You may have heard the teaching:
We have been justified.
We are being sanctified.
We will be glorified.
The idea is that, though we have been forgiven by God for all time (having been justified), there is a process by which we become holy (or sanctified), and one day we will be glorified.
This may seem reasonable looking at the world around us and at the reality that mans behavior (saved and unsaved alike) is far from perfect. But God does not see as man sees, nor does He reason the way man reasons. And His means of transforming the human heart is completely contrary to the way man might propose to do it.
God is truth. Because truth is intrinsic to the essence of His being, His desire is that we might know the truth; and we can completely depend on Him to reveal to us what Truth is.
Truth itself proceeds forth and comes from God and always produces fruit. So when we see something that may appear to be true and we consider what we are hearing, we must consider it in light of the truth we see in Jesus and what proceeded forth and came from Him; for He is the expressed image and glory of the invisible God.
God's truth is designed in such a way that it is powerful in nature; and His truth and thinking are always contrary to the way we naturally think. These qualities, intrinsic to truth, are not without cause. They are designed by God to grab our attention and persuade us of its validity.
His purpose in all of this is that we might believe the truth, and that the truth of what we are being revealed might have as powerful an effect in us as the words that were spoken. — In other words, the power we hear in His Word (Jesus) spoken to us, actually possess the power to produce the very thing that is being spoken of.
Consider these things that were found in Jesus and proceeded forth and came from Him:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. (Hebrews 2:11)
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
Do you see in these scriptures how God speaks of our sanctification and glorification as if they are already accomplished? This is how God sees things. Because we do not see Spirit we judge carnally. But when what is true to God (who is Spirit) comes to us, even when it seems contrary to what we see, it causes effect in those who believe.
The truth of God is so powerful and so true that it is designed to enable us to see ourselves as we truly are; fully complete! He has done this, and it is marvelous in His sight!
When we begin seeing ourselves as God sees us, even opposed to how we see ourselves; seated with him at Gods right hand of God, fully justified, fully sanctified, made holy forever; even glorified in him. Your life will never be the same! Your spirit and disposition towards life will never be the same either; neither will your life ever end! And we know this is true.—
For God hath raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7)
This ability to discern the fullness of truth came to us through Jesus at the cross and by His resurrection— His having given us the very eternal, perfect, indestructible, incorruptible Life of God Himself as a free gift!
Finding yourself a possessor of this Life by faith is the place where peace and contentment is born in the your heart!
— This is truth! What more could you need for a fruitful life?
Mo
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