Glorification

“Them he also glorified” -- Roman 8:30

There is a blessed unity in all God’s works of grace. Wherever he bestows one blessing of grace, he bestows all (Eph. 1:3). All who were foreknown were predestinated, called, and justified. And all who were foreknown, predestinated, called, and justified shall be glorified, all of them and none but them.

Glorification is the exact opposite of condemnation. God removed the guilt of sin from us in justification. He broke the power of sin in us in effectual calling. And he shall free us from the presence, the influence, and all the consequences of sin in glorification.

OUR GLORIFICATION, LIKE OUR CALLING AND JUSTIFICATION, IS HERE SPOKEN OF AS SOMETHING ALREADY DONE. Why did Paul use the past tense? Some suggest that the Apostle was speaking prophetically, using the past tense simply to assure us of the certainty of it. But I find no basis for that interpretation in the Scriptures. Paul used the past tense because the Spirit of God intended for us to understand that our glorification is done, in a very real sense, already.

It was done by divine decree from eternity. When the Lord God accepted us in the Beloved from eternity (Eph. 1:6), he did so because the whole business of our salvation was finished, in so far as God’s purpose is concerned, when the Father struck hands with his Son as our Surety in the covenant of grace (II Tim. 1:9).

It was done for us representatively when Christ was glorified as our Representative. When he died, we died with him. When he arose, we arose with him. When he was glorified and sat down in heaven, we were glorified and sat down with him in heaven (Eph. 2:6).

BECAUSE OUR GLORIFICATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD’S DECREE AND BY OUR UNION WITH CHRIST REPRESENTATIVELY, IT IS A MATTER OF ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT WE SHALL BE GLORIFIED PERSONALLY. God’s goal for his elect is absolute, everlasting, perfect glorification. His designs of love (Eph. 1:4-6) will have their full accomplishment in the glorification of his elect, when we shall be perfectly conformed to the image of his dear Son. Nothing less than our perfect glorification will satisfy the purpose of God and fulfill his will. Nothing less than that will satisfy our Redeemer’s travail of soul and death (Eph. 5:25-27).

Therefore, in all that the triune God has done, is doing, and shall hereafter do, our glorification is his object (Rom. 8:28). Did he choose us? It was unto salvation. Did he call us? It was to his kingdom. Are we begotten of God? It is to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away. Are we afflicted? It is to work in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #748

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net