REJOICING IN HOPE
" ........and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" Romans 5v2
Thirdly, justification brings hope of future glory. Christian believers are often characterized as narrow minded, short-sighted people; in fact the opposite is the truth, instead of preparing for and providing for the 70+ years or so on this earth, they look far beyond into the endless ages of eternity! One charge that may be truly laid against them is that they could shew more joy about it, which is the subject matter of these verses. Justification by faith has brought to us the acquittal from all past guilt; has introduced us to an inexhaustible treasure house of Divine favour; and now opens our eyes to a glorious future! In short past present and future, all taken care of, in a moments time!!
Here is something in which all believers will rejoice, the same word is used three times in the chapter. It means to boast. to exult, to glory. We sing about it, we write about it, we preach about it and so we should. If ever you have been to a gathering of believers in full voice praising God from the heart, I guarantee you have never heard anything like it. Because Jesus died and rose again, a song began of deepest praise, which is getting louder and louder every day and which will erupt in unprecedented, universal praise to God for the unending ages of eternity. That rejoicing has already begun in individual hearts, it is the hallmark of all Christians to rejoice, to boast in the great things of God and when unbelievers say they don't like it getting shoved down their throat, they don't have a clue what they are missing, and are speaking from the darkness of their minds.
"Rejoicing in hope," "glorying in tribulations" "joying in God" are all stated in this chapter using exactly the same word and so the message is clear, Christians do have something to boast about. It is almost like Jesus said of the children when He entered into Jerusalem " if these should hold their peace even the very stones would cry out!"
The hope spoken of here, is not like the hope we use in every day modern language. That hope has an element of doubt about it (I hope to get a new job, I hope I get paid a bonus, I hope to go on holiday this year, I hope to win the lottery etc. etc.). All this is wishful thinking, but when the Bible speaks about hope it is speaking of absolute certainty. The whole context of Romans chapter 5 - 8 is all about assurance, certainty, finality, surety, and this fits in perfectly with that overall context. In the letter to Hebrews this is illustrated "that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor for the soul both sure and steadfast and which enters into that which is within the veil(heaven)." Hebrews 6 v 18-19 The hope of the Christian is firmly on the word of the God who cannot lie. This is no pie in the sky when you die, this is real, this is faith in God's word and in the work of Christ.
We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. What a tremendous turn round there has been. In Romans 3v21 we all came short of the glory of God, here in Romans 5v2 we are now rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. In short we are going to live with God, we are going to see His glory, we are going to partake of His glory, and of course what it truly means is beyond anyone's imagination.
In contrast to unbelievers who are described many times in the book of the Revelation as "earth dwellers" Christians are looking way beyond this earth. The apostle Peter spoke of "an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." It was said of Abraham that "he looked for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God." Moses turned his back on Egypt's riches, indeed the opportunity to himself to become the Pharaoh, and in the language of the great roll of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 it says "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." Men and women of faith through the years down to the present day have turned their back on all this world has to offer looking for and expecting the coming of the day of God. Believers rejoice in a certain hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul, who turned his back on a wonderful career to become an evangelist supreme wrote these words "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall follow." Romans 8 v 18 In the same chapter he describes something of that glory when he says "the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8 v 21 Again, Paul writing to the Corinthians said "we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God pre-ordained before the world unto our glory taken from 1st Corinthians 2 v 7 - 9
The absolutely certain outcome of justification is glorification. This truth he confirms in Romans 8 v 30 when he says, using the past tense, indicating it is already a done deal "whom He justified them He also glorified." We as Christians are already in the glory as far as God is concerned. It only remains for the dead bodies of believers to be raised and changed like unto the body of His glory, and for the living believers to be transformed in the same way when the final act of the work of Christ will be done by the quickening of mortal bodies and transforming them into that which is glorious and incorruptible. What a prospect!
The last picture in the Bible is of "the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." Revelation 21 v 10 Whatever difficulty we may have in interpreting this passage, one thing is clear, the city which contains the saints of all ages is described as having the glory of God. This city measures as a perfect cube, and taking the picture from the tabernacle of old, which is described as a "pattern of things in the heavens," the inner sanctuary, the holy of holies, the very dwelling place of God measured as a perfect cube. The symbolism is clear, God's people will dwell in glory eternally in the very presence of God.
The Bible does not go into very much detail concerning this glory, almost surely because our feeble minds would be unable to grasp the wonder of it. Instead, what it says is what is not there, of things that were bad here on earth. No more sea, no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. "THE FORMER THINGS ARE PAST AWAY. AND HE THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE SAID" BEHOLD I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW." " Revelation 21 v 1 - 5
Tomorrow d.v. how to react to tribulations.
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