Aspects of Glorification - Part 1

References:

(1) The Bible is very clear that when a person believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, then he becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), AND a child of God who is born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13). Consequently God’s Holy Spirit takes up PERMANENT RESIDENCE within that person.

(2) In John 10: 27-30 Jesus uses the metaphor of SHEEP to describe His true followers. Jesus says, “My sheep hear My Vince, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH.” What about NEVER do you not understand?

(3) Jesus continues, “Neither shall anyone SNATCH them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to SNATCH them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

(4) In Matt. 18:12-14 Jesus told a parable concerning a shepherd who had 100 sheep where one went astray.

(5) In the parable the lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden of returning it to the flock. What can we conclude from this? Our Lord takes FULL RESPONSIBILITY for bringing the wandering sheep safely home. Remember the lamb was His sheep. So we conclude that if a believer in Christ ever strays, He will bring them back into the fold.

(6) Paul wrote the Ephesians church, “AFTER you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our INHERITANCE until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:13-14). Paul speaks of being sealed with the Holy Spirit as an act that guarantees our ULTIMATE SALVATION. Also this last phrase refers to the TIME of the last day of this age. So we have assurance that protects believers in Christ to the END of the age. This interpretation is confirmed by another statement of Paul on sealing: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the DAY OF REDEMPTION” (Eph. 4:30).

(7) These verses teach in UNMISTAKEABLE TERMS that no true sheep of Christ will ever lose their salvation and perish. Therefore, eternal security is a glorious FACT for the true sheep of Christ.

(8) Sanctification is the process we undergo to become more like the Lord Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, a process of becoming holy, a process of the formation of Christ-like character in us.

(9) Holiness is a FINAL RESULT of this process. Holiness is a GOAL that we, Christians, have to reach, because emulating a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness is so important that the writer of Hebrews urges Christians to “PURSUE PEACE with everyone, and HOLINESS without which NO ONE will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

(10) Now we will look at a number of aspects of glorification. First, glorification is the completion, the consummation, the full realization of salvation. It is when we receive glorified bodies at the final day of this age (Rom. 8:18-25).

(11) Second, let us consider Rom. 8:29-30. the whole chapter 8 determines the context of these 2 verses. “For those God FOREKNEW He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. . . . Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also CALLED; whom He called, these He also JUSTIFIED; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

(12) This “Golden Chain” from foreknew to glorified is UNBROKEN. The same persons who were foreknown and predestined were also called and justified and they will be glorified, thereby receive everlasting life. In order to discredit the doctrine of eternal security, one would have to INSERT the word SOME into the text. But the word some is missing. ALL who are JUSTIFIED will be GLORIFIED. Contrary to strong Calvinism, Rom. 8:29-30 does not prove that atonement is limited in its EXTENT; what it demonstrates is that atonement is limited in its APPLICATION. The passage is a PROMISE that all who were foreknown, predestined, called, and justified will assuredly be glorified.

(13) The book Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, p. 242 by Norman Geisler, points out 4 important ASPECTS in addition to my two which mark this third and final stage of salvation called glorification.

(14) Point 3: Our sinful nature will be ABOLISHED.

(15) Point 4: We shall see God FACE-T0-FACE. (15) Point 5: Our freedom will be PERFECTED.

(16) Point 6: We will be LIBERATED from all bondage, including bondage from Satan.

This is episode 190.