Definition · Webster 1828 · Scriptures · Corruption · Roots · Usage · Related
📖 Biblical Definition
The final step in the application of redemption: the perfecting of the saints in holiness and the resurrection and transformation of their bodies in glory at the return of Christ — the consummation of salvation. Glorification is the last link in the golden chain of Romans 8:30 (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), stated in the past tense (the certainty of the future glorification of all the justified is so sure that it is spoken of as already accomplished). Glorification has two principal aspects: (1) the perfecting of the soul in holiness — at death, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness and immediately pass into glory (the intermediate state, the soul perfected and with Christ, Hebrews 12:23, the spirits of just men made perfect; 2 Corinthians 5:8, absent from the body, present with the Lord; Philippians 1:23, to depart and be with Christ); (2) the resurrection and glorification of the body — at the return of Christ, the bodies of believers are raised and transformed into glorious, immortal, incorruptible, spiritual bodies, conformed to Christ's glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54, the resurrection body sown in corruption raised in incorruption; Philippians 3:21, Christ shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body; 1 John 3:2, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is). Glorification is the consummation of the believer's conformity to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29, predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son), the completion of the work begun in regeneration and advanced in sanctification. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine of glorification: it is the certain final perfecting of every justified believer, in soul (at death, made perfect in holiness, immediately with Christ) and body (at the resurrection, raised and transformed into a glorious immortal body); it is the consummation of salvation, the last link in the unbreakable golden chain, the believer's blessed hope of being fully and forever conformed to the image of Christ, seeing Him as He is, and dwelling with Him in the glory of the new heavens and earth.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The final step in the application of redemption: the perfecting of the saints in holiness (the soul at death) and the resurrection and transformation of their bodies in glory (at Christ's return); the consummation of salvation; the last link in the golden chain (Romans 8:30); 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2.
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GLORIFICATION (DOCTRINE), n. (soteriology / eschatology) The final step in the application of redemption: the perfecting of the saints in holiness and the resurrection and transformation of their bodies in glory at Christ's return. The last link in the golden chain (Romans 8:30, whom he justified, them he also glorified, stated in the past tense for its certainty). Two aspects: (1) the perfecting of the soul in holiness at death (the intermediate state, Hebrews 12:23, the spirits of just men made perfect; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23); (2) the resurrection and glorification of the body at Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is). The consummation of conformity to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29); the believer's blessed hope.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 8:30 — "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."
Philippians 3:21 — "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
1 John 3:2 — "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 — "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Glorification is the certain final perfecting of every justified believer in soul and body; the principal mishandling is the neglect of the bodily resurrection (a disembodied-soul-only eschatology) and the doubt of glorification's certainty (the last link in the unbreakable golden chain).
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Glorification as a doctrine does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal mishandlings are the neglect of the bodily resurrection and the doubt of glorification's certainty. The neglect of the bodily resurrection produces a disembodied-soul-only eschatology (the popular conception of the saints as disembodied spirits in heaven forever), which fails to honor the biblical doctrine of the resurrection and glorification of the body (the believer's final state is not a disembodied soul but a resurrected, glorified, immortal body in the new heavens and earth, 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 21). The doubt of glorification's certainty fails to grasp the unbreakable character of the golden chain (Romans 8:30, where glorification is stated in the past tense to express its absolute certainty — all whom God justified, He also glorified; not one of the justified will fail to be glorified). The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine: glorification is the certain final perfecting of every justified believer, in soul (at death, made perfect in holiness, immediately with Christ in the intermediate state) and body (at the resurrection, raised and transformed into a glorious, immortal, incorruptible body conformed to Christ's glorious body). It is the consummation of the believer's conformity to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), the completion of the work begun in regeneration and advanced in sanctification, and the believer's blessed hope — to be fully and forever conformed to the image of Christ, to see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), and to dwell with Him in the glory of the new heavens and earth. The certainty of glorification, as the last link in the unbreakable golden chain, is the ground of the believer's assurance: the salvation that God began He will certainly complete (Philippians 1:6).
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
The final perfecting of the saints in holiness (soul at death) and resurrection-transformation of the body in glory (at Christ's return); the last link in the golden chain (Romans 8:30); 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2.
Usage
"Glorification: the final perfecting of the saints in holiness and the resurrection-transformation of the body."
"The last link in the golden chain (Romans 8:30); the consummation of salvation."
"The believer's blessed hope: conformed to Christ's image, seeing Him as He is (1 John 3:2)."