The Result of Justification (3):

Hoping for and Rejoicing in the Glory of God

"Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now

stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:2)

In Romans 5:2, the Bible says, "We boast in the hope of the glory of God." The third result of justification is that we hope for and rejoice in the glory of God (v. 2). So, what is the glory of God here?

First, let us consider the glory of God that has already been revealed.

Romans 5:1-2 speaks of three aspects of God's glory. When we could not reach the glory of God because of sin (Romans 3:23), we were justified by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:1-2). Although we were enemies of God, through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we were reconciled to God (v. 10), and now we enjoy peace with God (v. 1). Through “our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1-2), we have gained access and stand firm before God’s throne of grace (v. 2). We boast in the hope of the glory of God (v. 2). However, these three aspects of glory that have already been revealed are not yet 100% complete. If God were to fully reveal His glory right now, we would not be able to fully comprehend it.

Next, let us consider the glory of God that is yet to be revealed.

The glory of God that will be revealed in the future is, in short, the second coming of Jesus Christ. The glory of God that will be revealed in the future will be 100% complete and eternal, and we will see God face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). This glory of God will also be our glory. In other words, the glory of God the Father will be our glory as His children. The three aspects of God’s glory mentioned in Romans 5:1-2 are incomparable to the glory that will be revealed in the future. In other words, the glory of God that we are already experiencing through our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be compared to the glory we will experience when our Lord Jesus Christ returns (5:1-2; see also 8:18). The glory of God that will be revealed in the future is when Jesus returns, and we will be transformed to be like Him and will see Him as He truly is (1 John 3:2, Modern Version). Our humble bodies will be changed to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21, Modern Version). We believe that those who have died believing in Jesus will be brought with Him when He returns. Until the Lord comes again, we who are alive will not precede those who have died. This is because when the Lord comes with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

The hope of looking forward to God’s glory is a 100% certain hope (Romans 5:2). The reason is that it is a promise from God. The same God who promised and fulfilled the first coming of Jesus has also promised the second coming of Jesus, and He will certainly fulfill it. The reason we can believe that the glory of Jesus at His second coming will be our glory is that God has already promised it.  Let’s look at Romans 8:30 in the Contemporary Bible version: “Those whom God predestined, He also called; those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.”  The verb “glorified” here is in the past tense.  Now, let’s look at Ephesians 2:5-6:
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ… and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” [(Contemporary Bible) “Even though we were spiritually dead because of our sins, God made us alive with Christ. Not only did He make us alive with Christ, but He also seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.”]  The verbs “made us alive,” “raised us up,” and “seated us” are all in the past tense.  We have already been resurrected with Jesus, ascended with Him, and have also been seated with Him in the heavens. The verb “glorified” in Romans 8:30 and the verbs in Ephesians 2:5-6 (“made us alive,” “raised us up,” and “seated us”) are all in the past tense. The use of the past tense implies that these things will certainly come to pass with 100% certainty.  Therefore, because we hope for this, we believe with 100% certainty, and with faith, we hope for and rejoice in God’s glory (Romans 5:2). This joy is the joy of salvation, true joy, and eternal joy. When there is joy in this hope, we cannot help but boast in God’s glory (v. 2). God’s glory is my glory!