Welcome to Reign of Grace. This
program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries,
an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany,
Georgia. It is our pleasure and privilege
to present to you the gospel message of the sovereign grace
and glory of God in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that today's program
will be a blessing to you. Thank you for listening and now
for today's program. Welcome to the eighth and final
session of our eight-part series of studies on the topic, What
is Salvation? We've been studying what I call
the four realms of salvation. Number one, the eternal realm
of salvation. Speaks of the origin and cause
of salvation, salvation purposed and planned. Number two, the
legal realm of salvation, which is the ground of salvation. That's
salvation accomplished and secured by the redemptive work of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Number three is the spiritual
realm of salvation, which is the fruit of salvation when salvation
is applied and experienced and known by the people of God. And then the last realm, fourthly,
the glorified realm of salvation, which is the fruit of salvation
as it is completed and perfected in final glory. And I've always
reminded ourselves that these four realms of salvation cannot
be separated as if you could be the subject of one without
the other. All four realms are necessary
in the complete salvation of a sinner. All four realms are
of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. All
four realms of salvation are founded upon and centered around
the Lord Jesus Christ as the salvation of His people. And
then all four realms are of God's free and sovereign grace, conditioned
on the Lord Jesus Christ and not on the sinner. That any salvation
that is conditioned on a sinner is doomed to fail. Now in this
lesson we're going to conclude a study of what the Bible teaches
concerning the glorified realm of salvation. And this will be
the conclusion of the entire eight-part series. Now, there
are many questions raised by people concerning final glory,
concerning heaven. For example, what is heaven going
to be like? What are we who go to heaven?
What are we going to be like? And we find that the Bible does
not always answer these and more questions to the satisfaction
of our curiosity. We find descriptions of heaven,
descriptions of the new earth or the new Jerusalem as having
streets paved with gold, walls of precious stone. Is this literal
language or is it symbolic? Well, I know that final glory
in the new heavens and the new earth will be a state of perfection
for God's people, totally without the presence, influence, and
contamination of sin. The Bible also tells us, as we
read in the book of Revelation, Chapter 21 and verse 4, listen
to this, it says, And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are
passed away. Remember, the Apostle John wrote
that it does not yet appear what we, the people of God who are
saved, shall be, as recorded in 1 John chapter 3 and verse
2. But we know it will be a glorious, eternal existence. And the main
thing about heaven is that believers will be forever with Christ.
We do have some information given in Scripture that answers three
questions for us. Number one, who will be glorified
with Christ? Exactly who will be in heaven?
Well, in the book of John chapter 5 and verse 28, the Lord stated,
he says, marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall
come forth They that have done good unto the resurrection of
life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of
damnation. Now, who are these who have done
good? Especially when we consider that
the Bible tells us that we are all sinners, that we all have
no righteousness before God and have done no good in the sight
of God. Well, Christ explains who He's
talking about. in John chapter 5 and verse 24,
just prior to that, the verses we just read. He says, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. So that verse
makes it clear that only those who are found in Christ will
be resurrected unto glory. We'll pose questions number two
and three together because they appear in the same verse of scripture
over in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, beginning at verse
35. And it says, but some man will
say, how are the dead raised up? And with what body do they
come? Now there's the two questions.
The second question then would be, how are the dead raised up? And then thirdly, with what body
shall they be raised? Well, how are the dead raised
up? Well, in 1 Corinthians 15 and
verse 36, Paul writes, thou fool, and he's speaking there of one
who is denying the resurrection. and one who questions the validity
of it and he says that which thou sowest is not quickened
except it die now what he's saying there is simply this the dead
are raised up through the process of physical death and i'm going
to elaborate on that more in a moment but think about this
here the third question with what body shall they be raised
will we have the same body Well, the answer's no, but it seems
that there will be an ability to recognize one another. In
1 Corinthians 15 and verse 37, Paul writes, and that which thou
sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare
grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain. But God
giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own
body. Now, to put it simply, it's kind
of like comparing a full-grown ripe tomato with a tomato seed. You see the seed, you put it
in the ground, and then it grows on the vine into a full-grown
tomato. Now those who are resurrected
unto glory will each have his own individual body, but it will
be so much better and so much more glorious, only beauty and
holiness, no flaws or infirmities, perfectly conformed to the perfection
of the humanity of Jesus Christ. Paul writes this in Philippians
chapter 3 about our vile bodies. Well, the vile body is the body
of corruption and our vile bodies become dust and mingle throughout
with all the dust of the earth. Consider, for example, how some
people die in explosions and their bodies disintegrate. And
what about those whose bodies are burned up in fires or smashed
to pieces in wrecks? How is God going to get ashes
thrown to the wind? And how is he going to find the
right bones on the floor of the ocean? And how is he going to
get the dust of the body of one person and distinguish it from
the dust of another person? Well, the resurrection of the
body is not God putting us back together again, like Humpty Dumpty. The resurrection of our bodies
is not the equivalent of God putting together the great jigsaw
puzzle in the universe. The new spiritual bodies, which
those who are resurrected with Christ will have, is not made
up of the exact same particles of this vile body. Consider the
death and resurrection of Christ himself. In his resurrection,
his body was some way transformed into a glorified body. The body
he was born with was in every way a human body without sin.
