THE GLORIFIED STATE Devotion 2 of 25 This series of devotions is on "the glorified state." But what does glorified mean? What is the significance of being "in glory?" Is "glory" a condition or circumstance, or is it a place? Is it even important that we speak about such things, and if so, why? – Tomorrow:
Glory, as used in these devotions, is a condition toward which we are making progress by the Holy Spirit – an ultimate and appointed condition for all who are in Christ Jesus. This is the state described in the words, "whom He justified, them He also glorified," or being "conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29). The appointed means to this end have all been predetermined by God: calling, justifying, then glorifying. As it is written, "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." (Romans 8:29-30). In all of this man is surely involved, but the primary involvement is that of God Himself. He foreknew. He did predestinate. He called. He justified. He glorified. There is NO need to attempt to fit these proclamations into a concise theological system. There IS a need to believe them, and thrust from ourselves any temptation to either avoid them of neutralize them with elaborate philosophical explanations.
The revealed objective of glorification – or being conformed to the image of His Son – is realized through the divulged process: calling and justification. Furthermore, no other purpose can possibly override this one – that of glorification. People may speculate about the work of the church, the most important activity of the church, etc. But if glorification is not the outcome of it all, all such work has been in vain. What you are is not the point, but what you WILL BE. Your present condition is not the ultimate aim, but what you will be when Jesus comes in all of His glory. Thus it is written, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him IN GLORY" (Colossians 3:4). If that does not happen, it makes no difference whatsoever what else may have occurred to you, by you, or in you, in this world.
Viewed from one point of view, being glorified is being in a state where every vestige of the curse has been removed. Nothing that is temporal, unacceptable, or tainted by sin will remain. Conversely, to be glorified means we will be everything God determined for us to be, with no deficiency or inadequacy. From yet another view, the state of glory is one in which there is perfect conformity to the image of Christ. That is, there is nothing in us that conflicts with His nature, or competes with His glory.
The Lord has made quite clear that glorification is what salvation is all about. There is more to His "great salvation" that getting rid of your sins – remission is a means to the appointed objective of glory, but is not the end itself. That is, you cannot be glorified unless you are justified from all of your sins. The new birth is absolutely essential – yet it is not the main thing. Rather, it also is a means to the determined objective of glorification. The new birth puts you into a realm, and grants to you a nature, that enables your preparation for and orientation to the appointed "glory."
The Holy Spirit is presently changing those who are in Christ, moving them forward from one stage of glory to another, until they are, in the resurrection, "glorified." Thus it is written, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory TO GLORY, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). The "same image" is that of Jesus Christ. This is the image God to which God has determined the redeemed will be conformed – and the Holy Spirit is carrying out His work. That is one of the reasons we are not to grieve or quench the Spirit in His good work (Eph 4:30; 1 Thess 5:19).
In the end, eternal life in all of its fulness will only be given to those who have earnestly sought for glory. Thus it is written, "To them who by patient continuance in well doing SEEK FOR GLORY and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7). The absence of this quest excludes one from eternal life. That is a most arresting consideration.
God has called us into His Kingdom and glory. Is it not written, "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you UNTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY" (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Our personal glorification is essential to dwelling in God's glory – and we have been called to be there, not here! Peter also referred to this glory. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (1 Peter 5:10). All of God's work within us is toward this end. Disinterest, or unbelief, on our part, only jeopardizes the continuance of the work.
The objective of God's call is this: that we might obtain glory. That is, His calling was in order that He might glorify us, as He determined. "Whereunto He called you by our gospel, TO THE OBTAINING OF THE GLORY of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Notice, the glory we are to "obtain" is Christ's glory. That is, Christ IN us, is THE HOPE OF GLORY – or the hope of being glorified (Col 1:27). The Gospel of Christ is the appointed means through which we are called to obtain glory. Therefore, those who have heard a Gospel that makes no mention of, or does not alert one to, glory, has heard no Gospel at all.
In the last analysis, Jesus is bringing us "to glory" – moving us along to the time when all imperfections will be removed, and a clear and evident likeness to Christ is perceived by the heavenly hosts. He has not come to us merely to solve all of our problems. In fact, some of them may remain with us in order to assist us in remaining strangers and pilgrims in this world. "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10). Take the coming glory out of the picture, and Christ's present work has no relevance.
The text expounded in this series of devotions declares some of the aspects of the glorified state. These are realities toward which Jesus is leading us. They are aspects of the glory into which the Spirit is changing us by ever increasing stages. This state is why God has called us, and the condition to which He has called us. It is what grace enables us to obtain, and that for which we are to earnestly seek.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus' name for revealing the purpose for which you have called and justified me. Help me to wage a successful warfare against anything and everything that competes with this purpose.