Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 4 Study # 14
April 22, 2008
Lincolnton, N.C.
(399)
1769 Translation:
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1901 ASV Translation:
30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- I. The Steps in the Divine Program.
- A. Establishing the "Purpose" in "Love".
- B. Establishing the "primary methodology": the conformity of each of the participants to the character of the King.
- C. Developing "sub-methodologies" which include...
- 1. Foreknowledge [See Study # 8 (386) of this series, March 4, 2008].
- 2. Predestination [See Studies: # 9 (388) of this series, March 11; # 10 (390), March 18; and # 11 (392), April 1].
- 3. Calling [See Study # 12 (394) of this series, April 8, 2008].
- 4. Justification [See Study # 13 (396) of this series, April 15, 2008].
- 5. Glorification: the historical application of the "justification unto glory" process that was initiated at the summons and culminated at the point of physical death/instantaneous transformation. Glorification is the final stage of preparation for participation in that being "declared" righteous is an insufficient basis for participation: one must actually be changed into someone who cannot sin and can actually never violate the Love of God by any thought, word, or deed for as long as eternity lasts.
- a. In the New Testament the word is used to signify the attribution of desirable characteristics to someone; to speak of someone's character in terms of admiration (Matthew 5:16).
- b. "To be glorified by men" means to have obtained their admiration (Matthew 6:2).
- c. John 7:39/12:16 uses the term to refer to the post-resurrection status of Jesus.
- d. The issue of "to glorify" is, thus, either to acknowledge and make known the attributes that already exist, or to impart such attributes so that they "take over" the person.
- e. When Paul writes, "them He also glorified", he is addressing that aspect of the Plan of God when He has removed every aspect of Sin from their being and imparted to them those necessary aspects of His own Holiness that make sure that they are finally established in true godliness.
- 1) This "process" appears to have two distinct elements to it. On one hand, there is the gradual "growth into maturity" through "tribulations" that occurs while men are in the struggle in Time (Acts 14:22). On the other, there is the instantaneous transformation of which Paul wrote when he said that "this corruptible must put on incorruption" (1 Corinthians 15:53).
- 2) The "dailies", under the reality of final accountability, are a very significant part of the first aspect of the "glorification" of the saints. There appears to be a direct connection between the "final accountability" of the Judgment Seat of Christ and the "degree" of "glorification" that is granted. Everyone will be "constituted sinless", but "sinlessness" and the actual "range of permitted activities" are two different things. One can be "sinless" while only being allowed to "act" in a seriously limited way and another can be "sinless" while being given the entire range of the universe in which to act. From whom much is given, much is required, and for those who meet the requirements, even more is given [Matthew 25:28].