by Garrett Glende

Last week we looked at the doctrine of death and what it means for our lives today. The next chapter in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology is closely related, as it deals with our lives eternally. The subject of glorification is one that all Christians should be well versed in so that we know exactly what we can look forward to in eternity. If we are unaware of how our lives will be lived in heaven, then how will we be able to prepare for it?

Grudem defines glorification as “the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own.” As we can gather from this definition, the doctrine of glorification is centered around the idea of the resurrection. Our hope as Christians is found in the fact that our bodies will be raised one day. If people cannot be raised from the dead, then we are of all men to be most pitied, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. In fact, this section in Paul’s letter opens a critical passage in terms of the doctrine of glorification.

One of the key issues that Paul deals with here is the nature of our bodies after we have been glorified. Some clear contrasts are made in verses 42-44 as he writes, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” The first thing to notice is that our raised bodies will be imperishable. Clearly, our bodies now are perishing daily. We see the results of injury and disease, but when we enter the glorified state all of this will be gone. There will be no more sickness and our bodies will not grow old with age. Moreover, he describes our bodies as being raised in glory and power. The idea of glory probably relates to a physical radiance that surrounds our body. Grudem argues that the fact that we will be like Christ in our resurrection bodies, coupled with the transfiguration scene support the assertion that there will be some sort of visible radiance around us. Being raised in power stands in contrast to the weakness that we experience now, as our bodies will be given the strength that we were intended to have when we were created. Possibly the most exciting element of our new bodies will be that they are spiritual rather than natural. We will no longer be controlled by the desires of our flesh, but our lives will be fully submitted to the work of the Holy Spirit. No longer will we struggle with the sin that entangles us and we will worship the Creator perfectly.

There are many implications of this doctrine, but the one that sticks out most to me is that I should desire to be in heaven more than I do now. I think it’s common for many believers to hold onto the things of this world, and not desire to be with Christ. We want to get married first or have children first, but none of these things will ever compare to the enjoyment we will find in heaven. Every time we get sick or get hurt, we should be reminded that our bodies are not as they we meant to be, making us long for the day when there will be no more sickness and no more death. So the challenge to me (and to all of us) is whether or not I truly desire heaven over this world. We should all be able to echo what Paul says in Philippians 1:23 and “desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” I think we can easily pay lip service to this truth, but do our lives display that it has truly affected our hearts? This is certainly a challenge that I must consider, and I hope the rest of you will as well.