God’s ultimate goal for His people is the sharing of His glory and virtue.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,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 (2 Peter 1:2,3)
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
The avenue through which we are brought to glory is the same through which Jesus was brought.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:10,11)
Jesus knew that He would not be glorified, (and the Father would not be glorified in Him,) unless He lost His life. He calls us who follow Him to do the same.
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:23-28)
The goal of abiding in Christ is to bring forth “much fruit” through which the Father is glorified.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:8)
Jesus suffered being tempted. It was in these times that He “learned obedience” and was “perfected.” In our “time of temptation” we either go deeper in Christ and bring forth fruit or “fall way” and die.
And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture…They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:6,13)
Joseph exemplifies the godly believer who is “doubly fruitful” in a “land of affliction.”
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. (Genesis 41:51,52)
Ephraim > “double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful”
The apostles considered the enduring of “much tribulation” as essential to entering the kingdom of God.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21,22)