Justification and Glory

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Romans 8:30

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified…

I. JUSTIFICATION is —

1. An act of God passed upon a person needing it, consequently upon a person who could not justify himself. The guiltless need no justification; they have it already. "He justifies."

2. The result of sovereign grace. "By the works of the law shall no flesh living be justified." I cannot earn justification.

3. Has for its matter and means the righteousness of Jesus Christ, set forth in His vicarious obedience, both in life and death. Obedience alone can justify, and where can we have it but in Jesus our substitute?

4. The practical way of its application is by faith. It is not by repenting that we are justified, but by believing.

5. An instantaneous act. Sanctification needs a whole life, justification needs no appreciable time. The sinner looks to Christ, his sin is gone in a moment. Sanctification, moreover, progresses or declines; but justification is complete.

6. An infallible act. "It is God that justifieth"; where, then, can there be a mistake?

7. An irreversible act. Once justified you shall never be condemned.

8. It is generally attended with such a flood of joy, that I think you must know it, Bunyan's pilgrim did not lose the burden off his back and not know it; but as soon as it was gone, he gave three great leaps for joy, and went on his way singing.

II. GLORY. How that golden word has been debased in the coinage of human speech. It has come to mean the glitter of war's helmet, and the noise of the crowd's hurrahs. "Whom He justified, them He also glorified." They follow close together. A little stream divides them, but the apostle says nothing about it, so we will not say anything. Death is not worth thinking of, it is swallowed up in victory. There is —

1. The glory which disembodied spirits are enjoying now. The moment that the soul leaves the body, the justified soul is in glory. Romanism holds that some of the best saints go to heaven when they die; but that the great mass of inferior saints must undergo purgation. But the dying thief was no eminent saint. The only good deed that we ever read of his doing was when he claimed Christ as Lord, and rebuked his fellow-thief for slandering the Saviour. Yet, hear the words, "To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Nor is this the only instance. We find, when Lazarus died, that he was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. Stephen expected the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit, and the apostle Paul was in a strait betwixt two, being willing "to depart and to be with Christ." In Ephesians 3:15, the apostle mentions the whole family as being in heaven and earth, but he speaks of none of the Lord's people being in limbo. Those whom we are bidden to follow, in Hebrews 6:12, are now inheriting the promises. Let the voice of God decide the case for ever (Revelation 14:13). The glory of paradise was that God walked there in the cool of the evening with His creatures; and the glory of heaven is, that "they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light," and the days of their mourning shall be ended.

2. The resurrection glory which they will enjoy when soul and body shall be reunited. This will be a joyful meeting. Soul and body often quarrel here; but they are always loath to part, which proves how true is the wedlock between them; but what a happy meeting it will be when there will be no more jars between this husband and wife, when the soul and body shall be merged together in the perfection of union. Then, whatever may be the splendour of Christ will be the splendour of His people.

III. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN JUSTIFICATION AND GLORY.

1. A justified person has in him the bud of glory. What is glory?

(1) It is a state of perfect peace. "Therefore, being justified, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord."(2) It is a state of rest. "We, which have believed, do enter into rest."(3) It is a state of safety. When sin is pardoned, I am secure.

(4) It is a state of nearness to God; He hath made us nigh by the blood of His Son.

(5) It is communion with Christ. But we have already boldness and access through Jesus. Inside the acorn there is the whole oak, and within justification there is heaven, with all its light, life, love, joy, and security. Glory is begun below.

2. Justification is a claim to glorification. He that is right in the eye of the law, has a claim to the protection and smile of the law.

3. Justification would be but a very sorry gift of God, if it did not involve glory.

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