory of God. While studying, I fasted and prayed to understand the glory. I distinctly remember reading Billye Brim’s book “The Blood and the Glory”, and Creflo Dollar’s book, “The Anointing”. One night, I had a dream that I have never forgotten. I was standing in a thick cloud. I began turning around slowly within this cloud. Then a voice from the midst of the cloud spoke, “I have anointed you.” I woke from the dream and I just sensed the presence of God in our bedroom. Not wanting to disturb my husband, but wanting to commune with God, I went into our living room and bowed before the Father. I still sensed His presence as I had when I woke up. I stayed there in His presence until I could no longer stay awake.

Glory, according to the Vine’s dictionary is rendered in this way:

of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation, i.e., what He essentially is and does, as exhibited in whatever way He reveals Himself in these respects, and particularly in the person of Christ, in whom essentially His “glory” has ever shone forth and ever will do.

Vine’s Dictionary

And virtue is rendered as:

intrinsic eminence, moral goodness, virtue,” of God; the manifestation of His Divine power

Vine’s Dictionary

When I think of being called by God, I think of a special assignment God may have on an individual’s life. For example, God called Abraham out of Ur because God wanted to establish a people for Himself. He called Bezalel while Israel was in the wilderness to be the designer of the Tabernacle, and then enabled him to teach others to build. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations. Peter was called to be the apostle to Jews. I think you get my point!

The writer of Hebrews makes this point:

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10 RSV

Jesus, the captain of our salvation, is bringing many sons to glory. Since this principle is true, it is easy to understand how Peter would have stated that we were called to His own glory and virtue. That’s quite a calling when you think about it. God, the Father, and Jesus, our Savior is calling us to experience or live in their glory.

Consider what the psalmist wrote about God’s glory and man:

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the so n of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 8:4-5 AMP

Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible reads that man was made a little lower than the Godhead. For most, that’s hard to wrap our brains around, but it is scriptural, so it is truth. God’s original state of man, when He made Adam, was that He crowned mankind with His glory. With the fall of man, that state was lost. But through Jesus, He is bringing us back to glory, which was His original plan for us.

That’s why Peter’s statement that He called us to His own glory makes perfect sense. Through the years, in a sense of humility, and because the enemy’s hand was in it, we have discounted the truth of what God’s real plan is for our lives. Yes, He wants to save us from hell’s eternal punishment, but that’s a small part of a much bigger picture. In the whole scheme of the gospel message, is a message of reconciling us to the rightful place, where we are crowned with the glory of God.

And His virtue, the manifestation of His divine power, is also part of what we are being called to as believers. Remember when the woman with the issue of blood encountered Jesus? In the KJV, Jesus spoke these words:

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned about in the press, and said, “Who touched my clothes?”‘

Mark 5:30

But in the NKJV, the word virtue is translated as power:

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him…

Mark 5:30

As we can see, God’s virtue, is His power. God is calling us to experience His glory and His power! That’s a mind-blowing thought! It doesn’t seem possible!

Sin is the reason we fall short of the glory of God.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

But once we have been cleansed of our sin and reconciled to God, we are called to His glory and virtue, or power. Isn’t that what Peter is saying in 2 Peter 1:3? I think so! I think we are a work in progress, and we may need more transformation, but it starts with the realization that God’s glory and power are available to us.

I also believe that scripture backs this truth up. I don’t expect you to take my word for it, that’s why I gave you several scriptures to share my thinking. I’m still studying this. I’m gaining some insight into this verse that I never really took the time to understand.

If you are struggling with the principle, join the club. But as I continue to study, I am finding irrefutable truths in God’s word of His plan and desire for us to accept the call to enter into His glory and virtue. Wonderful Jesus!