OUR GREAT SALVATION (4)/ THE DOCTRINE OF GLORIFICATION
During the Sunday service, Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached a sermon titled “Our Great Salvation” (3)/ The Doctrine of Glorification. Her main text was taken from Romans. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you… For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom 8:10, 11; 18; 28-30).
DOCTRINE OF GLORIFICATION DEFINED
The doctrine of the glorification of the Christian says that one day in the future, the believer shall be like Jesus, in his new spiritual body and will share in His glory forever! Glorification is the ultimate honor and promotion given by God to the believer in Christ. It is God’s ‘dream come true’ concerning His children. God will completely remove all sin from the lives of the saints. They shall live with Christ and with God, eternally. They will have resurrected bodies without any sin. They will change from being mortal saved men to become immortal holy men. In that holy state they will have free entrance to the presence of God. They will worship Him eternally. They will see God face to face and be like Him. They will enjoy holy joyful glorious fellowship with Christ throughout eternity, in a way that it is not possible now on earth. This doctrine is amazing. It is possibly the boldest of all the doctrines in the Bible. In a way, it is ‘too good to be true’. But it is true! It comes only to the believers and only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The promise that we shall be glorified in our very bodies should bring us great joy. That is glory! Perfectly redeemed, body, soul, and spirit! We shall see Christ and be like Him. We shall rule over angels and the world. There shall be no trace of evil in us. All scars of sin shall be removed. There shall be no risk or possibility of falling into sin again. We shall be without any spot of wrinkle, perfectly beautiful Bride for Christ. Perfectly eternally beautiful! Our youth shall be renewed! We shall never be sick, weak, or die! That is glory! “When He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). At the point of death, the soul and the spirit leave the body and stay in heaven waiting the resurrection of the body. At the second coming of Christ, our bodies shall rise from death and become new bodies, spiritual, holy, and immortal. The new bodies will reunite with the souls in heaven and become complete and glorious. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil 3:20, 21). This is the ultimate salvation. This is glorification! Do you know that? Do you believe this promise? Do you rejoice in it?
Glorification is the climax of the process of sanctification. The more you die to sin and self, the greater the glory of God is reflected on you. The glory of God will not only be reflected on us, but we will share in it. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18). Glorification is the last piece in the holy glorious golden chain of salvation. “Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom 8:30). This is the plan of salvation. Before the foundation of the world, God the Father deigned the plan. In His holy mind, God predestined us, one by one, to know Him one day and to be one with Christ. These people are called ‘the elect’. They shall believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They shall hear and answer the call of God. They shall become justified by faith in the Gospel, Christ crucified and resurrected. All these people shall be glorified. This is God’s plan. It can never fail. All these verbs are in the past tense. In the mind of God, the glorification of the believer is already a fact. Sin and death cannot stop it. At the moment of justification by faith, you become saved. The soul and the spirit take their position in heaven, seated with Christ. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:4-9).
The doctrine of glorification may seem strange. But it is part of our spiritual DNA. God “has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (Ecc 3:11). God has put eternity into our hearts. We dream of the beauty of heaven and its glory even when we do not know what or where heaven is. “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Heb 2:8-10). Jesus Christ is the Savior for the elect. He died for them, as their substitute. God accepted the Son’s sacrifice and proved it by raising Him from the dead. God put all under the feet of Jesus. Right now, we do not see all creation in submission to Jesus. But, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we see the glory of Jesus. It is the crown of glory in which as God’s sons we share forever.
Glorification must be understood primarily as the honor that will be given to us in our transformed eternal state. That honor will protect us from sin and falling away and will ensure that we suffer no pain in the way that we do here on earth. Those who have suffered and died for their faith will be rewarded in a special way. There shall be a New Earth and a New Heaven. We do not know for sure what type of life we shall have on the New Earth. But we know that there shall be a connection with our life on earth, as sinners saved by grace. There is a direct continuity between us as we are in this life and the persons that we shall be in the next. It must be so, since otherwise salvation would have no meaning. If I return as someone else, I can hardly claim that I am the one who has been saved! What is certain is that the worship of God will be central to our experience of glory. The Bible speaks of multitudes standing around His throne and praising Him. Clearly, worshipping God is primary to our new life. We don’t know if we shall work for God. But one thing is clear, we shall worship Him forever!
GLORIFICATION – TWO STAGES
There are two stages: first, there is an intermediate state (from death to the resurrection) and then secondly: the final or eternal or glorified state (which is the life of resurrection). All what is promised to us now will be given to us then. There shall be a deeper fellowship with God and greater opportunities for praising him than we presently enjoy. In the company of Christ, we shall be seated next to the heavenly throne and installed with him as rulers and judges of the world. The glorified state of the believers is still a mystery. The Bible does not reveal too many details. But one thing is sure, for Christians, the life of heaven will be the fulfillment of life on earth. Glory to God in the Highest!
