[0:00] Romans 8 and verse 30, let me read to you this verse, they're four treasures aren't they? And those whom he predestined, he also called, those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified.
[0:18] And verse 29 is so important isn't it? God's aim is that you would be, as somebody who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, conformed to the image of his Son. That's God's plan, and how he does that is these four things. And they're like diamonds, isn't it?
[0:33] Someone asked me this week slightly oddly, can you take any of them out? From verse 30, it's a very odd question, I don't think you can, I don't know which one you'd want to remove. And the four words, can you see them in verse 30, predestined, called, justified, glorified, they are teaching that God initiates the plan of salvation.
[0:54] That he predestines his people. He calls. That is, he gets through to us, because we are slow and we're thick and we're deaf and we're dull.
[1:07] He gets through to us very wonderfully. And then he justifies, he makes us fit for the future. And to stand before him, and to bring us home. So if you remember, you know that toy was kind of around in the 80s, it's a desk toy, isn't it? Or an office toy.
[1:24] And there's four metal ball bearings hanging on little threads. And you pull one, and let it go, and bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
[1:35] And the other one comes out the side. And here are four truths, bang, bang, bang, bang. Predestined, called, justified, and glorified.
[1:46] And God will make sure that that sequence carries right the way through. The argument in Romans 8 verse 30 is very similar to the argument in Romans 5. Where the apostle says, essentially, God is able to turn enemies into friends.
[2:02] He can turn enemies into friends. If he can do that, how much more will he turn friends into homecomers? It's a major miracle, isn't it?
[2:14] To get enemies to be friends. And it's a lesser miracle for him to get his friends and bring them home. So these four words we've been looking at summarize the great plan of God.
[2:26] And he draws us into it. That's the wonderful thing. Again, it's trying to help you picture it. Let's think, let's imagine a waitress in a cafe. And at the end of the day, she's sweeping the floor one evening after everyone has gone.
[2:41] But there's a man in the corner watching her. And he is a great film producer. And she has no star quality at all. But he goes over to her and he offers her a part in his film.
[2:54] And he then says, we'll need to bring you to wardrobe and fit you out. And we'll take you to the site, which will be Venice. And we'll begin film production. Would you like to?
[3:07] And everything has changed for her. Suddenly she has been chosen and seen and picked and called and dressed. And she's been brought into this wonderful production.
[3:20] She didn't choose it. She didn't plan it. But she responded to it. And that is how it is for the Christian. We have been brought by God into this process.
[3:32] And as the old saying goes, the best is very much yet to come. Now people who are not Christians, they never understand this. They think that if you are a Christian, you have gone and you've chosen religion.
[3:47] Or you've found faith. Or you've found God. And therefore you, they are basically off the hook. Because they've not found him. And they imagine that all is well. But we are not people who have just gone and found faith.
[4:03] Or Jesus. Or religion. In order that we would be happy or secure or peaceful or something like that. We have actually been drawn. Says Paul. Into the plan of God.
[4:14] Which is not all flattering. Because it begins by telling you and I that we are God avoiders. And it's only because God is merciful that he has turned us and called us.
[4:25] And woken us up. Woken us up to the need and the good news. And we've brought the two together. And we've put our faith in Jesus. And then we discover that he was at work predestining.
[4:40] He was the one who has called us. And now he is the one who has justified us. And he will glorify us. So this is the wonderful plan.
[4:51] And process of God. As we come to the subject of glorification tonight. I don't want to pretend. There aren't many Christians.
[5:06] Who just say. Tell me about heaven because I want to go now. Most normal people. They are fairly involved in the world. And they are fearful of death.
[5:17] And they are hopeful of heaven. And I don't want to pretend that there is a great kind of person. There is a great preacher. Who will stand up the front and say. Well all this is easy tonight. And all this is simple.
[5:29] And there are no problems. But the plan of God. Which Paul has outlined in this verse. And summarises very wonderful. That having chosen. Called and justify.
[5:40] He will eventually get us home. We trusted in him. And there will come a day. When the Christian having travelled that very difficult. And rocky road.
[5:51] With lots of doubts. And lots of fears. Is nevertheless brought by God. To the end. And suddenly everything that is evil. And dangerous.
[6:01] And sad. Is gone. And we are able to turn around. And say. I trust him. He brought me home. He is delivered. So let us think about two things briefly.
[6:14] What is it going to mean. To be glorified. And secondly. What does it mean today. To be glorified. What does it mean at the end. To be glorified firstly. I think.
