Justified, Sanctified, Glorified

     The Christian life is one of progress, one of movement. We don't stand idly waiting for the end of all things. At one point we were all sinners, and rebels, and enemies of God; and then there was a moment, and instant where we transitioned from foe to family. When we accepted the free gift of salvation we were brought 'into' Christ, we were justified before God. Essentially, the perfect life lived by Jesus and His death on the cross were ascribed to us. Our relationship with God was essentially fixed though it still requires work and improvement. This alone is an amazing thing! That God would make righteous those who were headed to the gallows, that He would even consider it! This amazing gift, this unspeakable mercy wasn't even necessary, and by that I mean that God did not HAVE to save us. Now is necessary in the sense that God has proclaimed that it is so and thus it shall be, but there was no necessity forcing God to do this.

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

(Titus 3:3-7)

     The next step along the path, and the longest, is “sanctification.” So you're saved, and that's fantastic, but God is not done yet! Now He has to deal with all those little 'issues' within you. You've got to stop lying and start working harder, being nicer, reading the Bible every day, praying all the time, and a million other things that will get progressively more and more acute and specific. Every moment you'll have the choice -that you didn't have before- to live either for God or for the world, the spirit or the flesh. You're not alone though, with salvation comes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; God himself residing within you and helping you with all these decisions.

One of the great things about sanctification is that it's guaranteed! God's will must come to pass in all things and He has ordained that His people progress in Him. The Bible is filled with evidence for this, that God will continue and complete a work in His people. He paid for you, now He want's you sharp!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(Hebrews 13:20-21)

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

(Philippians 1:6)

     Finally, after a lifetime of struggle and of fighting for every inch, we will reach eternity. In that day, either through the transition of death or the translation of rapture we will find ourselves free from even the presence of sin. In that great and wondrous moment we will be glorified! Every last spot of sin removed, every ailment and disease, every failing every flaw; reconnected to eternity and in perfect union with God at last! With the Spirit within us and no more temptation we will finally be wholly free from sin and with our bodies restored to how they should have been before the fall and probably better, we can look forward to eternity by Jesus side. No more struggle, no more sorrow, no more fear, only peace and joy forevermore.

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. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

(Romans 8:29-30)

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

(Revelation 21:3-7)

     The Christian life is one of progress, one where we understand that all of life has a goal. We do not wander aimlessly on an endless path cast randomly before us. Everything that was, that is, and will be is bound together in an intricate tapestry that proclaims the glory of God and mercy toward Men! Take a look at your life today. Do you know God? If not then find someone who can lead you to Him. If you know God, are you living for Him and making every effort to move a little closer each moment of each day? Are your eyes ever upward, yearning for the wonder of eternity with Him? Find where you stand and take steps to move forward, pray and He will show you where to go and how to get there.