The Glory of the Flesh
“Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body” Philippians 1:20
The Glory of the Flesh
Exalted – This is not the usual word for “exalted”. The common Greek word translated “exalt” is hypsoo. It is found in Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:11, Philippians 2:9, John 3:14 and many other verses. This form of “exalt” is about the essential character of Christ, exalted as a result of obedient humility.
Paul doesn’t use hypsoo in this verse. He uses a word that means “great majesty” or “great strength” (megalosune). This word is found in Deuteronomy 32:2. It’s not about the humility and obedience that comes with Christ-like character. It’s about the majesty that is characteristic of God. Look at Hebrews 1:3. It’s the word for God’s glory.
This change in the usual word raises a question for us. We might understand how we could exalt Christ in our bodies if the context is about humility and obedience. That’s what we usually hear. Keep the body under. Fight the war with the flesh. But in this verse Paul says that God’s glory is going to be found in his body and that the reason it is found there has something to do with the work of Jesus. So, here’s the question: How is the glory of the Almighty God made great in your body through the hand of Jesus?
Maybe these thoughts will point you toward an answer:
- If your body is truly the temple of the Holy Ghost, God’s glory resides in you. Your embodiment in this world is the temporary expression of God’s residence. When you are aligned with His purposes, your body becomes His agency here and now.
- God created you embodied. You were not some free floating spirit that was trapped in a body. God made you fully integrated with this bodily form. Your body is intended to exhibit His handiwork. It is His glory made manifest.
- The war of the flesh is sin’s attempt to reduce the glory of the flesh to something less than God’s majestic design. Attacks on the body are just as important as attacks on the spirit. Sin intends to destroy God’s creative work wherever it is and that means going after your body too.
Paul says that it is Jesus’ work in him that brings about the majesty of God in bodily form. Is that what you think? Are you God’s majesty walking around?
This is excellent! Yes! A Christian SHOULD look different than the rest of the world. A living epistle of what an Almighty God can and wants to do NOW. If the Kingdom of God cannot be exhibited in the temple He created for Himself, which is ME, then where will it be?
What does a human think is a standard of beauty? Is it not a body, mind and set of actions that say “I am loved, and worthy of it, and I am not only able and willing love you with my everything, I am fully equipped to do it”. Say what? What does that look like? Well, then, what stirs your blood, turns your head, excites your admiration and empowers your own sense of purpose and ability? Is this not the ideal of what beauty actually accomplishes? Isn’t this why we like to focus on beautiful people; because they EMBODY this ability, or they at least have an appearance of it? What does a good actor study? Is it not ideally to show love? And if our actors in Hollywood do not show it, then what are they; correction – what are we that do not want them to?
And if the results of sin and the associated curses do not fall off us who have been redeemed, then pray tell,what are we redeemed FROM? And if we are just as sick and beaten down and bent in mind and action, and if our lives look as sad and chaotic as everyone e;lse’s, then what would there be to turn anyone’s head for a second glance, much less turn it enough to sear a heart with a desire to HAVE THAT, or at least to stand next to it, in hopes that a little of whatever-it-is might rub off? Isn’t this what glory is supposed to inspire?
And if the need of the world is to be saved from their sins, then would it not follow that that salvation should show in a healed body, a well-tuned and able mind, and a beautiful heart that pours out grace on all around; further, should not the whole direction of such a life look blessed? And should it not look blessed in SPITE OF ANY AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES IT MAY BE IN? I mean, I am not advocating a wealth theology here; I am talking about the people who are such joyful martyrs that they make their tormentors want to jump into the arena themselves. People who show what peace looks like in ANY possible storm. A body that walks and acts like royalty should; that knows how to bestow grace and value to anyone around, that makes them feel included and special and fully supported and able and BEAUTIFUL TOO.
That kind of glory.
And if any part of my life does not look like that Kingdom Come, then I know that I must have some more surrendering of ‘my’ territory to do….