Job believed in this doctrine. He saw his glorification from afar. He believed the Our Lord is his Redeemer; that He died and rose for him. He was confident that God will not only vindicate him from his present troubles, but he will see the glory of Jesus in his spiritual body, in heaven. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27). Glorification does not mean that we shall become gods. It means that we shall become glorified perfect men, one with Christ, who as a Man, is glorified already! At that time, Gods glory will finally be ‘all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28). The act of justification by faith produces peace, and joy in advance, as we hope to share in the glory of God! “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:1, 2). Christ in us is ‘The hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Because glorification is what happens after death, the fear of death is destroyed. Faith in the doctrine of glorification gives the believer a living (ever growing) hope, joy, and assurance of salvation. Having faith in the promise of glorification gives me the confidence to say: “By God’s grace, my future is better than my past and my present!” Glorification is the wish and the work of King Grace. To Him be all the glory!
WHAT TYPE OF BODIES DO WE HAVE AT THE RESURRECTION?
“But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also, is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so, it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man” (1 Cor 15:35-49)
It will be a spiritual body. At resurrection, your identity will be preserved. You will be the same you. Like a seed buried in the ground and dies, after that it become a plant. There is an organic connection between the seed and the plant. The new body will be incorruptible, powerful, heavenly, and glorious. We shall resemble our eldest Brother Jesus. The family resemblance will be there.
THE GLORY OF GOD
To understand the doctrine of our glorification, we need to study the glory of God. In the dictionary, glory is defined as the greatest form of honor given to someone, based on his achievements. Glory is seen as the height of prosperity, greatest beauty, and triumphant authority among men. On earth, glory is a royal attribute. Kings and queens are seen as glorious when they are dressed in their regalia, with servants around them. Glory attracts joyful worship and exuberant celebration. Joyful shouts of ‘Hail the King!’ or ‘Long live the Queen!’ are part of the glory picture of men on earth. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:24, 25). Man’s glory is a temporary shadow. God’s glory and His Word is eternal.
God’s glory is the combination of all the divine attributes of God. It is recognized by man only thru God’s self-revelation. On his own, man cannot see the glory of God. Without God’s protection which is found in Christ alone, the glory of God is like fire that will disintegrate all flesh. All the pictures of royalty on earth are only shadows of the glory of God in heaven where God sits on His throne. “Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool” (Is 66:1). God is Holy. God is Love. God is gracious. But God’s Glory is different. Glory is what surrounds God, the way the creation sees this Holy, Loving, and Gracious God. Worship the Lord!
THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE SKY
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat” (Ps 19:1-6)
In Hebrew, the word ‘glory’ is ‘Kabod’. It is translated as the weight, the worthiness, the heaviness of God’s splendor. Glory is a combination of God’s holy beauty and His awesome power. God’s glory is manifested in the heavens, in the sky, and not on the earth. To see even a glimpse of God’s glory we need to look up and not down. Like the still water reflects the face of one looking at it, so the earth only reflects the glory of His Maker. If you want to see a glimpse of God’s glory, then look up! When David looked up, he did not see just the blue sky, some white clouds, and some birds flying. He did not see just the sun, the moon, and the stars! He saw a little of God’s glory revealed to man! He saw ‘nature’ with holy eyes and spiritual understanding. His heart was stirred to worship God. He saw God’s glory revealed and the work of His hands displayed for men to see. Do you see God’s glory in the sky? The Glory of God in the sky speaks and heals! This is just a little information about the sun. God made the sun and put it there in the sky. The sun is 92,935,700 miles from planet Earth. It has the full spectrum of light. Even from that distance the sun has healing effects upon men. The sun’s light reduces body pains. It improves emotional mood making us happier and more peaceful. It breaks down adrenaline which is a stress hormone. It increases Vitamin D, strengthening the bones and the teeth. Sun’s light helps the blood flow, improving the brain functions. It makes us more alert and intelligent. It increases metabolism helping with digestion. The sun’s light works as an antibiotic. It kills microbes and viruses and helps the immune system to fight sickness. Can you give glory to God for His sun?
