Exodus 33:18-19 KJVR
(18) And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.
(19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (emphasis added)
For me, this is the definition of God's Glory - His Goodness. The way we glorify God is to show Him to be Good. This is the true Christian witness that changes lives:
Romans 2:1-4 KJVR
(1) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (emphasis added)
The 'Glory of the Gospel' is the 'Goodness of the Gospel'; after all, 'gospel' means more than just 'good news' - it means 'almost too good to be true news'.
So what's really so good about the Gospel? Is it missing hell? well, that is a good thing, but it's not the 'almost too good to be true' thing.
Is it walking in Divine health? well, this is a good thing too, but not if you're a slave.
Is it being free? we're getting somewhere now, but being free and in lack isn't so great.
Is it being prosperous? money can't buy happiness right?
John 17:3 KJVR
(3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Knowing God - being free to boldly fellowship with Him - this is what's SOOOO good about the Gospel - this is the 'Glory of the Gospel' - because though knowing God we are able to receive all good things:
2 Peter 1:2-4 KJVR
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (emphasis added)
the battle is in the mind; what you focus on is magnified in your life. if you focus on self-righteousness, it will grow. the way to become more outwardly holy is not to 'stop that sinning' - but to focus on God instead of yourself - this will lead to effortless change that starts in the heart and then automatically becomes evident in the actions.
if outward holiness was the key witness that would bring peple into fellowship with God, then the Pharasees would have been the most powerful witnesses of their day; yet we know this is not true. the witness that changes lives is the goodness of God toward others that people see in you - this is the the 'Glory of the Gospel'
Galatians 6:15 KJVR
(15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
GLY!!!