"I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE"

PSALMS 17:1

A. "AS FOR ME, I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS; I SHALL BE SATISFIED, WHEN I AWAKE IN THY LIKENESS"
  1. The testimony of the Psalmist is indicative:
    1. Of his strong convictions about his future
    2. He felt certain that he would see his redeemer personally
  2. Also, he was confident:
    1. That that which concerned his preparedness, will be perfected
    2. That he would be satisfied to awake in the likeness of his Creator and Redeemer B. I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS"
  3. This personal privilege has been denied to man because of sin:
    1. Said the Lord to Moses, "Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me and live" - Ex. 33:16-23
    2. Jesus testifies, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father he that seen him" - John 1:18
    3. This must have reference to the being of the Father - John 5:37; which is veiled by the glorious light of His majesty - I Tim. 6:16
    4. In Isaiah 59:2 the Lord states the reason, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear"
  4. However:
    1. This barrier will be removed through Jesus Christ our Lord because we have access to the Father by Him - Eph. 2:18
    2. Said Jesus to Philip, "He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father" - John 14:9; Jesus Christ is the representation of the Father clothed with humanity - John 1:14; Heb. 1:3
  5. Two basic transformations will prepare the way for man to see God:
    1. The removal of the sinful nature - until that is affected - God will have to meet with us in the beloved Son - John 14:6
    2. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God" - Matt. 5:8; that explains the presence of 144,000 before the throne, "They are without fault before God" - Rev. 14:5 C. "I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS"
  6. This is the key to the boldness of the Psalmist telling God that he will behold the face of God:
    1. "In righteousness"
    2. Not his own righteousness "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags" - Is. 64:6
    3. Says Paul, "There is none that doeth good, no, not one" - Rom. 3:10-11
  7. The redeemed that will see God are:
    1. Wearing the garment of salvation - Is. 61:10
    2. They wear the robe of Christ's righteousness - Rom. 8:1-7; 31-38; I Cor. 1:30; Jer. 23:6
  8. This righteousness is twofold:
    1. It is imputed or reckoned to - we are credited with it - Rom. 4:11, 22-23
    2. That explains the promise of the Lord to the penitent thief - Luke 23:42-43
    3. It is imparted - or planted into our very nature - through faith we become partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pet. 1:2-8
    4. This is the great secret of the new birth a transformation of human nature - John 3:3-9
  9. Agents of this experience:
    1. The Holy Spirit is the work-master to bring about the transformation of our nature Zech. 4:6; Heb. 10:15-16
    2. The implanted word of truth is another mighty agent to change human nature - Heb. 4:12; I Pet. 1:22-23; James 1:18
  10. Thus we see how the Psalmist could say to God, "As for me, I will behold the face in righteousness"
    1. He didn't mean his own righteousness
    2. He meant the righteousness of the Son of God - "The Lord our Righteousness" - Jer. 23:6
    3. Writes Paul, "There is, therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" - Rom. 8:1
    4. This then is the secret of the boldness of the child of God - facing death, he looks beyond the grave to the resurrection of the just, for they will see the face of their Father in heaven - Rev. 22:3-4


Design © John Bryant 2011