THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 29 of 30 --Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
" . . . that we may also be glorified together."
There is a stated objective to suffering "with Christ." It is that "that we may be also glorified together." This means "together" with Christ, as indicated by other versions: "in order that we may also be glorified WITH HIM" (NASB), "in order that we may also share in HIS GLORY" (NIV), and "in order that we may also be glorified WITH HIM" (RSV).
God has revealed it is His predetermined purpose to glorify those who are justified. In a grand summation of this intention, the Spirit witnesses: "For whom HE did foreknow, HE also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom HE did predestinate, them HE also called: and whom HE called, them HE also justified: and whom HE justified, them HE also glorified" (Rom 8:29-30). These verses are the inspired explanation for God working everything together for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Notice, the passage begins, "FOR whom . . . " Other translations read, "BECAUSE whom He did . . . " (Darbys, BBE, YLT) . The Greek word beginning verse twenty-nine (o-ti) means "because" or "for," and introduces the cause, or basis for the preceding clause. Thus, God works everything together for those who love Him, and are called, because their ultimate destiny is glorification with Jesus, which is the ultimate good they will experience.
There is no purpose for being "saved," "justified," or "in Christ," if the person is not ultimately glorified. If glory is not experience, the person has "believed in vain" (1 Cor 15:2), received the grace of God "in vain" (2 Cor 6:1), and "run in vain" (Phil 2:16). God has truly called us "into His own kingdom and GLORY" (1 Thess 2:12). We were called by His Gospel "to the obtaining of the GLORY of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess 2:14). Peter reminds us we have been called "unto His eternal glory" (1 Pet 5:10). Being glorified is everything, and without it we have nothing.
For some, the primary thing is proper church government. For others, the fundamental thing is correct protocol and due recognition of authority. Still others perceive the important thing to be recruitment, or the winning of souls. Some are persuaded that the resolution of personal and social ills is the focus of Divine activity. There is certainly a place for all of these things – BUT NOT AT THE HEAD OF DIVINE PRIORITIES. These things are nowhere represented as the culmination of Divine purpose or the objective of Divine involvement with men – nowhere.
Ultimately, Jesus is "bringing many sons to GLORY" (Heb 2:10). Through His empowerment, intercession, nurture, and guidance, He is bringing the saved to a state called glory, or being glorified. This is accomplished by the Spirit changing us from one stage of glory to another, until we are finally "glorified" in the fullest sense of the word (2 Cor 3:18).
The idea is that when Jesus appears in His glory, we will also appear in glory with Him. That is precisely how it is stated in Colossians 3:4. "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Christ being "our life" now involves suffering with Him. This experience is called "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil 3:10). But when He shall appear in all of His glory – the glory He presently possesses – then we will be glorified "together with Him." That is, IF we have suffered with Him, sharing in the reproach and disdain the world has for Him.
Then we will be seen for who we really are – "the children of God." Our real self will become apparent, and the "body of this death" will be discarded. Then Jesus "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil 3:21). Until then, we must run the race with patience, not desiring a premature showing. Better to be glorified together with Christ than to seek glory independently of Him! That sharing will take place only as we "suffer with Him," and that suffering confirms our sonship through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
One additional word is in order. The point here is not that suffering causes us to merit glory. Rather, it is that suffering necessarily precedes glory. It is the appointed path that leads to glory, or the complete removal of everything in and about us that has been tainted by sin. Just as Jesus suffered, then was glorified, so must we suffer with Him before we can be glorified with Him. That is the Kingdom manner as lived out in the Lord of glory Himself. He set the tone for spiritual life. The individual who seeks to avoid suffering with Christ, by that very action, forfeits being glorified with Him.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I know that as long as I am in the world, I will suffer in some way. I choose to suffer with Christ now, that I may be glorified together with Him then. In the name of Jesus, grant me to boldly confront suffering, and patiently endure through it.
-- Monday, New Series: REAL CIRCUMCISION --