[6:25] Discussions over the Christian hope. Are not easy. It is difficult. To capture. Eternity. In time.
[6:36] It is difficult. To capture the future. With words. To persuade people. Who are fearful. And who are doubtful. About the future. And the words of a preacher.
[6:48] To describe the glory. That is to come. Are just inadequate. Even Jesus. Scoops down for me. Very lovingly. To talk about a house. And a feast.
[7:01] So that you and I. Have been able to understand this. But I can safely say this. If we are to be glorified. It means that God. Will achieve. His goal. For his people. He will achieve.
[7:14] His goal for his people. So he says in chapter 8. Verse 29. That his goal. For his people. Is to conform us. To the image of his son. In other words. To bring us. Into the likeness.
[7:25] Or the character of Jesus. That we. Will one day. Have the same character of Jesus. We will be without sin. And with all godliness. John says a similar thing.
[7:37] In his letter. In chapter 3. In verse 2. What will we be like. Says John. We will be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And so.
[7:50] Therefore. We need to be patient. With each other. Don't we? Because the person. That you sit next to. Tonight. You maybe know. A lot about them. But they are going to be.
[8:01] Better than they are. And they are going to be. Better than they are. And so be patient. Patient. Because God is patient. With them. To be glorified.
[8:13] Means that salvation. Will be finished. We know. That the punishment. For sin. Is already gone. Jesus has borne it.
[8:25] And we know. That the power. Of sin. Is being overcome. In our lives. So we are not taken over by it. And we know. Don't we. That the presence. Of sin. Will be gone.
[8:35] It won't be in our nature. And it won't be in our neighborhood. And it will be a wonderful future. I wonder what you think.
[8:46] Will be the most wonderful thing. About heaven. What will be the most wonderful thing. About heaven. What are you most. Looking forward to.
[8:57] I think the more. That you go on. In the Christian life. The thing that you are. Most looking forward to. Is not having.
[9:08] A sinful nature. Not having. A sinful nature. The plan of salvation. Will come to its finish. The road. That we are on. At the present. Is a very difficult road.
[9:20] And it isn't. For cities. It isn't. For wimps. Those people. That think. Christianity. Is a crutch. Need to know. That it's not so much. Having to walk with a crutch. But it's having to walk.
[9:30] With a cross. There is an extra burden. On the Christian. And that is why. Becoming a Christian. Is not some armchair experience. It is a serious walk.
[9:43] For serious people. Who know that truth matters. And the apostle Paul. Knows that. Because in Romans chapter 5. To 8. He has set out. Many dangers. So in chapter 6.
[9:55] There is the danger. Of being reckless. In chapter 7. There is the danger. Of being obsessional. Of looking at yourself. All the time. How am I performing.
[10:05] How am I doing. And that will bring despair. Or sometimes pride. And then in chapter 8. Paul talks about. Suffering. And opposition. And fear. And even death itself.
[10:17] And he says. Nothing will separate us. Because God will finish. What has begun. The salvation. He has begun. Will be completed.
[10:28] For as Paul says. In Philippians chapter 1. He who began a good work in you. Will bring it to completion. And he will bring it. To completion. He will.
[10:42] It's his nature. To finish. What he starts. And you notice. The apostle Paul. Emphasizes this. In the verse. In the verse. In the verse. 30. Because he jumps straight.
[10:53] Doesn't he. From justification. To glorification. There's nothing in between. There's such a lot.
[11:04] Isn't that. That we could have put in. Between justified. And glorified. But Paul doesn't. Why does he not. Put things in between. Why does he. Put sanctified.
[11:15] Do you know. That process. Where we are made. More like Christ. Why doesn't he. Put that in. Those he justified. He sanctified. And he glorified. Why does he jump. Straight from justification.
[11:26] To glorification. I've been a Christian. 24 years. This summer. Let's say.
[11:38] I changed my diet. And somehow. I'm still alive. At 70. Alright. That's 54 years. As a Christian. That's a lot of times.
[11:49] In this world. Why doesn't this verse. Say anything. About that spam. From the day. That I was justified. To the day. I'll be glorified. And the answer.
[12:00] I think. Is that the apostle Paul. Wants to show. The absolute security. That you've got. To the start. And you'll get to the finish. He will make sure.
[12:10] His people go. From the beginning. To the end. And no one will drop out. He is so keen. To go. From the beginning. Of the Christian life. To the finish. That he just goes. Justified. Glorified. And I'm sure.
[12:22] That's the reason. Thirdly. To be glorified. Means that there'll be. A resurrection. Romans chapter 8. And verse 23. And not only.
[12:32] The creation. But we ourselves. Who have the first fruit. Of the spirit. Grown inwardly. As we wait. Eagerly. For adoption. Public adoption. As sons.
[12:43] For the redemption. Of our bodies. Spiritually. We've been raised. Now. Physically.
[12:53] We will be raised. Then. As if I asked. You should turn to your neighbour. And ask them. Have you been resurrected? What would your neighbour say tonight? Some of you are looking like.
[13:05] You need to be resurrected. But your neighbour. I hope would say. I hope you would say. Yes. I know. To that question. Spiritually. I've been resurrected.
[13:17] Physically. Not yet. And that's what the apostle Paul says here. We wait for the resurrection of our bodies. Because we're not planning to leave a body. We're not planning to leave a body.
[13:28] And become a spook. Floating around. Like a vapour. In the air. The bible says. There is a body for this world. And there's a body for the next. The bird says.
[13:39] There's a body for the air. The fish is a body for the sea. The believer has a body for this world. And the believer has a body for the next world. Jesus shows you that.
[13:50] In the resurrection. Where his body was new. With new qualities. Similar. Yes. But different. And therefore.
[14:01] That is good news. We will not be sitting. In a white nightie. On a white cloud. With a blue black backdrop.
[14:12] Playing a gold heart forever. That must be hell. I can't think of anything worse. To sit there forever. Strumming away. With you beside me. Strumming your guitar.
[14:25] Absolute hell. And when Jesus. Talk about his return. He talked about. A master. Coming back to his servants. And the whole world. Beginning.
[14:36] He taught that the servants. Would have new opportunities. And new responsibilities. And new work. And new joys. So we're going to have. A physical resurrection body.
[14:47] In a physical resurrection world. In some ways. We move from the vapour. To the solid. We think.
[14:58] This world is so solid. And the next. Is something of a vapour. It's the exact opposite. Your life hangs by a thread.
[15:11] And you're so fragile. It's the future. That's so solid. That's why CSA. Is called this world.
[15:22] Shadowlands. The next. Will be reality. John Newton said. Solid joys. And lasting treasures. None but Zion's children know. The last thing to think about.
[15:37] In this first point. Is to be glorified. Means that there will be more grace. Paul's teaching. In Romans chapter 8. Is that the hope. Outweighs the present. The future.
[15:47] The future. The future. The future. Is going to be better than the present. The present is good. But it's difficult.
[16:00] The future will be better. And somehow. To the praise of God. And he not only. In verse 32. Has given us his son.
[16:10] But he's also. Along with him. Going to graciously. Give us all things. So we will suddenly. Find ourselves. Face to face. With the gates of heaven.
[16:23] And without spoiling us. And without making us. Self-centered. Or self-gratified. God is going to provide. And reveal. More than we could possibly grasp. So Peter says.
[16:36] In chapter 1. Verse 13. Before Peter. Set your hope. On the grace. To be revealed. I hope you know.
[16:47] That there is grace. To be revealed. It's a great. Hope business. You approach old age. There is grace. To be revealed. Paul says.
[16:59] In Philippians chapter 1. Verse 23. He desires to depart. And be with Christ. Which is better. By far. Why not making this up? I know this is the kind of thing.
[17:12] You would expect the preacher. To say. In the hymns. To sing. But it's not based. On sentimentalism. It's not an invention. It is based.
[17:23] On history. Resurrection. And it is based. On promises. Clear. And faithful. Promises. Of a God. Who keeps his. Word. And so when. The unbelieving.
[17:34] Pagan. Says to us. The best is yet to come. Ah. The best is yet to come. They're in a better place. Aren't they. Vicar. We simply say to them. Do you have a reason?
[17:45] Do you have proof? Because the believer. Has a resurrection proof. And a promise proof. That the best. Is yet to come. God. So there you are.
[17:57] The goal is reached. The character. Of the believer. Becomes like Christ. The salvation. Is finished. And sin. Is gone. And the resurrection. Is physical.
[18:08] Never to suffer. And grace. Is expanded. The riches unfold. So what does it mean. To be glorified. In the present.
[18:18] What does it mean? What does it mean today? You and I will go out. To a normal Sunday night. From what your normal Sunday night. Was like. Mine is like. Your Friday night. And you'll go out.