GOD’S GLORY LOST IN ADAM AND FOUND IN CHRIST
When God created Adam and Eve, they knew God in His glory. They were naked but they did not feel ashamed because the glory of God covered them like a garment. Once they sinned, the glory departed, and they felt naked, ashamed, and guilty. Sin separated man from God. Since the fall, man is blind to the glory of God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). In Greek, the word sin is translated as ‘missing the mark’. Sin is defined as ‘falling short of the glory of God’. The words ‘falling short’ mean to become inferior, to try and miss it. It means failing to share in the glory of God. A sinner always lacks. He is always missing the best of God. The Son of God, the King of glory, Jesus Christ, came from heaven to earth, from glory to darkness. He came into a world of sin and death, to bring salvation and eternal life to sinful men who believe in Him. Sin is like a blanket of dark clouds before the storm. There is no light. There is no hope. Suddenly, the rays of the sun pass thru the clouds, and the rainbow is seen above the storm. This is a symbol of the glory of the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. It is only by God’s Grace, thru Christ, that man is able to regain the ability to see, reflect and eventually share in the glory of God. The truth is that it is hard for us, human beings, to imagine the glory of God. There are two main reasons why this doctrine is so difficult to believe. The distance between man and God is immense. God is the Creator, and He lives in the glory of heaven. Man is a created being. He is limited. That is the first difficulty. Secondly, man is born a sinner who is separated from God and His glory. Christ came to the earth, He lived and died to save the sinners who believe in Him. In Christ, man is now a new creation. The reflected glory of God that Adam had before the fall is now restored thru Christ. What man lost thru Adam’ fall has been gained thru Christ, and even more than that. The restoration of the lost glory thru salvation in Christ is one of the greatest miracles in the universe. The first stage of the restoration of glory is the act of being born again. The justification by Faith and by Grace it is to the glory of God. Secondly, thru the process of sanctification, thru dying to sin, the glory shines the more. The glory of God to man is perfected when Christ comes again, and He resurrects the bodies of the believers. Each believer will have a new spiritual and glorious body. Salvation is perfected then. The glory will be revealed in man like never before. The new body is eternal. It will never experience sin and death. Our new bodies are like the body Jesus had after His resurrection, material enough to eat and be touched, but spiritual enough to be able to appear and to vanish at will. Everything about us will be raised to a higher spiritual plane, comparable to that of the angels. In our new resurrected bodies, our present natural and good human desires will disappear. That is why Jesus said that there shall be no falling in love or marriage at that time. Jesus said: “in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven” (Matt 22:30). There is also the assurance that earthly pain, sickness, and suffering will be wiped away. Our transformed spiritual bodies will be immune to the causes of the things that plague us now. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).
GOD’S GLORY MANIFESTED IN THE FACE OF CHRIST
Our Lord Jesus Christ, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). Jesus Christ as a Man was glorified by the Father. The proof of this glorification was His resurrection from the dead. His Word has the same power. His Glory and His Word are intimately connected. The Gospel reveals God’s glory. That is why it is called ‘the glorious Gospel” (1 Tim 1:11). The sinners are spiritually blind and dead. They are not able to see God, Christ, or the Gospel. The glory of God proceeds from the face of Christ, and it is reflected on the believers. “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:3-6). Once the glory of God is manifested, it attracts sinners to Christ. Both the glory and the grace of God are magnetic and irresistible. The sinners are in a deep darkness of sin, ignorance, and death. Glory is manifested as light and fire. The intensity of this light is gradual, and it is increasing. “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Is 60:1-3).
Our final glorification must wait for the glory of God manifested at the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Until then, what do we do? The Grace of God is already revealed in our salvation. Grace leads to glory! We need to die to sin, to purify our hearts in the process of sanctification. Grace is the Teacher. The Holy Spirit is also the Teacher. God’s purpose for our salvation while we live on earth is to prepare people for Himself, to be zealous and work for Him. This is our responsibility in this life on earth. Dying to sin, living, and working for God gives Him the glory even now. If you truly believe that we shall share in His glory, then you will pay the price for godliness. “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2Cor 4:16, 17). Suffering for Christ’ sake today, leads to an eternal weight of glory eternal! “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining (sharing) of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thess 2:13,14). Christ made our salvation to be His most glorious work, in which glory we are privileged to share. The Gospel calls us by God’s glory revealed thru the excellent virtues and goodness of Christ. “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Pet 1:3). The more you study God’s Word, the more you shall know and appreciate the Person of Jesus Christ. In that way, God’s glory shall be revealed to you. In that glory, you shall share! Is this not a wonderful revelation?
