CALLED, JUSTIFIED AND GLORIFIED 2
(week 19/16)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article last week, we saw that God calls ALL men; however, it is those that RESPOND to that call with honest hearts that ultimately get born-again and so justified.
We saw that God predestinates EVENTS AND PURPOSES with conditions not individuals; however individuals that fulfill those conditions become predestinated to fulfill those events and purposes!
For example:
2Timothy 2:20-21 KJV: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (21) IF A MAN therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2Timothy 2:20-21 NIV: In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. (21) Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Observe that God has made provision for those who DO NOT SATISFACTORILY purge themselves to still be in His house, the church, as ordinary vessels because of His mercies (not willing that any should perish (2 Pet.3.9)). HOWEVER, it is the men that fulfill the conditions of purging themselves that become vessels of honour!
So God DOES NOT CHOOSE some to be vessels of honour and others to be ordinary vessels: that choice is made by men themselves!
Now, after being justified, it is the degree to which you continue to follow the Lord that will determine HOW MUCH you will be glorified.
John 8:31-32 KJV: Then said Jesus to those Jews, which believed on him, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
2Corinthians 3:18 NKJV: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image FROM GLORY TO GLORY, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Now we are glorified at 2 levels:
A. In this lifetime.
B. At the resurrection.
A. In this lifetime:
In this lifetime, we are glorified BY MANIFESTING THE GLORY of God through the power of the Spirit without measure: firstly as a borrowed anointing at DIFFERENT LEVELS and ultimately through spiritual maturity as a full inheritance.
B. At the resurrection: this will be shown by the ORDER AND GLORY OF YOUR RESURRECTION.
1Corinthians 15:41-42 KJV: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. (42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
So, it is our responsibility to respond to God’s call through our conscience and so be justified; and then continue in the Word and spiritual growth to be glorified!
