Daily Thought

The reference in verse 17 to being ‘glorified together’ and in verse 18 to ‘the glory which shall be revealed in us’ leads the apostle to think of that which lies ahead. The gospel brings us from guilt, by grace, to glory.

Creation itself will share in the glorious future. At present it groans and travails in pain, having been made subject to vanity as a result of man’s fall, but it waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. Then it shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. This looks on to the millennial kingdom, in which there will be a profuse outpouring of the Spirit of God, which we have already anticipated as having the ‘firstfruits of the Spirit’, v. 23. At present, even though we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we also groan as we live amid a groaning creation in an unredeemed body. We groan as we wait for sonship in all its fullness. The interim is marked by infirmity, and often by ignorance in which we are helped by the Spirit as we wait in hope.

As we are in such a state there is something that God has revealed to us which fills us with cheer. We are ‘called ones’, according to God’s purpose that His Son will have a people for Himself and, in our being made like Him, have greater glory. To that end He has foreknown us, predestinated us, called us, justified us, and glorified us. All of this is seen from the divine standpoint: to Him to whom all things are as present, it is already done. From our perspective we await its full accomplishment, resting in the inviolability of divine purpose. Though we have many enemies none can be successful against those who are called according to His purpose, for God is for them. To secure all this for us He did not spare His own Son from the unmitigated suffering of Calvary. It is God who has justified His elect ones; they are kept from condemnation by the One who died and rose again and now intercedes for them at God’s right hand. From His love they can never be severed. That love, seen in all its fullness at Calvary, is the same today, and no matter the height and depth of hostility directed towards us we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.