1276. Glorification

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The school was founded in 1927 by the evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent biblical preaching from the University travel platform today on The Daily Platform were continuing a study series entitled our great salvation which is a study of the doctrine of salvation or so to reality today speaker is Dr. Sam Horn and he'll be concluding the series preaching on the topic glorification. Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University will introduce him for looking forward to this morning's final message by Dr. Sam Horn and I hope that these messages that we have had this semester. Our theme of our great salvation have been helpful have been informative and have been inspiring to you personally. I think this morning you're going to be blast is Dr. Horn brings to us. One of the greatest truths for us as believers and that is not only are we saved from the penalty of our sins, but inherited for all believers is the promise of living in a glorified state with the Lord forever. Here's the best news we have that everything's going to get better and where you are right now in your life, physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, all of us are going to experience of perfection in a glorified state seductive Horn you come and lift our hearts up to the Lord today. I'm asking you take your Bible this morning and I'm nasty to find two texts we are going to be in a good bit this morning – defined first of all Romans chapter 8 and were going to that great so Terry logical passage in verses 29 and 30 and then were going to spend a good bit of time in first Corinthians 15 verse 42. I'm so thankful that we saying complete in the as the last him this morning is that he really summarizes everything that we have been talking about this semester. When we come to the idea of the theme are great salvation. It's kind of hard to believe that we've already been through the entire series.

I remember just a few weeks ago, it seems, standing here and talking about the theme in our first sermon in the series and reminding us from the writer of Hebrews that that the Scriptures tell us that this is a worthy theme to consider that we really ought to give close attention that we should take heed so that we don't unintentionally drift away from so great a salvation and we have had a whole semester of wonderful preaching that is done just that. We started off with Dr. McGonagle who spoke to us about the grace and mercy that is in the gospel when he preached while we are yet sinners Dr. Hank and spoke to us on the atonement followed by Dr. Armistead and you'll remember these is sort of trace the series in your mind, Dr. Ormiston spoke to us on the matter of conversion and belief in a message entitled repent and believe the good news. Dr. Newton followed him with a message on regeneration and the necessity of the new birth. We were encouraged by the beauty of our union with Christ by Dr. Stites when he put preached Christ in you the hope of glory. And then Dr. Cook spoke to us about justification in a message entitled, a righteousness, not our own, and spoke to us of the legal standing in the personal standing that we have because of justification before the Lord and then Dr. hand navigated the difficult topic of election and divine calling calling in his message from Romans nine Dr. Oberland spoke to us on the topic of ongoing salvation in the process of our sanctification. And then last week, Dr. Talbert encouraged us with the promise that God is made to a person to preserve us in our salvation and exhorted us reminded us of our need to persevere in that faith as an evidence of this in his message on preservation and perseverance brings us to the final topic in the series and that is the topic of glorification.

I spent some time chatting with different students about this message and that just simply saying to them are asking from them. So what would you like to hear in a message on glorification because there's so many different tacks that talk about it.

There's so many different ways that theologians approach this.

I wanted to find out from the student body. What would be a good way for us to talk about this incredible topic and here's what I found out most of us know that glorification has something to do with our salvation. Fact were very convinced of that from Romans chapter 8 where were very convinced of the fact that it has it with our salvation and were pretty sure that it comes at the end of our earthly life, and that it has something to do with the resurrection. But beyond that, it's something that's fairly fuzzy in our thinking and the problem with fuzzy thinking on a topic of this magnitude is that it results in a loss of focus and how we live our life and what we choose to live them for so this morning what I thought I would do in our inner messages. I would just take four basic questions that we need to think about an answer when it comes to the idea of glorification and I think the answer to these four basic questions will sort of blow away the fog clear up the fuzziness and bring us into a place where this particular aspect of glorification can function the way it's supposed to function in our life. So let's begin with the first question in the first question is the most obvious question. What is it when we think about glorification what is it and so I'm going to give you a definition. Probably the standard definition that I could find in the different places where I went to look for this. This is a definition that comes out of Wayne Gruden's systematic theology and I think if we start with the definition it will sort of set the stage for the other three questions that follow. So let me read you the definition all right and I'll put it up on the screen so that we have before us, and in all comments along the way as we look at the different parts of the definition. So here's the first part of the definition glorification is the final step in the application of redemption and you can see that in Romans chapter 8 verse 29 and verse 30.

So take a look at your Bible for a moment, for whom he did foreknow, he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren and then we continue in this process. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called and whom he called, them he also justified and whom he justified. Then he also glorified.

So this is the final stage, it is the and goal here is the end game for God when it comes to the matter of giving us our salvation.

Whatever glorification is when we have it, we will possess fully, perfectly, completely, fully applied our salvation.

