Glory in the Making!

A sermon on Believers progress to glory through humility, dying to self, burial of sin, and resurrection power, emulating Christ's path (Hebrews 2, Romans 6-8)

Introduction - Glory Understood

I have been on a part study of Hebrews and was reading the portion of scripture in chapter 2 about Jesus the man. Let’s read that. Hebrews Ch 2: 7-10.

Something caught my eye in verse 10 where God through Jesus bring us to GLORY. I thought whether this is talking about the future. In one sense it is (full Glory) but it is for today too when we are or have been saved. We are being made perfect in Christ. As it states Glory to Glory in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord)

It got me thinking. How much “glory” am I in today. I know I am saved which means it has started. But it’s not where it should be and definitely not where it will be. And then I thought how much part do I have to play in this transformation? Without grace I am nothing I know, but will I remain passive until the day Jesus comes back?

How did Jesus "get" this GLORY?

To understand this, we can look at Jesus, THE MAN. The scripture quoted in this portion is from Psalms 8:4-6 state the “smallness of man” but also talks about humans being made as the most precious creation of God (crowned with glory and honor). It is also a foreshadow of who Jesus will be (complete dominion). And us too. Angels are not going to rule the earth; it will be us with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But then, I thought, was Jesus actually made lower than the angels? Hard to imagine.

Is the word “made” written here mean created? Or does it just mean temporarily given a status/position (e.g. of a general below)? I checked the Greek word, and the contextual meaning is a temporary lowering of Jesus’s rank or status. Generally used in relation to reduction in rank, influence, dignity or importance. A necessary step before Jesus’s ultimate exaltation. Ultimate GLORY.

Think of a general who steps down to train with the soldiers, endures their hardships, and leads them personally into victory. He is not less in essence, but he chooses the path of lowering for the sake of exaltation and our salvation.

I realized then what I need to do or do more as a part to play in this “Glory in the making”!

I had to go through this lowering too. Not around it (as we often do) but through it. Through Humility. If this was Christ’s path to glory, then this is our path too. Not by lowering rank—we already fell short (Romans 3:23)—but by dying to self and embracing His way.

But then I thought it wasn’t easier to do this in one shot. Why do we need to do this repeatedly? Why can’t it be a one shot? Once accepted shouldn’t I immediately start to partake in this Glory?

For us it is present continuous. Persistently die to ourselves to further this cause. I wish it could be otherwise. Is my death again and again the only way?

My curiosity took me to Romans

We have the hope of "GLORY"

Let’s read Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have our hope of the Glory of GOD. So, it’s not impossible a task.

Because of our sins…. And because of what Jesus did for us……and because of our faith in HIM, God has brought us into this place of highest privilege, where we now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing HIS glory.

How d0 I partake in this "GLORY"?

Romans 6 talks about the power of SIN and how it is broken. The power of baptism in Christ. We were living in SIN and just as Christ died, we die with HIM. This is symbolized in our physical baptism where we go down. We are buried with HIM. Let’s pause here for one second. When we get baptized as a tradition, we go into the water and then come out immediately. In fact, when young ones get baptized, they are often fearful of staying in the water for too long. But the bible says in verse 4 that we ought to be buried too until the time for our resurrection. In life we often accept Jesus and obey HIS word in water baptism, but do we DIE really and do we really get buried. I believe both of these are also very important in our faith journey.

If we are to live in the full glory of what God has in store for us, we have to be united with Christ in HIS death and HIS burial and His subsequent resurrection. One of the reasons why a lot of believers succumb to sin repeatedly is due to the “death” and the “burial” not happening.

Galatians 3:27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This baptism mentioned here encompasses death, burial and resurrection to give us the opportunity to put Christ as new clothes on us. A NEW LIFE.

In Romans 6:15 Paul paints the picture of slavery for those of us succumbing to sin. We today don’t understand slavery that much but a good metaphor would be the way we are tied to our job. It can be something that we just do or something that we can be enslaved. Or social media. It could be used for a little while or it could DRIVE you.

Verse 18 Paul challenges us to be free from our old master and be “slaves” to our new master. Righteousness. On that later.

