Our Beliefs: Glorification
At first a teaching about the glorification of believers might seem difficult to understand especially as it might appear to oppose the requirement for us to walk in humility. Also, isn’t it the chief aim of man to glorify God? Why then is there an important doctrine (teaching) about the glorification of men & women?
Do you recall the statement often made about restored vintage cars or antiques that says “returned to its original glory!”? If so, we should then start to see this important teaching in a new light of understanding.
You see, the glorification of believers is all about returning mankind back to its glorious state as we were before the fall. It’s about being made into a glorious condition and to the highest most exalted state that a created being can be. We are truly in a state of being as we were originally intended to be; made in the image of God, our creator.
In this series of Our Beliefs we have been on a progressive journey and this the roadmap that we have been following:
Repentance
Belief in the Gospel
Regeneration
Justification
Sanctification
Redemption
Adoption and finally…
Glorification
Before we go and look deeper at what the Bible says, I must let you know that I will not go into any discussions or opinions about the timing of glorification in relation to the tribulation. I’ve been around long enough to realise that getting overly concerned about pre, mid or post tribulation are just rabbit trails that could distract us from the two major objectives that we should aim for: 1) Glorification gives us great hope and 2) We just need to ensure we are fully prepared and ready (regardless of what’s going in the world).
GLORIFICATION IS A DONE DEAL
Romans 8:30
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The apostle Paul had such faith in the glorification to come that he puts it in what’s called the aorist active indictive tense i.e. a past action, it’s a done deal!
Colossians 3:4
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
John 17:22
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one
WHAT WILL OUR GLORIFIED STATE LOOK LIKE?
Quite simply – we will be like Christ!
Romans 8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Our glorified bodies will no longer be subject to illness, deformity, pain and suffering:
Romans 8:16-18
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
1 Corinthians 15:12-58
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
The Resurrection Body
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour; 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Mystery and Victory
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 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?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
WHEN WILL GLORIFICATION HAPPEN?
I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The second, I Corinthians 15:51-52, is similar in content:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
THE UN-ANSWERABLE QUESTION
After reading the above, you might have a legitimate question:
What if I die tomorrow, what kind of body will I have until the resurrection?
That’s a great question. The Bible just implies that if we die before the resurrection, we will be present with the Lord. You remember what Jesus said to the repentant criminal who was crucified with him:
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Any real understanding of how this will be outworked can only be speculated on. For example, some may say that because heaven will be outside of time, the leaving of our earthly bodies through death and receiving our glorified bodies could feel like it is instantaneous. If the bible doesn’t make it clear, then we can safely presume that it’s not that important to know the fine details. We should, however, be really concerned with bigger questions that we need to ask ourselves.
So, finally, we have seen that glorification is the source of great hope for us but we should also pay very careful attention to be sure that we are as prepared as we can possibly be for that great day. Wouldn’t it be so wonderful, when we come into his awesome presence if we could hear these words: “well done, my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21
For more ways to ensure we are ready please read:
The Day of Judgement (How to be ready)
Here are a couple of helpful videos:
This music video is a classic and the song was inspired by a true life story and has also been made into a highly recommended Christian movie:
