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CALLED TO GLORY
A. Introduction: We’re talking about developing an eternal perspective as part of a larger discussion about
peace of mind. Peace of mind is one of God’s greatest blessings to His people (Isa 26:3), but peace doesn’t
automatically come to us. To experience peace of mind you must have an eternal perspective.
1. Your perspective is your view of reality or how you see things. When you have an eternal perspective
you live with the awareness that there’s more to life than this present life, and that the greater and better
part of life is ahead, in the life after this life.
a. An eternal perspective realizes that all pain, suffering, and loss is temporary, and that in the life to
come, there is reunion, restoration, and recompense out of all proportion to the hardships of this life
b. An eternal perspective gives you hope for the future (or confident expectation of coming good).
And it gives you peace of mind in the present because, based on what you know about what is ahead,
you’re certain that all will ultimately be well, if not in this life, in the life to come
2. Key to developing an eternal perspective is the understanding that we are part of a God-ordained plan
that began before the world was created and will be completed in the life after this life. That plan is
God’s plan to have a family with whom He can live with forever in loving relationship.
a. Almighty God created human beings to become His sons and daughters through faith in Him, and
He created this world to be a home for Himself and His family. Eph 1:4-5; Isa 45:18; etc.
b. Both the family and the family home have been damaged by sin, beginning with the first man Adam.
When he sinned, a curse of corruption and death infused the entire creation. Gen 2:17; Gen 3:17-19
1. Rom 5:12—When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death
throughout all the world, so that everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned (TLB).
2. As a consequence of Adam’s sin, all humans are born with a bent toward selfishness, and all
choose independence from God through sin, disqualifying them for God’s family. Rom 3:23
c. Following Adam’s sin, God began to reveal His plan to undo the damage done and recover His
family and the family home through Jesus (the Seed of the woman, Gen 3:15). This plan is called
redemption or salvation.
1. Jesus came to earth the first time to pay for sin through His death on the Cross and open the
way for sinful men and women to be restored to God’s family through faith in Him. I Pet 3:18
2. Jesus will come again to cleanse the earth of all sin, corruption, and death and restore it to a fit
forever home in what the Bible calls the new heavens and the new earth. All of God’s family
will be reunited with their bodies through resurrection of the dead, and God and His family of
redeemed sons and daughters will live on earth forever. Heaven will be on earth. Rev 21-22
3. We’ve been focusing on something that Paul wrote about his view of the many hardships he faced as he
preached the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. Paul had an eternal perspective.
a. Paul wrote II Cor 4:17-18—Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they
produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever. So we don’t look at the troubles
we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see
will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever (NLT).
b. Paul realized that in comparison to the life after this life (forever) his hardships and problems were
small and short-lived. He also knew that they produced great glory. The Greek word that Paul
used for produce means to accomplish, achieve, finish. But what does glory mean?
c. That’s our topic tonight as we continue to discuss how knowledge of the big picture (an eternal
perspective) gives us hope and peace of mind in the midst of this difficult life.
B. We begin with a familiar statement that Paul made: Rom 8:28—And we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (NKJV).
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1. Note, God calls people according to His purpose. Purpose means an intention or an end to be obtained
—or what God is working toward. God is able to work all things for good for those whom He calls into
His plan. Then in the next verse Paul states God’s plan or purpose for us.
a. Rom 8:29—For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (NKJV); chose them to bear the family likeness
of his Son, that he might be the eldest of a family of many brother (J. B. Phillips).
b. God knew us before we existed and predestined (decided or determined beforehand) that we should
become His sons and daughters, men and women who are conformed to the image of Jesus. The
Greek word translated conformed means jointly formed or having the same form as.
1. God wants sons and daughters who are like Jesus in character and behavior. Jesus, in His
humanity, is the pattern for God’s family. Remember, Jesus is God Incarnate—God become
fully man without ceasing to be fully God.
2. We don’t become Jesus, nor do we lose our individuality. We become the person that God
intended us to be before sin damaged God’s creation—fully glorifying to our Heavenly Father
in every thought, motive, word, and action.
A. This word conformed is used two times in the New Testament, both times to describe
God’s plan for His family. It’s used here in Rom 8:29 and also in Phil 3:21.
B. Paul referenced what will happen to our body at resurrection of the dead: (Jesus) will
transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body (Phil 3:21, NKJV).
2. Back to Romans 8. Once Paul states God’s purpose for us he states how God transforms sinful men and
women into people who are conformed to the image of Christ and bear the family likeness.
a. Rom 8:30—Moreover whom He predestinated, these He also called; whom He called, these He also
justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (NKJV).
1. When we repent of sin and bow our knee to Jesus as Savior and Lord, on the basis of Jesus’
sacrifice, Almighty God can justify us (declare us not guilty) and bring us into His family.
2. Once we are justified (restored to right standing with God through faith in Jesus) God can them
indwell us by His Spirit, impart His eternal life to us, and make us His sons and daughters
through what is called a new birth. John 1:12; John 3:3-5; I Pet 1:3; etc.
b. This begins the process of glorifying us or conforming us to the image of Christ. To be glorified
means to be made alive by the Spirit of God, made alive with eternal life, in every part of our being.
1. Being glorified or conformed to the image of Christ is a progressive process that begins at
conversion and will be completed at resurrection of the dead (many lessons for another time).
2. This transformation is not only our destiny, it is the remedy for the brokenness in us and in this
fallen world. Because of sin, all humans or dead or cut off from God who is life. Every
problem in this world is ultimately traceable to sin (beginning with Adam’s sin). They are
lesser forms of death. Jesus came and died to deliver us from death in all its forms.
