The Daily Word of Righteousness

From Justification to Glorification, #12

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Corinthians 5:20,21)

"Be ye reconciled to God."

We stated before that the foreknowledge of God was a sovereign action of God. No action on our part was required and there was no change in us.

The same was true of predestination. No action on our part was required and there was no change in us.

Our calling produces no change in us but we are required to respond to the Divine summons.

God has justified His elect. Being declared righteous by the blood of Calvary represents no change in us; it is a legal maneuver that enables God to hear our prayers and give us eternal life even though our behavior is not in accordance with the eternal moral law of God. We must by faith receive the Divine offer of reconciliation.

However, passing from justification to glorification necessitates total change in us, as we have described, and requires diligent participation on our part.

If we will follow the Lord diligently He will bring us from the lowest pit to the highest throne. Ours is a truly great salvation.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6—NIV)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

It is God's will and objective that there be a perfect Church, a mature Body of Christ, an unblemished Bride of the Lamb—victorious sons who will be able to assume the rulership of the creation. These are the heirs of God, of whom Christ is the Lord and the Firstfruits that in all things He might have the preeminence.

We have been foreknown, predestined, called, and justified in order that we may then, through the authority of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Spirit of God, fight the good fight of faith until we attain glorification in Christ.

To pass from justification to glorification requires running a race. Running the race to glorification requires more concentration and dedication than is true of the runners of the Olympic games. We must devote every aspect and ability of our personality. We must present our body to God a living sacrifice that we may prove His will.

God has given us every grace, every virtue, all the authority, power, and wisdom needed to insure success as we overcome every hindrance to our rule. Only one factor can prevent our being more than a conqueror through Christ, and that is our own unbelief.

Let us now lay aside every weight, every hindrance, and run with patience the race set before us. If we do, the day finally shall arrive when we are ready to be glorified together with the Lord Jesus at His appearing in His Kingdom. (from The Mainspring)