March 23, 2016March 23, 2016
by in RCCG EFA Deacons, Ministers & Others, Sermons
0
Justified to be Glorified, by Brother Godspower Ekadi

Justified to be Glorified, by Brother Godspower Ekadi

Pondering Questions

What does it mean to be justified?

How does a person become justified?

What does it mean to be glorified?

And having chosen us, he called us to come to him; and when we came, he declared us “not guilty,” filled us with Christ’s goodness, gave us right standing with himself, and promised us his glory. -Rom 8:30 (TLB: Emphasis added)

What does it mean to be justified?

To be declared not guilty (of sin).

To be filled us with Christ’s goodness.

To have right standing with God.

To be set on a solid basis with God (Rom 8:30 Message)

How does a person become justified?

…And having chosen us, he called us to come to him; and when we came…

-Rom 8:30 (TLB: Emphasis added).

And when we came:

To where?

Church?

How?

Luke 18:10-14 (NLT) – 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[a]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!

12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Both men came, but the Pharisee was not justified why?

Pharisee came in the confidence of his morally upright attributes.

    • Neither a cheat, sinner (by his own assessment) nor adulterer.

    • One who fasts, Tither.

    • Don’t get confused!! These things in themselves are not wrong but it is an error to assume that they are the basis of being justified before God.

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

– Isa.64: 6

A person is justified by coming to God

    • In Humility

    • Repentance

    • Faith in the finished work of Jesus

What does it mean to be glorified?

  • More pondering questions

    • Does it mean to reflect The Glory of Christ or share in His Glory?

    • Is it a Future Glory when Jesus returns or a Present Glory on earth?

Reflect Christ’s Glory (here on Earth).

But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him. -2 Cor. 3: 18 (TLB).

Share in His Glory (Future)

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory – Rom5:2 (NLT) .Also check Rom. 8:17-18

Concluding Thoughts

The ultimate form of Glorification is when we are transformed into our new bodies on Jesus Christ’s return. (see Rom 8:23)

We don’t have to wait until then before we begin to experience Glorification. (see 2cor 3:18)

Here on earth the Glorification process is also referred to as sanctification (becoming more and more like Jesus, from Glory to Glory)- 2 cor 3:18

One cannot be glorified without being justified and one cannot be justified without coming to God in Repentance and Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The sermon Justified to be Glorified, by Brother Godspower Ekadi was delivered on March 20, 2016 at the Youth Celebration Service.