The Road of Salvation: Glorification

Introduction

The final stop on the road of salvation is glorification.

Oh that will be glory for me.

I’ve got a home in gloryland that outshines in the sun.

Source: Romans 8:30, Those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.

What could that mean to be glorified? Wings and harps while floating on clouds?

First we must answer a more basic question: What is glory?

Originally heavy, weighty, important; then describing important people. Eventually used of God, the most important Person.

Glory is something God possesses.

God / Romans 1:23 / Paul, speaking of idolaters, writes that they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. The immortal God has glory.

Jesus in His life and ministry, John 1:14 / The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus at the Transfiguration, Luke 9:32 / When they became fully awake, they saw His glory...

Jesus at His 2nd Coming, Luke 21:27 / Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Glory is something we give God.

Everything we do, 1 Corinthians 10:31 / Therefore, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, do it all to the glory of God.

Glory is something God will share with those on the road of salvation.

Begins with Justification and Sanctification. It’s the final stop for the child of God.

Transition: Now that we’ve briefly examined what glory is, we can move on to glorification. What does Romans 8:30 mean when it says “God will glorify” believers?

Settled Sanctification

Ie, no more sin nature

Scriptures

1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Cor 3:18, We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.

Rev 21:1-8 (these things are the product of sin, Rom 6:23).

Sanctification begins the moment we are justified and continues until the moment we are glorified.

God’s promise to destroy all sin will be fulfilled.

Our long fight against sin will be over.

Rom 7 will be a thing of the past.

0% sin

Total Transformation

Ie, our bodies will be made new, free from sin, and free from the corruption sin brings

Scriptures

Romans 8:23 / Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. This phrase the redemption of our bodies... What does that mean?

Philippians 3:21 / He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body... Ah, He will give us bodies like Jesus has.

1 Cor 15:35-43 / Corruptible gives way to incorruptible.

Total transformation possible only because of settled sanctification.

Corruption comes from sin (Wages of sin is death...by one man death entered into the world).

Sin, corruption, pain, and death are not what God created.

Revelation 21:4, 8 are inviolably tethered.

No corruption requires no sin.

In one sense, God will be making things the way they were supposed to be. I make all things new.

Our long battle against pain will be over.

0% corruption

Illustration: Tear Bottles

In ancient Rome, mourners would collect tears for the dead in a bottle and bury it with the body.

Victorian period saw a resurgence with porous stoppers. Mourners would watch the evaporation, and when the tears were all gone, the mourning period was complete.

Civil War, women would collect their tears for fighting husbands and sons as mementos of their devotion.

Psalm 56:8, You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

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.

Conclusion / So what?

For the unbeliever/unsure: Are you on the road of salvation or condemnation?

Justification is step 1.

Sanctification is evidence that you took step 1.

Do you want Revelation 21:4 without Revelation 21:8? That’s not how it works.

For the believer

Are you sick of sin?

Are you tired of pain?

Aren’t you glad that God will cure you finally? Sin will have no dominion, no power, and no presence. Neither will the corrupting effects of sin.

Give glory to God Who will glorify you.

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! 

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! 

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! 

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Let us give glory to the One who will glorify us.