So that's the first part of the definition we throw another piece of the definition up. This will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers who have died and reunites them with their souls. So this talks about when glorification happens the glorification that were talking about here is not just what happens to you when you die, it's what happens to your body. When Jesus returns and and here's what it involves. It involves a physical resurrection of the body of every believer who has died and the name and that resurrection will involve a reuniting with the soul. The inner man of that person that here's 1/3 part of the definition and by the way, you can see that text in first Corinthians chapter 15, which is probably the single greatest text that gives the explanation of glorification in our New Testament third part of the definition is this it changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive look at first Corinthians chapter 15 and notice what Paul says in verse 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Look at verse 51 behold, I show you a mystery.

We shall not all sleep policy were not all going to die, but we will all be changed, so this is a process or a rather this is this is something that God does for all believers. It has to do with their body and it involves a physical transformation and it ends this way you the last part of the definition.

After all this is done, thereby giving all believers. At the same time when Christ returns, resurrection bodies just like his, and let me have you turned over quickly to Philippians chapter 3 because I think we actually need to see this in our Bibles in Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 Paul says our conversation is in heaven.

Our citizenship, our life is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we are waiting for him to appear.

This is exactly what Gruden has been talking about. And when he appears, verse 21, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself and the implications of Philippians 3 verse 20 are immense, you are destined to receive a body that looks just like the Lord's, and is fully capable to do all that the Lord does is viewing all of creation unto himself. So that's what it is when we think about this definition in our mind. That's what glorification is.

Which brings us into the second question, why is it important, why should we be concerned about something that is coming at the end of our life when we are busy and in facing all of the pressures and the trials and the sufferings of this life. Why does something that matter, why do something at the end of our life. Need to matter so much in the middle of her life, and I will give you four reasons from the text that I think we want to think about. Here's the first. Whatever glorification is as we have looked at it in this definition is intended to be the end of the story and I and I don't mean like the end. There is no more story is intended to be intended to be the destiny it's intended to be where this is all going and here's what Peter had to say about the end of all of this, the destination of all of this in first Peter chapter 5 verse 10 Peter tells us that the God of all grace has called us, he has summoned us to his own eternal glory and want to make sure that we understand what Peter has in mind when he says that that the God of all grace has called us has summoned us to his eternal glory is not saying only that we have been summoned to be with God and have it we have been actually summoned to participate in something that God has and its glory glory is not just a theological concept.

What Peter is talking about here in first Peter 510 is a physical manifestation of something, it's a physical manifestation of beauty of strength of honor of splendor. Think of something that is bright and brilliant and blazing light is what Moses saw when God passed by, is what Isaiah saw gets what Ezekiel saw. It's what Peter James and John saw when they saw Jesus in that moment of transfiguration. So what ever.

This glorying is that you have been summoned to participate in it will affect you physically and it will be visible to others.

Daniel has a very interesting comment about this in the 12th chapter of his prophecy in Daniel chapter 12 verse three he talks about righteous people being raised up on the last day and they are going to shine and that he has this comparison by what you know they can shine like they are going to shine like the stars. Now I don't know all that that involves but it is much more than most of us are thinking about when it comes to our glorification so it is the intended end to the story is the goal of the story that that you would share in what this glory is that God possesses and you know first John chapter 3 exit very clear that this really is what is going to happen to us in verse two John confirms that when we see him and the idea there is when he appears when he returns. We will be like him, so there is coming a day for the intended end of the story that we've been talking about all semester long that you are physically going to look very different than you look right now and it is God's design and then secondly, it is the inevitable consequence of salvation look back at Romans chapter 8 verse 29 to 30, and it's very clear that all of these advance that God is talking about our activities that he himself is committed to do for us.

He is the one who calls us. He is the one who chooses that he is the one who justifies us and he is the one who is going to glorify this or glorify us. This is the inevitable consequence of salvation that here's 1/3 reason that this is important it's the visible evidence. It's the visible validation of our salvation go back in your mind that text we just looked at in Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 and 21 one of that one of the most incredible teachings of the Scripture when it comes to our salvation is that it is designed to bring us into the presence of God so that we can be with God forever, and the visible evidence that people who were the way Paul describes in Ephesians dead in their trespasses and sins have been made righteous and have been established with Christ at the right hand of the father, the visible evidence of this will be in your body and then there is one final reason that this is important is the essential component of salvation which turned back one more time to Philippians chapter 1st Corinthians chapter 15 I want you to notice a statement that Paul makes in verse 50.

He says this now. I say, brethren, that flesh and blood that talk about your physical body cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption in the point he's making is this that where you are going where God intends for you to dwell the realm and the dementia in which you are going to spend eternity is a dimension that your present body is not physically constituted to bear little bit earlier in the passage he's use the illustration of of certain kinds of bodies being uniquely suited to certain kinds of contexts. Your body is not constituted to thrive in the ocean. It's not constituted just to thrive on the surface of the moon there all kinds of adjustments and protections and provisions that we have to make to even think about spending even a little bit of time in those around and what Paul is saying here is that the realm in which you are destined for is a realm in which your current physical body is not able to bear it has to be reconstituted so that it can thrive in that realm. So when you are resurrected on that day. You are just going to get a re-animated body that you currently have. Right now we think of Lazarus when Lazarus was resurrected.