[18:29] To a normal Monday. Tomorrow morning. With you. And what are we going to make. Of this particular. Truth and subject. Well first of all. The obvious thing. Is in verse 30.
[18:39] Can you notice. The tense. The word is past tense. Those whom he justified. He also glorified. So you would expect him to say. He predestines.
[18:50] He calls. He justifies. And he will glorify. But that isn't what he says. He glorified. That's the first thing. And it is a guaranteed thing. It's the language of guarantee.
[19:04] Not only has Jesus risen. And he's made some promises. But for the believer. Says Paul. They are as good as done. God is going. To see the process through.
[19:18] Now it is obvious. That we are not glorified. In the sense of having. Perfect body. In the sense of having. Perfect body. So I did hear one preacher say once. When you look at me. You might be tempted to think so. But I can't say that.
[19:31] It's obvious isn't it. We don't have resurrection bodies. Even you gym monkeys don't. We are not at home. Face to face with the Lord Jesus. But God speaks.
[19:43] As if it is. A fate or complete. You know it's like. When the plumber comes round. And he says. It's as good as done. And the electrician comes round.
[19:53] And he says. It's as good as done. That is what God is saying here. It's as good as done. Glorified. I can put it in the past tense. It's as good as done.
[20:05] So that is the. First. What it means now. It is guaranteed. Second. This verse is matched by warnings. John Newton brilliantly said.
[20:17] That preachers are to comfort the disturbed. And disturb the comfortable. And that's exactly what the Bible does. Which is exactly what we need.
[20:31] And exactly what we should be thankful for. Because Romans 8 is full of security. It's full of security. Romans chapter 9 to 11.
[20:41] Is full of challenge. And warning. It's full of challenge. Of warning. For people who've got lots of privileges. But they just.
[20:52] Don't look as if they're going to go to the future. Paul says. So in chapter 10. And verse 16. He says. Listen. Not all the Israelites.
[21:04] Chapter 10 and verse 16. That's not the right verse. Where's not all Israel is Israel? Verse 16.
[21:16] Chapter 10 and verse 16. But they've not all obeyed the gospel. Yeah. So that's saying isn't it. Not all Israelites are Israelites.
[21:26] You could say. Not all Presbyterians. Accepted the good news. Not all churchgoers. Accepted the good news. And we need to say that on a Sunday. Don't we? That if Christ.
[21:40] Would. To return in 30 seconds time. And take his people with him. Take his sheep with him. And leave the goats. Would it be a shock. If five of us. Ten of us.
[21:50] Fifteen of us. Are left sitting. Suddenly find yourself. Face to face. With a Christ. Who they don't know. And he does not know.
[22:04] And he says. Those terrible words. I don't know you. Depart from me. I can't think of anything. More wonderful in the universe. Than to find yourself.
[22:17] Face to face. With Jesus. And him to look at you. In the eye. And say welcome. My friend. We know each other. And I can't think of anything else.
[22:28] That is worse in all the universe. Than have him look you in the eye. And say. I don't know you. Depart from me. So there's the promise. And there is the warning. There is the comfort.
[22:39] And there is the challenge. And we need them both. Now how can God say. Secure things.
[22:51] Like this verse. And unsettling things. Well because he loves us. And he is God. And he is a genius.
[23:03] Because he knows. That his people. Need promises. And we need warnings. And so if somebody comes to you. And says. I've been a Christian a long time. And I've done something dreadful.
[23:14] And I think I've absolutely ruined my salvation. What do you do? Well let me tell you what you do. You go to John chapter 10. And you say. None. Shall pluck me.
[23:25] Out of your hand. And you go to Romans 8. And you say. Nothing shall separate you. From the love of God. And Christ Jesus. Because you're in distress. But if you're sitting.
[23:37] Having lunch with somebody. Who is just not talking. Like a believer. Or acting like a believer. Or is actually talking. Like an unbeliever. And acting like an unbeliever.
[23:48] And is boasting of their lifestyle. Which is not Christian. What do you do then? You take them to John 15. Don't you? And you say to them. Beware. Because the branch.
[23:58] That bears no fruit. Gets cut off. And thrown into the fire. That's a shocking verse. But those verses. Are next to each other. John 10. John 15. In the same gospel.
[24:09] Why? Because Jesus knows. That you need the promise. And the warnings. Because otherwise. We polarise. You cannot reduce. Christian security. To a bumper sticker. God is too smart.
[24:21] And too loving. He says the warnings. And he says the promises. And if you're fearful tonight. Spend some time. In the promises. And if you are drifting.
