Glorification
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"Whom he justified—those he also glorified" Romans 8:30
The golden chain of salvation is complete. Every link is perfect, and all its links are safe. It is of pure gold, or rather of something infinitely better—of pure grace.
Predestination secures effectual calling;
effectual calling secures justification;
and justification secures glorification.
The people who are predestined to be conformed to the image of God's Son, are effectually called into his fellowship; those who are effectually called into the fellowship of Christ are justified; and all those who are justified, the self-same people in each case, are glorified.
But some object, because the past tense is used, and say the apostle refers only to those who are safe in heaven. As well may they object to the birth of Christ, and say the prophet meant someone else, because, several hundred years before he was born, he said, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Such forget that God calls things that are not—as though they were; that tenses are nothing with the great I AM, to whom all times, past, present, and to come, are One Eternal Now.
When Jesus spoke of his own work, before he laid down his life, which was included in it, he said, "I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do." And before he left the earth he said, "I am no more in the world." So, speaking of his disciples, he said, "He who believes on me has everlasting life;"—yet they were not glorified. And the apostle tells us that, by God's appointment, Jesus is made unto us wisdom—in our calling; righteousness—in our justification; sanctification—in our fitness for heaven; and redemption—in our complete and everlasting salvation. It is the language of certainty, because, as it depends upon the sovereign will and omnipotent power of God, all is certain; and in every instance it has been, and ever will be, that "Whom he justified—those he also glorified" (Romans 8:30). Notice—
What It Implies. The work of sanctification shall be carried on. It was commenced with this intention, and He who commenced it is without variableness, or the shadow of turning. It was begun without asking our leave—yes, though we opposed and fought against it; and it shall be perfected by the same agency, to the glory of the same grace. This led the apostle to speak so positively, and to feel such certainty, when he said, "Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." As certainly as God carried on the work of creation until the close of the sixth day, surveyed it, pronounced it very good, and then rested on the seventh; so certainly will God carry on the work of grace in the hearts of his people until it is perfected, and they are completely conformed unto the image of his Son.
It implies that supplies shall be granted—all that is needful for the body, and all that is requisite for the soul. These were provided in the everlasting covenant, are promised in God's gracious word, are secured by the faithfulness of God, and shall be communicated as circumstances require. So that, let our trials be ever so severe, or our troubles ever so heavy, we may say of every one, with Paul, "This also shall turn to my salvation, through the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."
And the assurance given to the Philippians, each believer may take to himself: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." God, who provided our supplies, has arranged for their communication; so that, as Israel in going up to their solemn feasts of old, so all the Lord's people, "They go from strength to strength; every one of them in Zion appears before God."
It implies guidance through all difficulties. And as God led Israel in the wilderness by the pillar of cloud and fire—so by his Spirit, word, and providence, he guides all his family now. It is written, "He who has mercy on them shall lead them;" and so each one of them may say, "You shall guide me by your counsel—and afterward receive me to glory." Of God, as great and gracious, as faithful and true, as immutable and unchangeable, we may say with David, "This God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death,"—yes, through death, and beyond it.
Once more: it implies protection in all dangers. And this is guaranteed; for God, who created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and brings forth an instrument for his work; and who creates the waster to destroy; he has said, most solemnly and most plainly, "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord." And as Jesus said of each, and the whole of his sheep, "They shall never perish!" So Peter informs us that all believers "are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." How, then, can they be otherwise than safe?
If, then, the work of sanctification will certainly be carried on;
if full and sufficient supplies are granted;
if guidance through all difficulties is promised;
and if protection at all times is insured—
must not all who are justified by grace—be glorified in God's good time? Yes; "whom he justified—those he also glorified."
Notice—
What Is Asserted. "Those he glorified." The BODY shall be glorified, and shall shine as the body of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. It shall be spiritual, powerful, honourable, incorruptible, glorious, and immortal. The SOUL shall be glorified, freed from all that is corrupt, defiling, debasing, and impure; and made holy, happy, and glorious beyond our conception. Both body and soul, or the entire person, will be made like the person of Jesus; as John said, "We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
God will make his justified ones glorious in person—and they shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
They shall be glorious in place—for if they reign on earth, the whole earth shall be filled with his glory; or if they reside in heaven, it is the habitation of his holiness and of his glory.
They shall be glorious in their society; for they will be with the glorified patriarchs, prophets, and priests of the Old Testament; with the glorified apostles, martyrs, and ministers of the New; and what is better than all, they will be with the glorious Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one all glorious and ever blessed God.
They shall be glorious in their employments; for they will ever be employed for God, and in the service of their beloved Saviour; and their employments will accord with the spirituality, dignity, and full bent of their ransomed spirits.
They shall be glorious in their enjoyments, too; for he shall make them drink of the river of his pleasures. Their joy will be full, perfect, and perpetual. No need will ever pinch them, no fear will ever agitate them, no wish will ever excite them; but fully satisfied, filled to repletion, overflowing with joy and gladness, they will be forever with the Lord.
In glorifying us—God will make us like Jesus, settle us with Jesus, so that we shall be as Jesus. Filled with the same glory, flowing from the same love, we shall inhabit the same place, share the same blessedness, conferred on us with the same design, through the same glorious eternity. Glorification includes the highest honor, and the fullest happiness—and both crowned with immortality!
God's AIM is our glorification:
Are we chosen? "God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Are we called? "We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory."
Are we begotten again? "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you."
Are we afflicted? "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen—but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal—but the things which are not seen are eternal."
The future DIGNITY of the saints is unspeakably great:
It is called "life,"—that which we value most; as Satan said, "Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has will he give for his life." Not only life—but "eternal life;" life without cessation or interruption; life in health; life in wealth; life in peace; life in plenty; life in the possession and enjoyment of all that can render life desirable, or a blessing.
It is called "glory," including all that is bright, beautiful, brilliant, and blessed: a "crown of glory,"—majesty with beauty, sovereignty with blessedness: a "weight of glory,"—not a burden or a pressure—but such an amount of glory that we cannot estimate its value or worth, its vastness or extent!
It is called a "kingdom," an immovable kingdom, where there are order, arrangement, nobility, dignity, and all that is really desirable!
It is called an "inheritance," an incorruptible inheritance; embracing all a Father's love could give—all a Saviour's blood could procure—all that a ransomed, elevated, immortal creature can enjoy!
The believer, however he may be tried, is safe. Being justified—he will be glorified. He is appointed to glory. He is being fitted for glory. He is legally entitled to glory; for law and gospel combine in awarding glory to him. He shall possess glory; for our God "raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory."
The great source of our blessedness is union to Christ. From this all flows. By this all is secured. Union to Christ raises us above Adam in his unfallen state; it gives us greater security, and entitles us to higher glory. We lost much by union to Adam; we shall gain more by union to Christ. We sunk low in the fall of Adam—but we are raised gloriously high through the ascension of Christ. As one with Christ, as predestined to be like Christ, as called to the knowledge of Christ, as justified by the righteousness of Christ—we shall be glorified together with Christ! And then we shall be more exquisitely beautiful than Adam ever was; we shall possess a paradise more lovely than Adam ever did; we shall share more suitable and delightful society than Adam ever knew; and we even now enjoy a security which Adam never possessed. O the wonders of redeeming grace! O the riches of God's saving mercy! O the miracles wrought by eternal love! To God in Christ be eternal glory!
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