GLORIFICATION (Romans 8:12-23)

"We are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." (Rom. 8:16-17)

Robert Reymond says:

"At this point Christians will enter upon their glorified state, the goal toward which the Triune Godhead has been relentlessly driving from the moment of creation, and that ultimate end which was of the first of the decrees in the eternal plan of salvation." (A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, 798).

God’s end goal, brothers and sisters, for those whom he foreknew, predestined, called, and justified, is glorification.

The God who elects us, glorifies us.  The God who regenerates us, glorifies us.  The God who preserves us, glorifies us.

Glorification is what we have to look forward to. Glorification is the outcome of our faith. Glorification is the last step in the order of salvation. In order to inherit the Kingdom of God, we must be glorified…we must be purified…we must have that in us which is glorious separated from that which is not…we must have that which is priceless separated from that which is worthless. Our mortal bodies must put on immortality. Our perishable bodies must put on imperishability, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

Those whose end is glory, brothers and sisters, however, must be put through the fire…must suffer for the sake of Christ…so that we may by purified…sanctified…may be cleansed of the worthless stone that makes us weak until only the priceless gold, which can be made into something that will last, remains. The suffering we undergo for the sake of Christ makes us stronger, purer, and more glorious, brothers and sisters, and is a necessary part of our refinement as disciples of Jesus Christ.

As God’s elect, we have been adopted into God’s family. We are the children of God, and therefore heirs with Christ of God’s eternal Kingdom. Those who are called by God, who receive his grace, and come to faith in Jesus Christ like Jesus has been, will be transformed for eternal life in God’s Kingdom…transformed through suffering…transformed into something that will last. At the end of process of God’s salvation of his people, brothers and sisters, we will be glorified.