[24:33] And your Christian life. Is much cooler. Than it was last year. And you've got no interest. In the Bible. And prayer. And you don't care. About the lost. And you're not bothered. By sin.
[24:43] And if somebody. Was to watch your life. On an hour by hour basis. It couldn't work out. Whether you're a Christian. Or not. Go back to the warnings. Tonight. It's the best place. You can go to.
[24:55] Because that is the love. Which God has for you. He doesn't want you to perish. Pilgrim's Progress. Pilgrim on the road. To the celestial city.
[25:06] It was a wonderful road. But it's not for the careless. The third thing under this point. Is it's forward looking. Paul says in Romans chapter 8. Verse 24.
[25:17] Who hopes for what he sees. Anyone know a good definition of hope? Let me give you a good definition of hope. I've stolen it from someone else.
[25:28] It's faith looking forward. That's hope. Faith looking forward. Faith on the promises. Looking forward. That's why C.S. Lewis says.
[25:41] This doesn't mean that we're to leave this present world. Read history says C.S. Lewis. And you will find that the Christians. Who did most for the present world. Were those who thought most about the next. Aim at heaven says Lewis.
[25:54] And you'll get earth thrown in. Aim at earth. And you'll get neither. And I fear for us. In the Christian church. In the UK. That we're really aiming for the earth.
[26:06] You'll miss everything. And we need to think about the future. It is. Faith forward looking. We will.
[26:18] Suddenly come face to face. With Jesus. In his splendor. And we're going to begin. This new life. In a new world. And therefore we need to see people.
[26:29] In the light of that end. Will they get a welcome. Or will they get rejection. And we need to adjust our praying.
[26:40] And we need to adjust our giving. And we may need to adjust our retirement plans. I'm really grateful for this church. We haven't had that dreadful syndrome. Of people kind of retiring at 55.
[26:51] To live a selfish life. For the rest of their days. I had lunch with Dick Lucas on Friday. He's at the flu. He's 91.
[27:02] And I said to him. Are you slowing down? And he said to me. Are people not perishing? What a great answer. Where do we get the idea.
[27:12] That you can kind of go into retirement. As a Christian. We need to be forward looking. And lastly. To be glorified. Means it's worth our sacrifices.
[27:26] The great future. Means it is worth. Not indulging the sinful nature. Look at chapter 8. And verse 6. We're not to indulge the sinful nature.
[27:38] I know that the world looks as if it's getting away with it. The world is getting blinder. And harder. And deader. And duller. And loster. Those are words.
[27:49] Because of its sin. Just talk to people. They are miles. They are light years away from Jesus. And just in the last 10 years. I think we've seen people hardened away.
[28:03] And those of you who are following the Lord Jesus. It is worth turning your back on sin. For many reasons. It honours him. It helps others. It softens you.
[28:14] It causes you to stay keen. But especially in the light of the great eternity. It's worth saying no to sin.
[28:27] I wonder if there are people here who've said no to sin. I'm going to sin in the last 24 hours. I hope so. And it's also worth all the suffering we get in this world. Because God is providing a glory that is incomparable.
[28:41] And so that means he will keep us. He will keep us from settling too much. God has a way of making sure that we don't just get too comfortable.
[28:54] And forget it. And become independent and self-sufficient. And we can do everything ourselves. And so God carefully and lovingly brings to us certain trials. And certain tests.
[29:04] That we will grow to know him better and look to him. Love him and trust him and look forward. And God is going to restore the heavens and the earth.
[29:17] To be a new heavens. And a new earth. Which I think means. And I think we see this particularly at the end of 2 Peter. That he is going to transform what we are in.
[29:29] We are tempted aren't we to think that all this will disappear. And we will go somewhere else. But it seems to me according to the New Testament.
[29:41] That he is going to transform this world. And this creation. Just as he transforms believers. And makes them new. And he transforms creation.
[29:52] And makes it new. And he comes to a brand new. Sin free creation. And we will find ourselves. Seeing what we have just been hearing.
[30:04] And we will find ourselves in endless joy. And not singing the same song forever I assure you. And we will find ourselves here. Why?
[30:14] Because it pleases God. Who is so gracious. And so remarkable. That he actually wants to share. With the unworthy. The treasures beyond this world.
[30:27] And I cannot work out why he wants to do it. But he does it. And he tells us he does it. And in those lovely, lovely words of Jesus.
[30:39] If it were not so. I would have told him. Let's pray.