But what about Grace then?

Romans 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.

If the person who sins most receives the most grace wouldn’t he receive more if he continues to sin more? This is the question that Paul is trying to address. Young people here who think there is grace for me so let me sin a little more (especially when I cannot stop myself), caution. That’s not how Grace works. Yes, HE LOVES you, forever, but the struggle between being slaves and being free will continue as long as you are not putting to death everything that needs to die!

Grace is not a license, it is POWER!

The glory of resurrection cannot be attained without the glory of Death. We make the same mistake that Paul’s readers made. Our idea of salvation and the glory that follows is limited to Jesus’s resurrection. We love glory, we love grace, we love enjoying His gifts through His spirit, but struggle with sin again as there is no “DEATH” and there is no “BURIAL”.

Staying buried

For some of us who struggle with sin, I recommend staying buried and not come out until our business with God is done for that. How does that look? If you can recognize sin in your life (that itself is the start to victory living) and struggle to break that pattern, go to the closet, close the door behind, and stay in until you are “resurrected”. Stay buried until you are convicted, stay in until you realize the potential of your action (or inaction) and the effects of it on your destiny. Stay in HIM and His feet until you are freed of your thoughts. Submit your will to His WILL. Confess, ask for forgiveness, repeat!

Please note that this is a completed action but being worked out presently by cooperation with the spirit. It’s a work that does as we fellowship with other believers, not it isolation. Many confuse separation and isolation. God has called us to live separated life, not an isolated life.

Application

So, what would Monday application look like? Romans 8 gives us some pointers.

1. There is no condemnation(v1)- If you belong to Jesus, you are not condemned. No matter what you do, you cannot be “damned”. (be careful of the words that we use, “damn it” is derived from Damnation or condemnation, literally cursing someone or something to hell)

2. Freedom from death (v2)- The power that comes from the Holy Spirit inside of you frees you from the slavery of sin that leads to spiritual death.

3. Law is not the answer (v 3)- Following the law or the right thing leads us to sometimes sin more. Does not mean we do not follow but we are not bound by it. We follow the Man who fulfills the law (v 4)

4. Sinful thought leads to sin (v5)- A Sin is a sin first in the mind before it takes it action. Jesus extended the law to cover our thoughts. (if you see wrong, you have committed adultery). Instead put all your lofty opinions and arguments that we usually have against the knowledge of God, captive to CHRIST (power of the submitted mind) 2 Cor 10:5

5. Obey GOD (in the little to start and the lot) (v7)- Obedience is key to escape from a sinful nature. Obedience pleases Him. Obey in the little first. And obedience in suffering like Jesus. Believers are also being made perfect like Jesus in their obedience which builts character (not just in good intentions)

6. You need the Holy Spirit to put to death your sinful nature (v9. Ask every day, Lord, what do I need to change today, where do I invite you to help me die, bury, and rise!?

7. We believers are all God’s children, and He is our father (v14). Commit to each other, make ourselves accountable, talk and confess and seek help to encourage each other.

8. Reverence for the father

9. All of us in the order of Melchizedek the high priest, eternally (unlike Levi which isn’t eternal). Hebrews 5:7-10

So, who are you desiring to be? Someone who would want to partake in this GLORY today?

Remember I said, we have a new master. We ought to be slaves to RIGHTEOUSNESS. This kind of slavery is very different. This is one of joyful servitude. A willingness to bow and surrender completely and perpetually. A humility that gives glory to Jesus. A narrative where you flee from sin and run to HIM every time, every day.

I for myself desire to be in HIM. In His Glory. To grow in it. But realize it’s not in me to attain it. I must trust in HIM, in His work in me and put to death all my thoughts and actions which lead me astray, find the cross again, die to myself and stay buried until I rise up, in HIM a new creation, FREE!

Romans 8:16-17 Let’s read that. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Background

Kainos Church India, Bengaluru led by Ps. Manoj and Lincy Iype is a gathering open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is ideally located for believers in the Koramangala, HSR Layout, Agara, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur areas of Bengaluru and our Church Service in English starts at 10am on Sundays.

These notes are from the Sunday Sermon held on 7th December 2025