Luke wrote that he grew, Christ grew, Jesus Christ grew in wisdom,
in stature, in favor with God and man. But when he went into
the grave there was the burial of that old body and what came
out of that grave was in some way a unique body, a different
body. Now Christ's glorified body was
so much more glorious that no one recognized him unless he
revealed himself. And yet when they knew who he
was, they saw him as the same as he was before, with the same
features, yet glorified. Same, yet gloriously different. We don't really know how to explain
that. We do, however, have recorded
in the Bible seven things about the resurrection body. Number
one, it will be a body without corruption. In 1 Corinthians
15 and verse 42, the Apostle Paul wrote, so also is the resurrection
of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it
is raised in incorruption. We are saved, sinners are saved
by an incorruptible Savior and based on His incorruptible blood
and righteousness, born again by the incorruptible seed, the
Word of God. And we who are saved possess
an incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven for us. Well,
in glory, we ourselves are destined to be incorruptible. The second
thing we're told is that it will be a body of glory. First Corinthians
15, verse 43, the first part of that verse says, that body
which is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. The dishonor
here is the contamination of sin that brings dishonor to the
image of God in which mankind was created. Man was created
to glorify God, but sin pervades our lives. We who are saved are
already perfectly sinless in Christ legally and based on His
righteousness imputed to us. But while in these vile, corruptible
bodies, we still have the contamination of sin within. And in glory,
we will be impeccable, no corruption or even any capability of being
corrupted. Thirdly, the glorified body will
be a body of strength. The second part of that same
verse, 1 Corinthians 15, 43 says, it is sown in weakness, it is
raised in power. In the glorified body, God's
people will have the power to act and think righteously in
a holy way without sin. We have that power now as God
the Holy Spirit has given us a new life, a new heart, and
a new desires, but now we do not have that power in perfection. Now the remaining presence of
sinful flesh keeps us from acting and thinking righteously except
as we look to Christ alone for all righteousness. In glory we'll
be able to obey him perfectly without any hint of sin marring
our obedience. The fourth thing about this glorified
body is that it will be a spiritual body. In 1 Corinthians 15 and
verse 44, it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual
body. You see there is a natural body
and there is a spiritual body. Now this does not mean that glorified
believers will be ghosts or phantoms. We really don't know a lot about
this other than what we see recorded of Christ himself in his short
time here on earth after his resurrection. We know that he
was able to appear without opening a door, but also know that he
ate food. The idea here is that in glory
we will be fully spiritual beings without the hindrances and contamination
of sinful flesh. The fifth thing about this body
is it will be a body capable of a heavenly existence. In 1
Corinthians 15 and verse 49 we read, And as we have borne the
image of the earthy, We shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Now this does not mean that we
will be transformed into angels and have wings and harps. It
means that we'll be able to live in a heavenly existence, suited
to spiritual eternal life. And this is in line with the
spiritual nature of the new bodies. The sixth thing that is said
that we learn from the scripture about this new body is it will
be a body that cannot die. In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse
53 the apostle wrote, for this corruptible must put on incorruption. and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
death is swallowed up in victory. The new spiritual glorified body
will be an immortal body without any capability of death. And
then lastly, it will be a victorious body. Listen to 1 Corinthians
15 verse 55. Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words,
there will be no defeat or death, no capability of sin that brings
death. It will be a complete victory
over sin, over Satan, over the flesh, over the world, and over
death by the sovereign grace of Almighty God in and by the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now this concludes our series
of studies on what is salvation. And in closing these studies
out, let me emphasize some vital truths for us to keep in mind
when considering this subject. First of all, in this series,
I've talked about not just one aspect of salvation, but the
whole extent of salvation as revealed in the Bible. I want
to emphasize how all the truths conveyed in this study were supported
by an abundance of scripture. And that's important since it
doesn't really matter what you, I, or anyone else thinks about
salvation. It's only of value if we see
that this is what God has to say about salvation in his word. With that in mind, I urge you
to order this series along with the study guide book, which goes
into more detail with more scripture verses cited. Now, if you claim
to be saved, ask yourself this question. What or who really
made the difference in my salvation? Whatever or whoever made that
difference in your case, well then that is your Savior. If
it's not Jesus Christ, Him alone, His blood and His righteousness
alone, then it cannot be biblical salvation. For example, consider
what much of so-called modern day Christianity believes in
light of the four realms of salvation that we study. Consider first
the eternal realm of salvation. When many people today read Bible
verses that speak of election or the elect of God, how do they
interpret these verses? Well, most, in their determination
to cling to controlling their own eternal destiny and elevating
their own free will, as they say, they revert to the telescope
of time view, which says God looked down through the telescope
of time and foresaw who would believe in him, and therefore
God elected them based upon their foreseen faith. But that is far
from the truth of scripture. And listen, it denies salvation
totally by the free, sovereign grace of God. What it actually
says in essence is that God saves those who are less rebellious,
less stubborn, less obstinate, more cooperative, who are in
essence better than the others. It perverts faith by making it
a work done by the sinner for God, rather than a work done
by God for the sinner. And the Apostle Paul defined
election in Romans 11 in verse five as the election of grace. And he wrote in verse six of
the same chapter, he said, and if by grace, then it's no more
of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise work
is no more work. You see, it cannot be both. And
then secondly, consider again the legal realm of salvation.
