Q: #186. What is glorification?
A: Glorification is the 3rd and final step of a chain that begins in an instant at justification, when a person is declared righteous in the eyes of God by faith in Jesus Christ, continues from that moment until the end of a Christian’s life as a process to become more and more holy (sanctification), and ends with what is called glorification.
Glorification will occur at the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:50-54). At this time, all believers from the beginning of time to the present will be given new, perfect, glorified bodies (Phil 3:20-21)(Rom 8:23). The Bible says in (1 Th 4:13-18) that first, those who have died and their soul/spirit have been living in Heaven in a disembodied state will be reunited with their now glorified bodies, then those who are alive at that moment will have their bodies transformed into glorified bodies. These bodies will be free from disease, immortal (1 Cor 15:42), glorious and powerful (1 Cor 15:43), and spiritual (1 Cor 15:44). (For more on our new bodies see: Q: #145.)
In these bodies, our glory will be eternal (2 Tim 2:10)(1 Pet 5:10)(2 Cor 4:17). We will dwell in God’s presence FOREVER!
In addition, we will no longer sin, because the Bible says that there will be no sin in Heaven (Rev 21:27)(Rev 22:15). There will also be no more sorrow, crying, or pain (Rev 21:4).
When Jesus died, He arose on the 3rd day and spent 40 days on the Earth (Acts 1:3) before going to Heaven. This is called the resurrection. During this time that Jesus was on the Earth, He had a new glorified body. The Bible says that He was the first to get one (1 Cor 15:20). Ours will come later. We can see from His 40 days on the Earth a few amazing things we will be able to do in our new glorified bodies (See: Q: #145).
This is one of the many reasons why the resurrection of Jesus is so important to the Christian faith. Because Jesus overcame death and was resurrected, we can know that one day we will do so as well through Him (Jn 14:19)(1 Cor 6:14)(Rom 8:11).
If you are a Christian, trust in this promise:
(Phil 1:6) being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you (at justification) will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (His 2nd coming)
If you aren’t a Christian, please go here so that this promise, and the joy of an eternity in Heaven with the Lord in a glorified body can be yours.