Basic Theology: Glorification - Forever with the Lord

Previous: Glorification

 1. Forever with the Lord.

The chief attraction of future glory will be that we shall be with Him, our beloved Lord and Saviour 
John 14:3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4:17, Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Now the Lord is with us (Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 13:5-6), but then we shall be with Him!

The unbeliever cannot enter into this at all, and only those who want Him with them now will desire to be with Him in His glory.

2. Conformed to become like Jesus Christ.

We shall not only be with Him, but we shall be like Him. 
1 John 3:2, Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

God’s programme for every believer is the ultimate conformity to the image of His Son.
Romans 8:29, 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.

Psalm 17:15, As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Every believer will have a body like His body! 
1 Corinthians 15:20, & 43, 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
43 It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

Philippians 3:21, who 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.

Ephesians 5:27, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish

We shall not be angels or disembodied spirits, but we shall live in new, glorified bodies, and we shall be like Him!

3. Living in Perfect Surroundings.

Romans 5:12, Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Our first parents lived in a perfect environment in the Garden of Eden, but through the “first man”, Adam, sin entered, brought also the curse, and Paradise was lost.

Then, in the fulness of time (Galatians 4:4), “a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came”.

Through the work upon the cross by Jesus Paradise has been regained and will be the eternal dwelling place of all believers. Glory for the believer will mean living in a world of perfect order and complete harmony.

Matthew 6:10, Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Revelation chapters 21 and 22 for a prophetic preview of the glories of the Heaven.

4. Freedom from Earth’s Limitations.

While we are in the body, we groan to be freed from it and to enjoy the blessings of the “unlimited expanses of eternity”.
On the Earth here sin limits us.

We are freed from its guilt and penalty, but we possess a fallen nature and we live in a fallen body which is subject to sin’s power and Satan’s attacks.

While we are here on this earth our bodies give us lot of trouble, and we experience weakness, sickness, pain and the infirmities of age, and ultimately death itself.

Romans 8:23, Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
But in Heaven, such as tears, death, sorrow, crying, pain, etc.! nothing will be there (Revelation 21 and 22).

5. Fellowship with all the Redeemed.

Often when we meet for fellowship down here, we say afterwards, “It has been a foretaste of Glory!” This is true, for when we are glorified, we shall meet with the saints of all ages.

Luke 13:29, They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

    ✓ the Old Testament saints,
    ✓ the New Testament saints,
    ✓ the early Christian martyrs,
    ✓ the Reformers,
    ✓ all our Christian friends and loved ones, and
    ✓ multitudes of children (Matthew 18:10).

What a glorious reunion this will be and, of course, we shall recognise one another!

This recognition is implied at 
1 Corinthians 13:12, For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

illustrated by Jesus in
Luke 9:30-31, And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Affirmed by Apostle Paul 
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Confirmed by God, 
1 Thessalonians 2:19, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

Guaranteed to us 
1 Corinthians 15:6, After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

6. Engaging in the King’s Service.

Revelation 22:3, And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

Matthew 25:21, His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
The above verse shows us that all our service here and now is a preparation for service there and then.

Matthew 19:28, So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 19:17, And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

It is difficult to conceive in what ways we shall serve Him there, but we shall serve Him and how glad and how glorious such service will be!

Remember, however, that faithfulness here qualifies for authority and responsibility there.

7. True and Unhindered Worship

The supreme joy and wonder of our glorification will be experienced when we join with “the countless multitudes on high that tune their song to Jesus’ Name!

Do you belong to Him? If so, “those he justified, he also glorified.”

Jude 1:24-25, Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Saviour, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

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