Most people today consider the death of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the redemption he accomplished as not really securing the salvation
of anyone. They claim that Christ only made
salvation possible if sinners would only be persuaded and do
their part. They reduced the blood of Christ,
His death, to no more than a blanket pardon that really saves no one
until a person accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. They'll
tell you God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, but
it really means nothing unless the sinner believes and or repents. My friend, that's a denial of
the true gospel. It's a denial of the redemption
that's by the grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. It makes
the sinner merely the only one really who makes the difference
between saved and lost. And it gives him a pedestal upon
which to stand a boast of his free will. The Bible is clear
that if Christ died for you, your sins are forgiven and you
will be saved. You will be born again by the
Holy Spirit and brought to faith in Christ. Consider the following
verses from the book of John, chapter 10. In verse 11, Christ
said, I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his
life, or who? for the sheep. And then in verse
27, what did he say? My sheep hear my voice and I
know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal
life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. How do we know if Christ died
for any person at all? It's only when that person is
brought by God's power and grace to believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ as their Savior, as the Lord their righteousness. And
then consider, thirdly, the spiritual realm of salvation. Most people
today believe they're born again because of their faith. Many
claim that they first respond positively to the gospel message,
believing that it is of their own free will, as they claim,
and as a result, they're born again. Now, this is totally opposed
to what the Bible says, as it denies the biblical truth that
all men and women by nature are spiritually dead in trespasses
and sins. It denies the gospel of God's
grace and makes faith a work of man, not a work and gift of
God. Just as a physically dead person
cannot breathe, a spiritually dead person cannot believe. And
this is why the Lord Jesus Christ said, you must be born again. The new birth does not come because
of any person's faith, goodness, or willpower. It's a sovereign
act of God the Holy Spirit. Reading from John chapter 1 and
verse 12, it says, but as many as received him. To them gave
he power, that means the right, to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name, which were born, not of blood,
that is not of physical birth, nor the will of the flesh, that
is not of the works of man, nor of the will of man. It's not
of man's will, not even man's free will. Man doesn't have a
free will, but they're born of God. and then consider the glorified
realm of salvation in the fourth place. Most people today believe
that it's their own obedience, their efforts and works that
ensures their final glory in heaven or at least their perseverance.
And many who may or may not agree with this claim that at least
their works of obedience as Christians will earn them greater rewards
in heaven. Now this also denies the scripture
that makes it clear that all of salvation including final
glory in heaven is the work of God based on his grace in and
by the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood and righteousness imputed
alone sinners are saved and brought to heaven's glory. As sinners
And even as sinners saved by grace, believers do not earn
blessings or positions in heaven from God. It's all of grace. In the book of Jude, verse 24,
it says, Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling
and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory
and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. God has arranged it so that in
the salvation of sinners, He alone will be glorified, as Christ
alone will be exalted to the place of preeminence. Sinners
saved by grace have nothing to boast in but Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. The Apostle Paul wrote about
this in 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 29 when he wrote that no flesh
should glory in His presence but of Him, of God. Are ye in
Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. That's the salvation
that God freely and fully provides for his people. And there is
no other salvation. It's not by the works of men,
it's not by the will of men. It's by the will of God, God
who in the everlasting covenant of grace chose a people, gave
them to Christ and sent him into the world to save his people
by establishing the only righteousness whereupon God could be just to
justify the ungodly. and all those whom he redeemed
he sends the Holy Spirit to give them life in the new birth and
bring them to faith in Christ. Now that brings us to the conclusion
of our series of studies on what is salvation. And I hope it's
been helpful for you in your Bible study and in your understanding
of what the Bible says concerning this glorious subject of salvation. If you'd like a free copy of
today's program, listen to the announcer and he'll give you
the information you need to order. Simply request Lesson 8 of the
series entitled, What is Salvation? In addition to this, the entire
eight-part study is available in an attractive package set
along with a complimentary book of the same title, What is Salvation? Now, it is my hope and prayer
that as you study the Bible, that the Lord will reveal himself
to you and reveal salvation to you. We are glad you could join us
for another edition of Reign of Grace. This program is brought
to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry
of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. To receive
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today and may the Lord be with you. you