Salvation
Salvation Explained
Paul’s Explanation From the Book of Romans
What is Glorification?
The last part of Romans 5:2 (KJV) says, “…rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” This introduces us to the third part of “salvation”, which is “glorification”. This is the future tense of salvation. This is the “hope” we hold in all things, knowing that we will in the future, be glorified as Christ is. In fact, in Philippians 3:21 (KJV) we are told, “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.” We will have a body like Jesus’. In 1 John 3:1-2 (KJV) tells us, “1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
At this point in time, we have not yet received the glorified body, hence “it doth not yet appear what we shall be”. Yet in the future at His return, “when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
What does it mean to “see Him as He is.” We know from 1 Corinthians 15:44 (KJV), “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” When Jesus was raised from the dead, He had a spiritual body that could do things we cannot, like traverse through solid walls, as described in John 20:19 (NLT), which says, “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.” He appeared to His disciples even though the doors were shut and locked! What 1 John 3:1-2 is telling us is that we will have a similar body as to Jesus and we will be able to be like Him. We will also have a glorified spiritual body that will not decay or know death. This is our “hope” that we will be like Him and with Him.
1 Corinthians 15:45-50 (KJV) gives us a deep insight into this glorified body, by saying, “45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus] was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” This explains that humanity starts in a natural, earthly, sinful state and finishes in a spiritual, heavenly, incorruptible. We will be like Jesus and we will be with Jesus!
