Glorification

Simply defined, Glorification is that state of perfection and glory into which the believer will be transformed in the resurrection, at the second coming of Christ. Indeed God has called those who are in Christ to share in His glory! This is a profound promise and a tremendous privilege!

1 Peter 5:10 – 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. NASB

2 Thessalonians 2:14 – 14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. NASB

In fact, it will take eternity for us to experience the glorious riches of His kindness as we partake of His glory in Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 – 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NASB

It was promised to us before the beginning of time, the prophets cried out in hope of it, Christ Jesus purchased it for us, it has come to live in us in part now through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and we now eagerly await the full manifestation of it when Christ returns.

1 Corinthians  2:7 – 7  but we speak God‘s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; NASB

Like other aspects of salvation, glorification is the work of God. To this state of glory believers are effectually called, drawn, brought, predestined and foreordained, all by God Himself.

Romans 8:29-30 – 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. NASB

Hebrews 2:10 – 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. NASB

God is said to “make known to us the riches of His glory” and that He has even “prepared us beforehand for glory.”

Romans 9:23-24 – 23 And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. NASB

When Christ returns, we shall be with Him in His presence, as He takes us unto Himself. Even as we speak Christ is preparing a place for us, and we will by inheritance receive this glory to which we have been called!

Ephesians 1:18 – 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, NASB

John 14:1-3 – 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father‘s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. NASB

When we speak of “glory,” as it applies to the believer’s state at the resurrection, we speak of that quality of life and exceeding joy in the presence of God, as our entire person is transformed, into a state of immortality and perfection. This state of glory is the partaking of the divine nature and we will be ultimately conformed into the perfect image and likeness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1 John 3:2 – 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. NASB

Glorification also speaks of the sanctification and moral perfection that we will take on at the resurrection, when Christ appears. We shall be made like Christ and take on His holiness, perfection and immortality. The process of sanctification is at work in us now, but moves from one degree of glory to another until it reaches final glory, the eternal state.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – 18 But 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 from the Lord, the Spirit. NASB

If you are in Christ, spiritually you have been born again and raised up with Christ from that dead state of sin that you were formerly in. Your mind, will, and emotions have been transformed by the Spirit of God, you have experienced regeneration. But you still live in a mortal body, which is subject to sin and temptation, which will shortly die physically. But this physical death for the Christian is the portal by which we enter into glory. Here is our great and blessed hope, that our earthly, physical and mortal body will be transformed to be like Christ’s heavenly, spiritual and immortal body is! Our bodies will no longer be subject to sin and temptation, indeed we will put on immortality and being immortal, we will never again be subject to death or dying or pain.

Philippians 3:20-21 – 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. NASB

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. NASB

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. NASB   

These things will have their fulfillment at the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is at this time that we shall be changed and become like Him! The Bible plainly declares that at the second coming of Christ, we will participate with Him in His glory and power over death and sin. These things will happen when He comes in power and glory, when He appears, and we are gathered together with Him, and not a moment before.

Colossians 3:4 – 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in

glory. NASB

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – 15 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, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 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. NASB

Matthew 24:29-31 – 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken,  30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. NASB

Daniel 12:2-3 – 2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. NASB

Therefore with hope we look beyond our present sufferings to that day when we will be transformed and come into His presence. The suffering of this present life, is not even worthy to be compared to the surpassing greatness of the future state of glory we will partake of!

Romans 8:18 – 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. NASB

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, NASB

Glorification is that sure and firm promise of God, that, He shall deliver us to His presence where sin will be finally eradicated from our lives, and we will be transformed to become like Him. There we shall share in His glory, with gladness and everlasting happiness in his kingdom.