He came out of that grave in the same mortal body. They put in that great, that is not what Paul is talking about here. When you take your body at death and you bury it when it rises up on that day is going to be completely reconstituted so that you are at home, not just on this earth but in the entire universe so that brings us to the third question what will. What will this really be like in the answer that question. Is this pauses I want to talk to you about a mystery in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 51.

I want to talk to you about a mystery. Any proceeds to tell us that what is going to happen on that resurrection day is going involving instantaneous and complete transformation that results in perfect permanent perfection of your soul morally and spiritually. By the way that's already going on pauses her inner man is being renewed day by day. First Corinthians or second grade. The chapter 3 verse 18 talks about as we look into the word of God. We we are progressing from glory to glory, but there's something that is happening to our outer man our outer man is DK day by day. And so, in essence, Paul is talking about the fact that on that day.

This became body is actually going to be resurrected and it's gonna look like this. Look at verse 42, it's going to be imperishable. It will be unaffected by time or H it will be glorious. It will be full of splendor and majesty. When people see you there will be a moment of job wrapping amazement at your beauty, think of what you looked at in the mirror this morning when you got up maybe don't want to think about. Think about all the things about your body that you don't like think about everything that is true about your body that you wish were different. Think of other things that you do like about your body, and here's the point on your best day you were to look anything like what you look like on that day when Christ brings you forth the beauty and the splendor and the majesty that will be yours physically and visibly will cause the entire universe to drop its jaw in wonder. This is this is your destiny. It's imperishable, it's glorious. It's powerful thing about everything you wish you could do with your body that you can do now and you will be designed with the strength and the capacity to do it and then Paul makes an interesting statement in verse 44 it's spiritual and don't get the idea there that he's talking about immaterial. He's actually talking about a physical reality but they will be of a very different corner and then Paul starts talking about two kinds of physical bodies. In verses 47, 49, he talks about one kind of body that is sort of patterned after the first Adam who came out of the dust and then he starts talking about another kind of body that is patterned after the man who came from heaven, and obviously he's talking about Jesus.

You know when you think about aging limited it to say this way when I think about aging the prospects are very very painful. I want to show you a picture that that may bring this into reality.

This is a picture that that someone in my office found of me at this stage you know night with 30 years ago. I look very different than this.

I'm not real happy about that. You know it when you stop and think about where you're going to be 30 years and now girls you better pay real close attention to what that guy looks like because it could be super deceptive. I'm so glad my wife is a very very bad vision problem is been very helpful to our marriage but you know it's even worse, thinking about what is turning into 30 years from now.

There is a Philistine who works in my office to actually put this picture in an aging app and this is what it looks like and it ain't pretty is at the doctor the other day and then my wife goes with me because she is the chief tattletale in our family, and all matters medical and and they were taking my blood pressure and they had taken three times an average it and I'm thinking this is going to get worse and and and if this is not bad. I mean, you know, I have a little bit of Hispanic and half Hispanic soap. Hispanics tend to age differently. Some people age, stately beautifully know they have beautiful white hair they have legal bearing it up Hispanic people we we don't age very well. Our hair stand straight up our nose in our ears they they spread and they sprout. Basically what happens to us, so this is best case scenario. Let's show your worst case scenario think this is worst case and might might my son saw this, he said dad don't worry, we'll take care of you. You don't think about the prospect. Would you want to spend eternity in a body that would just reanimated mean this is the beauty of what glorification is. Let's get that picture off their quick this is. This is the beauty of what Paul is talking about. He is talking about the fact that dad is not your destiny. That's not where this is going where it is going is this you are going to come for and when you come for you are going to come forth in a body that radiates glory and it is going to be the visible validation of everything that you have believed is a lesson very quickly with how this on a shape her life pauses at the end of chapter 15. Therefore, my beloved brethren, in light of this, don't lose heart Weavers 55 verse 58, be steadfast, don't lose heart. Don't give ground be unmovable and then he says this. Live your life fully for the gospel. Don't be afraid to give it everything that you have in this life for the work of the Lord, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord and you know I started vain because there are solid joys and lasting treasures that are very real, but your physical eyes are not constituted to see them, but there there and when you are glorified in that moment you will see what Paul meant when he said this momentary, light affliction is nothing compared to the eternal weight of the glory that God has prepared for you so glorification is your future.

It is just a theological idea. It is your possession, you were destined for this.

You were made for more father, thank you for this teaching from your texts in your Scriptures that reminds us and encourages us and exhorts us Lord help us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work that you put before us for the sake of the gospel in the light of what you have prepared that I is not seen in years not heard and we thank you for it. In Jesus name, amen. You've been listening to a sermon preached by Dr. Sam Horn seminary professor at Bob Jones University. This concludes our series titled our great salvation which was a study of the doctrine of some materiality. Thanks for listening and join us again tomorrow for more chapel messages on the Bob Jones University Chapel platform