In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
The eternal purpose of God was realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, according to verse 11. Paul begins verse 12 with “in whom.” I’ve pointed out before that our position “in Christ” is our identity. When we trust Christ we are placed in Him. His history becomes our history. For example, we have died and were raised with Him. We are currently seated with Him in heavenly places. So, you need to learn to adjust your thinking to believe the truth that you are in Christ.
Paul says that in Him we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. It reminds me of what Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
We have access. And yet we take that access for granted. Access to the throne of the King is not something that is easily acquired. But if you are the King’s child, access is available.
So, since all of these things are true, Paul asks his readers and disciples not to lose heart over what he is suffering. The suffering which Paul is enduring on their behalf is their glory. We don’t use glory in our vocabulary much, but in the natural world, what might be your glory? Perhaps your position, or your family, or some achievement. Long hair is a woman’s glory. A young man’s strength is his glory. So, our glory is something we might be legitimately proud of. Not in the sinful sense.
We would never use the term suffering in relationship to glory, but here Paul says that his suffering is their glory, their point of boasting. It doesn’t make sense to us. In Galatians 6:14 Paul says the cross of Christ is his place of boasting.
Perhaps we need to do a little more meditating on this concept. It might free us from the bondage of the normal centers of our boasting and glory and center us more on the cross and that point of suffering which ultimately became the means for our salvation.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:03 PM December 7, 2020.