JUSTIFIED TO BE GLORIFIED. Pt.1
Romans8: 29-30 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" NKJV
The opening text is a revelation of God's ultimate plan for those that are justified. God's ultimate plan is the glorification of those that are justified. In God's grand plan, experiencing the glories of the world to come and becoming ultimately like Jesus at His appearing is what God intends of His children: "And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory"(Colossians 3:4 NLT). Hallelujah!!! When Christ appears, we shall share in His glory. That's when we shall be glorified. For now, we are justified, sanctified ( positionally) but we are not yet glorified. Our glorification is in the future, we are still looking forward to it. This will happen at the appearing of Christ. Apostle Paul presented our glorification as though it is a fait accompli in the opening text.
If you're used to Pauline writings, you'll agree with me that often he writes as though all there is to be done is done and truly the Godward side is done but patient readers will also find out that there's another side to the same coin where responsibility is conferred on man. In Romans 8:29-30, he stated categorically that the justified is glorified yet in Titus 2:13, speaking about the glorification of the believer, he said: "WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE BLESSED HOPE—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ". Can you see that? We are still waiting for the "blessed hope", that is the appearing of Christ. It is until then we'll be glorified. Yes we are justified in the now as believers but we are yet to be glorified. God's desire is that we long for it.
As long as we are in Christ and Christ is in us, it is only then we have an assurance of sharing in His glory: "For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory"(Colossians 1:27 NLT). It is God's desire for you and me to enter into glory. Heaven is a place to be, it is a haven of rest for us after all our labours here on earth and sincerely, God want you and me to be there: "God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation" (Hebrews 2:10 NLT). Hallelujah!!! Knowing that a day is coming when Jesus will appear to take the saints home should help us to stay pure so that we can be partakers of that coming glory: "Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure"(1 John 3:2-3 NLT).
PRAYER POINT: Father, I receive the grace to look forward to that blessed hope eagerly and to live pure in readiness for your coming in Jesus name.