In the third in our three-part installment on salvation we consider glorification, having considered justification and sanctification previously. To understand glorification we should consider glory, in particular the glory of God. Not surprisingly, God’s glory contrasts sharply with earthly human glory. A man may “glory” in his strength, accomplishments, beauty, or power. God’s glory is not riches or power, nor is it even individual attributes of his character; but the reality of his manifold excellencies (or perfections). His manifest glory includes his infinite beauty, holiness, steadfast love etcetera; such that his essence is nothing short of perfect, ultimate, glory. Such are his excellencies that God’s glory in eternity renders the light of sun or moon redundant – the glory of God gives the eternal city its light! (Revelation 21:23)
However, that presents a problem; God’s glorious perfections imply that nothing unclean may abide in his eternal presence (Rev. 21:27). This is where the wonderful doctrine of salvation provides the Christian hope of eternal peace in which we, in some marvellous way, participate with and experience the glory of God. In this life we struggle with the sin within us, and the sin upon us. It is clearly a broken world we inhabit – all of us “falling short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet Paul can call these struggles, “light momentary affliction” compared to an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:17; Rom 8:18)” And just as justification and sanctification are works of God upon and within us, so is our glorification. God is the author and perfector of our faith, making the spirits of the righteous perfect (Hebrews 12).
Although we do not know everything about what our glorified life will be, the bible gives many encouraging and clear hints. Here are three key promises:
1) Sin is dead
In glory, we will have no lingering elements of this humble fleshly life. In Christ’s resurrection there will be “no giving or taking in marriage” for example, pointing us to a radical transformation of our desires (Mt 22:30). Moreover, God promises that there will be no tears, no mourning, no pain, and no death (Rev. 21:4) – the kind of struggle that is inevitable during this life is gone. This is symbolized by the movement of the tree of life from the Garden to the midst of the New Jerusalem – its fruit bringing healing for the nations. In short, the conditions that allowed for temptation and sin no longer exist; we will never again be deceived or fall away from God!
2) Unhindered fellowship
This will lead to the kind of unhindered, unending fellowship with God that is deeper and more satisfying than we can ever imagine (1 Cor 2:9). One of the great promises is the movement from “looking through a glass dimly” (1 Cor 13:12) to “we shall see him as he is.” Can you imagine how perfect our faith, how still our thoughts, how quiet and satisfied our souls … when we see the Lord exactly as he is!
3) Eternal reality
Finally, our glorified state is eternal. It will not be revoked, cannot be stolen, and will not pass away. In the twinkling of an eye we shall be changed, from that which is perishable to that which is imperishable (1 Cor 15:42), transforming our lowly body to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21).
In a week when we have grieved the loss of a dear friend and elder, how glorious that we do not grieve without hope.
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ … But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Much love
~ Pastor Gary
