“Becoming Totally Like Christ in Glorification” 1 John 3:1-3
Dr. Gary M. Barker
Article published in the Paso Robles Press 8.12.20
Glorification is the final culmination of God’s provision of salvation. Salvation deals with deliverance from three areas that sin effects every sinner. Salvation provides past, present, and future benefits and blessings. In the past, salvation delivers believers from the penalty of sin thru justification (Romans 3:21-24). In the present, salvation delivers believers from the power of sin thru sanctification (Romans 8:1-5). In the future, salvation delivers believers from the presence of sin thru Glorification. Being glorified by God will result in a believer becoming exactly like Jesus Christ in His holy, immortal human nature. A believer will no longer have a sin nature and will NEVER SIN AGAIN. A believer will have an immortal body and will never die. Sin as we know and experience it in this life will no longer exist. In the eternal state in heaven, believers will exist in a blessed state free from the presence of sin. The apostle Peter describes this state of existence as a place where only righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
The apostle Paul states in Romans 8:18-29 that God’s divine plan for all believers is to make them just like His beloved Son. God has redeemed the body of every believer and will thru glorification make it exactly like Jesus ’immortal body. This will prepare a person to be able to live in eternity future. This truth is also clearly taught by Paul in Philippians 3:20-21. Believers are heavenly citizens and someday Christ will change their physical body. In glorification, Christ finally conquers death thru immortality. This is the great provision and blessing of salvation. Believers will live forever in heaven in an immortal body in a sinless environment. The apostle John in 1 John 3:1-3, also assures us that all believers will someday be made like Christ when He comes to take believers to heaven to the place He has prepared for them (John 14:1-6). This is the blessed hope we have as believers in Jesus Christ.
All the blessings of glorification are only received by personally believing in Christ as your Savior. Jesus promised that all believers would receive everlasting life and be saved from the judgment of God (John 3:1-18, 5:24). Jesus died for the sins of the world so that everyone could be delivered from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. My prayer is that you have been saved and have the hope of going to heaven.