All by Grace and by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone!

Is this not the goal of every believer that one day you want to see the glory or the face of God? This was denied to Moses. In fact this was the desire of every faithful religious Jew to see the radiance of the glory of God. We seldom use this benediction, but this is the hope of every faithful Jew and it is the most loved benediction of Israel:

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’

This benediction is the hope of every Jew, but for the Christian it is not just a hope, but a promise: 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Here is a beautiful promise, our hope will be realized. We will see God as He is. We will see His ultimate glory, face to face. This is more than the burning bush, more than the pillar of cloud that Moses experienced. We will see Him as He is, His pure holiness, His divine essence.

At this stage, we know about the holiness of God based upon the Scriptures. In the Israelites experience God’s holiness was revealed in the moral law implanted in man’s heart and speaking through the conscience. But they also saw His glory, miracles performed, the pillar of cloud and fire.

The reason the law was given to the Israelites was to impress upon them the idea of the holiness of God. And that He is a living God, in contrast to the useless idols of the pagans. God urged upon the people the necessity of leading a holy life. We have evidence of this through symbols and types to emphasise His holiness and His desire for God’s people to be holy. Words such as: Holy nation, the holy land, the holy city, the holy place, the holy priesthood, holy of holies, holy ground, holy temple etc.

The highest revelation of God’s holiness is demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is called: “the Holy and Righteous One” “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.” (Acts 3:14)This means that Jesus reflected in his life the perfect holiness of God.

Our desire is to see our Saviour face to face. Purity is required. Before a person can see God face to face he needs to be purified. In the Beatitudes Jesus mentioned that only a distinct group of people are allowed to see God face to face. Matt. 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” 1 Cor.15:50 says,” Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

No one in this world has a pure heart. All our righteousness are as dirty rags. Because we are impure we cannot see God. Our impurity prevents us from seeing God. Not because we have problems with our eyes and we wear glasses, but apart from the purifying blood of Jesus no one can see God.

Now as believers, we have access into His grace, we have peace with Him, hope of glory, possessor of divine love, delivered from the wrath of God, and we have abundant joy.

Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ we have been justified by grace through faith, we are sanctified by grace, and one day we shall be glorified, also by grace. It is only through our Lord Jesus, we can see the glorious face of God. (John14:6) R.C. Sproul said: “My only hope in life and death is the righteousness of Christ. All I have are filthy rags.” All your good works cannot take you to heaven, but only the through faith in Christ. All by grace and by grace alone, through faith alone!