All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king…. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
—PSALM 45:13-14, 17
Digging Deeper
Read Genesis 3:21
What is the first thing God does for Adam and Eve before they are removed from the Garden of Eden?
Like a good Father, God calls Adam and Eve out and He clothes them, covering their nakedness and shame. This illustrates a beautiful picture of God’s heart toward man and points toward the day when His Son Jesus Christ would call us out and clothe us!
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
—Isaiah 61:10
Circle the garments and the robe Isaiah prophesied Jesus would clothes us in, according to Isaiah 61:10.
As the bride of Christ, you are clothed in the most expensive garments on earth and in Heaven. Wow!
Jesus says in John 5:19 that He only does what He sees His Father doing. God foreshadowed the immense love and mercy that He would demonstrate for us through His Son Jesus Christ when He clothed Adam and Eve and covered their nakedness and shame.
Read John 17:20-23
What is it that Jesus has given us so that what should be known?
John records an intimate prayer from Jesus to God the Father: “I have given them the glory that you have given me.” The word glory in this scripture is doxa in the Greek, and is defined as a weighty honor, favorable opinion, and also a shining majesty that comes from being in the presence of God (Strong’s #G1391).
We have been clothed in royal garments of love and will be known by the honor that God has placed on our life. In our relationship with God, His face shines upon us and reflects the glory of His majesty, revealing His Kingdom in which we belong.
Jesus said in John 17:4 that He brought glory to God by completing the work He had set out to do, which was revealing the Father to the world so that man should have eternal life. By establishing a New Covenant through His death and resurrection, humanity is now set free and unveiled so we can all see and reflect the glory of God.
God will make you known so that when you shine the world will see His love, grace, mercy, and goodness. You have received freely all of Him by faith through the trust that comes from believing! God has placed you in His righteousness because He knew you before you knew Him. He believed in your potential before you even knew you had any. You were found worthy while still in your worthlessness.
We didn’t earn God’s favor; it was given when we believed and received it. When we came to Christ we handed in our filthy rags for His robes of righteousness. We traded shame for the honor that He so freely gave us. But it’s Satan who comes to deceive you and blind you to who you are and to the righteousness with which you have been clothed.
Reflect on Second Corinthians 4:4
Highlight what stands out to you. Make notes of connections learned throughout the previous lessons and hearing moments.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
In your opinion, can a “Christian” be an unbeliever?
As we learned in “Lesson 2: Forgotten Identity,” like Eve we can encounter God, but we can become blinded orphans who don’t truly believe in the glory that Jesus has shared with us when we try to achieve what has already been freely given to us. We walk around in royal attire that identifies us with a King who has shared everything with us, but we act like orphans who still beg because we are blinded to who we are. We beg for God’s presence, yet Jesus has placed us in His throne room where we stand shining in God’s likeness, embraced by His secure arms. God is calling us into knowing Him through His Son Jesus Christ so that we may be known as He is known. John 12:45 says that when you look into the face of Jesus you are looking into the face of the Father. When we look, we find love! Jesus said:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35 NASB).
He was speaking about the only law that the New Covenant is centered around—the law of love. Love has covered everything. It covers your past, your present, and your future. It equips you to surpass all limitations. It gives you the permission and the freedom to throw down laws of old and embrace something more powerful—a love that inspires revelation and dreams. This love gives you vision that comes from knowing who you are because you have placed your faith in the One who has always known you. Without faith in this love that Jesus has revealed and established permanently through the New Covenant, you cannot share in the glory because it’s not something you can achieve; you simply receive. The word faith can be defined as a trustful response that comes from knowing God. The Hebrew word is aman and it means reliable, stable, to uphold as a father who upholds a child would (Strong’s #H539). Faith is built upon the promise of a Father who always keeps His word. God has established a covenant of love that He cannot break. He can only honor this covenant, and He continues to honor it with us. It is by our faith (a trust that comes from knowing God) in what Jesus has done that we freely receive this gift of glory and enter into oneness with God, just as Jesus and the Father are one, and then we shine for all to see.
Let’s continue our reading of Second Corinthians 4. Hear what Paul is saying:
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NLT).
All the striving is done. He will make you known through your faith. You were destined to have a glorious life because it reveals the glory of God that has been given to us. God uncovers the real you, and by you being uniquely you God’s light shines forth and manifests His glory.
Hearing Moment
God sees you sparkling in salvation and standing in a robe of righteousness. You, child of God, are royalty. You are wearing the most expensive attire—the blood of Jesus Christ. Your destiny was always designed with Jesus Christ in mind, and you are wired to shine in the glory He’s placed on your life. Jesus Himself has called you the light of the world because you are unified with the Light of the World—Jesus. In God’s grace (undeserved love and power) we were made to shine. Through God’s favor we are empowered to succeed. We can’t earn it, but by faith (trust in God’s word) we receive it and live it.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
—Matthew 5:14-16
Close your eyes and see yourself standing in His light. Holy Spirit will reveal God clothing you in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. Journal what you are seeing and hearing.
Next, I want you see yourself receiving the glory (weighty honor) that God has placed on your life. If you struggle with the lie of worthlessness, understand He has found you worthy enough to drape you in His Son’s blood. Receive His grace so that you can accept His abundant love. It is undoubtedly hard to receive His great love that we didn’t earn, but His Word and His promise are being fulfilled through the New Covenant that Jesus has given us. You may hear words in your heart or see images in your mind. Draw or write everything He shares with you.
Remember, you were designed to hear and see God. Journal your first impressions and just simply be God’s child with your heart set to hear Him.