A. II Tim 1:9-10—It is God saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because
we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his
love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. And now, he has made all of this plain to us
by the coming of Christ Jesus our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the
way to everlasting life through the Good News (NLT).
B. Rom 5:10—For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of
His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved [daily
delivered from sin’s dominion] through His [resurrection] life (Amp).
C. Eph 1:13-14—And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving
you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he
will give us everything he promises and that he has purchased us to be his own people.
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This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God (NLT).
1. This isn’t our main point in our current series, but it is an important one. Knowing
that you are part of God’s eternal plan—by His choice—helps you see your true value
and worth before God. Value comes from what one is willing to pay for something.
2. I Pet 1:18-20—God paid a ransom to save you…and the ransom he paid was not mere
gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless,
spotless Lamb of God. God chose him for this purpose long before the world began,
but now in these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this for
you (NLT).
3. Paul knew that life’s hardships “produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever (II Cor
4:17, NLT)” for those who have answered God’s call to become His son or daughter through faith in
Jesus, for those who love Him, or are submitted and obedient to Him (Rom 8:28). What is glory?
a. The word glory is used in a number of ways in connection with our salvation from sin and eternal
life. Generally speaking, it’s used to mean to honor and make glorious, as well as for what awaits
us in the life to come when we are fully glorified or Christ-like—resurrection and return to earth.
1. In the context of resurrection from the dead and the restoration of all of creation Paul wrote that
when Jesus returns to this world, not only will the dead be raised, all of creation will be
delivered from death.
2. Rom 8:18-21—Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later
…All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from
death and decay…Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom (NLT).
b. Paul was not the only one who wrote about the glory that is to come. Peter the apostle also wrote:
1. I Pet 1:3-4—All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless
mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful
expectation because Jesus rose from the dead (NLT).
2. I Pet 1:5—For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept for you, pure
and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, by his mighty power will
protect you until you receive this salvation because you are trusting in him. It will be revealed
on the last day for all to see (NLT).
C. Let’s connect this to peace of mind in the midst of trials. Remember, Paul was able to call his many troubles
momentary and light because he knew that they will they “produce for us an immeasurably great glory that
will last forever” (II Cor 4:17, NLT).
1. What glory is Paul talking about? He’s talking about the completion of God’s glorious plan for a family
of sons and daughters who have been fully glorified and will live with God their Father forever.
a. Paul wrote Rom 5:1-2—Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have
peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ
has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and
joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory (NLT); we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (NKJV).
1. Through our faith in Jesus we have been made sons and daughters of God. That is a position of
honor and dignity.
2. Remember Rom 8:30—And those whom He justified He also glorified, raising them to a
heavenly dignity and condition [state of being] (Amp).
b. And we are in process of being made like Jesus in character, with the assurance that as we cooperate
with Him through obedience, we will ultimately be fully glorified or fully Christ-like. Col 1:27—
For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory
(NLT); the hope of your glorification (Williams).
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2. Paul went on to write Rom 5:3-4—We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we
know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of
character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation (NLT).
a. We live in a fallen, broken world. There is no such thing as a problem free life in this sin cursed
earth. Troubles test our faith in God and draw up questions and doubts. And, in the midst of life’s
challenges, we are more vulnerable to the lies of Satan—God doesn’t love you; God’s been unfair to
you; etc, etc. Mark 4:15-17; I Thess 3:5
b. However, life’s hardships also give us an opportunity to strengthen our endurance or patience, our
commitment to stay faithful to the Lord no matter what happens.
c. James the apostle wrote: Count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2, NKJV). Be
assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness
and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough
work, so that you may be a [people] perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in
nothing (James 1:3-4, Amp).
3. God’s ultimate aim for us is glorification—becoming fully Christ-like in every part of our being, made
alive with eternal life in every part of our being (death swallowed up in life, II Cor 5:4).
a. This is a process that continues throughout our lifetime and will be completed in connection with the
second coming of Jesus. In order to experience the completion of the process, in order to
experience this glory, we must stay faithful to the Lord.
b. Paul wrote that when we make it through a trouble, it strengthens our confidence that God can and
will get us through whatever life brings our way. It strengthens our expectation of salvation or the
glory that awaits us.
1. Both Paul and James said that we can rejoice when we encounter life’s trials. The Greek
words that Paul used for rejoice in Rom 5 means to boast. In the face of troubles we can praise
God or acknowledge Him by boasting about Him and His faithfulness.
2. James used a word for joy that means to be cheerful, as opposed to feel cheerful. To be
cheerful means to encourage yourself with the hope you have because of what lies ahead. It’s
the same word that Paul used when he wrote about being sorrowful in the midst of troubles, yet
rejoicing. II Cor 6:10
D. Conclusion: Paul and the other apostles knew that God is able to use life’s hardships and cause them to
serve His purpose for a family of Christ-like men and women. So they rejoiced in the face of trouble. They
They knew that if we stay faithful to God we will experience the glory of God. That means:
1. The process of being glorified or fully conformed to the image of Christ will be completed: Beloved,
now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when
He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (I John 2:2, NKJV).
a. This means that when when we die, we will enter a glorious realm, the present Heaven, and then
return to earth with Jesus to live on earth again once it is renewed and restored.
b. The psalmist wrote: Ps 73:23-26—I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide
me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but
you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but
God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (ESV).
2. We’ve been called to glory. God’s purpose will be accomplished. In the mean time, we can live with
the assurance that God is at work causing everything that happens to serve His ultimate purpose for a
family as He brings good out of bad. And, He will get us through until He gets us out. That’s our hope.
And keeping our focus on what is ahead gives us peace of mind now. Much more next week!!