The believer is sealed with the Spirit of Promise, until Christ comes again to redeem His purchased possession. The resurrection of our bodies will complete our salvation. Our Bodies, souls and spirits will dwell in God’s presence and glory. That is when God’s glory is seen and praised eternally by all the redeemed children of God (Eph 1:13, 14; 3:14-16). God’s glory is infinitely rich. The revelation of God’s glory strengthens the believer in his spirit. This is the power and the promise of the Gospel. We died with Christ, we were buried with Christ, and we have resurrected with Christ! Both for Christ and for us, there is a glorious crown after the Cross. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3, 4). The suffering on earth will end in glory!
THE TRANSFIGURATION
When talking about the glory of Jesus we must be careful not to think of it just as a doctrine. It is a reality of the Spirit realm. We can only see His glory by the grace of God, thru the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Most of His life, the glory of Jesus was ‘hidden’ by His human flesh. It was only for a short time, during the transfiguration, that men on earth saw His glory as He is in heaven (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:8-36). Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, appeared in their spiritual state, talking to Him about His soon coming crucifixion and death in Jerusalem. During that discussion, the apostles fell asleep. God, in His mercy, covered them with His peace so that they can sleep. To witness this heavenly glory without God’s protection can kill a man. Glory means worship. Let us bow before Him who is the King of Glory!
BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF OUR SAVIOR
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (Jn 17:24-26). This is part of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. He prays in the shadow of the Cross. He prays for Himself, that God will glorify Him with that eternal glory He had before He came to earth. He also prays that God the Father will be glorified thru His work of redemption of sinners. He then prays for His apostles. They are the foundation of the church. He has revealed the truth to them and has invested His teaching in them. God should protect them from error and deception. Finally, Jesus prays for all the believers, for the elect. This prayer covers all of us even right now. Take a moment and consider, who is praying for you! It is the Son of God Himself! He prays to God the Father. One of the definitions for a believer is the man (or the woman) who is being prayed for by the eternal Son of God. Child of God, right now, Jesus is interceding for you! Another definition of a Christian is the man (or the woman) who God has given as a gift to the Son of God. Our Lord says: “Father, I desire…” This is a strong word. It means: ‘I will, I wish’. For Jesus to speak like that to God it shows the equality in the relationship as Father and Son. He wants us to be with Him in heaven! His wish was granted by the Father. He prays that we may be one with Christ and love one another. His glory shall be our portion forever. We shall see His glory in heaven, and we shall share in it! Going to heaven is not just our wish or our prayer. This is the prayer of the Son of God! May these holy words of prayer connected with your eternal destiny in Christ, bring you to your knees in total adoration! Have peace about your past, present, and future! Jesus is Lord over your life! Worship Him!
SHOW ME YOUR GLORY
This is one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. It is a prayer few believers wish to pray. It is a revival igniting prayer. God has revealed Himself to Moses in so many ways. Moses is grateful, but he is not satisfied. He has experienced the Grace of God in his life, more than most men. But now he wants to see the fulfillment of God’s Grace which is God’s glory. Glory is ‘fulfilled grace’! That is what Moses wants to experience now. He does not pray for God’s gifts or blessings. He now prays to know God better, to see His glory. Moses wants to have a glimpse of ‘his wedding gown’ in heaven. He wants to see how he will look in heaven. Amazingly, God answers his request. But God answers this prayer in His own way. He answers the prayer partially. Moses will be placed in the cleft of a rock. That Rock is Christ. God’s glory shall pass by. God’s hand shall cover Moses’ face. If not, like Saul of Tarsus, Moses will become instantly blind or die. Moses will see ‘the back’ of the glory of God. God reveals His glory as His grace, and goodness, and His gentleness with His children. The glory of God is also revealed in the sovereignty of God concerning salvation. On the elect, God will have ‘compassion’. The rest must remain hardened. Our greatest need is to know God. This is an amazing revelation: God desires to reveal Himself to men. Revival is defined as the goodness and glory of God passing by. The answer to Moses’ prayer is not just a doctrine. It is an experiential encounter. You will ‘feel and touch’ Christ crucified and resurrected. You will see His power and beauty. Nothing else compares with Him. Do you want to pray like that? Do you desire a closer walk with God? Our Lord told Nicodemus: “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (Jn 3:12). Are you interested in ‘heavenly things’? I am interested! I believe! May this prayer stir your soul to pray for revival! Worship the Lord!
“Moses stood on a mountain
Waiting for You to pass by
You placed Your hand over his face
In Your presence he wouldn’t die
All Israel saw the glory and it shines down through the age
Now You’ve called me to boldly seek Your face.
Show me Your face, Lord
Show me Your face
And then gird up my legs, I might stand in this holy place
Show me Your face, Lord
Your power and Your grace
I will make it to the end, if I could just see Your face”
(By Paul Wilbur)
Green Pastures 