The Hope of Glory!

Part 3 of 3

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we... rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom 5:1-2).

A final fruit of justification that we'll observe is the great hope of God's glory.. Of course, there are many more benefits to see, but these simple three will have to suffice for now.

The hope of glory! What a wonderful truth that we as believers, have such a tangible and present hope! We not only possess this hope, but we "rejoice" in it too (Rom 12:12; Heb 3:6)! It's not a false hope, but a "lively hope" (1 Pet 1:3-9), one that is continually fresh, strong, active and efficacious. Paul calls it a "good hope through grace" (2 Thess 2:16). Jesus will graciously enable the willing soul! He will cause His people to obtain and partake of it.. Our expectation is of God! Will we respond to such a lofty idea and "lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Heb 6:18)? God is waiting for a people to obtain His glory (2 Thess 2:12, 14; Heb 2:10; Isa 43:7; 1 Pet 5:10a; 2 Pet 1:3; Rom 9:23)!

What does it mean to have "hope" of the glory of God? It means that our justified state has provided us with an expectation to be conformed to God's glorious image, even "Christ in you, the hope of glory"! It seems that so many Christians today are oblivious to the fact that we are on a course, pursuing completion, with a prize to be won. We seem to view heaven as the end-all, when in fact, heaven is not salvation's prize. Rather, the Bible declares that we, being justified by faith, rejoice in the hope of God's glory! In other words, heaven and a rapture are not our hope; God's glory is our hope! Heaven is but an added benefit.

The book of Ephesians reveals the purpose and prize of salvation, and interestingly heaven has relatively little to do with it: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it [justification]; In order that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word [sanctification], In order that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish [glorification]. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Eph 5:25-27, 32). Reader, we are justified in order to be sanctified, and sanctified in order to be glorified as the bride of Christ! Everything we do as believers, everything we choose not to do, and every motive of every thought, word and deed is to be birthed from this perspective: We are pursuing God's glory! And why? Because God's glory is God Himself. One Hebrew word for "glory" is also translated as "weight; honor; splendour". In other words, to have God's glory is to behold His face (Matt 17:1-2; 2 Pet 1:16), and to partake of the literal weight of His manifest presence (Exod 16:10; 29:43; 33:18, 22; 40:34-35)! To obtain God's glory is to actually obtain Jesus, for Jesus is God's glory personified (Jn 1:14, 18; 17:4-5).. Paul sought to "win Christ" (Phil 3:8)! What a prize HE will be! To Abram God said, "I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward" (Gen 15:1)!

Therefore, being justified by faith, we are now made able to partake of, rejoice in, seek after, and hope for the glory of God! Before, while yet sinners, this hope was utterly nonexistent; we all fell short (Rom 3:23). There was no hope of glory, no hope of reward, only the awful prospect of wrath and condemnation. But now... But now there is a glorious expectation, a wondrous hope! Let's press into this high and holy purpose!

Do we "seek for [God's] glory" (Rom 2:7)?

Are we being "prepared unto glory" (Rom 9:23)?

Do we "seek... the honor [Greek: "glory"] which cometh from God only" (Jn 5:44)?

Will the trial of your faith be "found unto... glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:7)?

Are we openly beholding the Spirit of God, and being changed into His glory (2 Cor 3:18; Ps 17:15)?

If not, why? We have been called to obtain God's glory (2 Thess 2:14); called to share in His glory (Jer 17:12); He wants you to inherit the throne of His glory (1 Sam 2:6-8; Rev 3:21). Friends, we're called to "obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Tim 2:10)!

The end of days will reveal to us the bride of Christ.. and what does she possess? The glory of God! "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God..." (Rev 21:9-11).

Friends, our daily, outward, carnal perishing is working for us an exceeding eternal weight of glory - all paid for and provided by the precious shed blood of God's Son (2 Cor 4:16-18)! "The righteous hath hope in his death" (Prov 14:32)! The constant reproaches we bare are strengthening our shoulders to carry the Spirit of glory, which is to "rest upon you" (1 Pet 4:13-14)! The earth is groaning and travailing for this glory to come forth, revealed in God's saints (Isa 60:1-3, 7)! As heirs and children of God, joint-heirs with Christ, we've been awarded the hope of glory "revealed in us" (Rom 8:17-20)! The veil is torn - access is granted!

What are you hoping for today? What are you seeking after? Is it God's glory?

"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory" (Heb 2:10)!

Selah!