Topical Bible: Glory: Eternal: Inherited by Saints

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The concept of eternal glory as an inheritance for the saints is a profound theme woven throughout the Scriptures. This glory is not merely a temporal or earthly honor but a perpetual and divine state of being that believers in Christ are promised to receive. It is a glory that reflects the very nature and presence of God, bestowed upon those who are in Christ Jesus.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides a rich tapestry of references to the eternal glory that awaits the saints. In Romans 8:17, the Apostle Paul writes, "And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him." This passage highlights the connection between suffering with Christ and the future glorification that believers will share with Him. The inheritance of glory is thus linked to the believer's union with Christ and their participation in His sufferings.

Further, in 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul contrasts the temporary afflictions of this life with the eternal glory to come: "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison." Here, the apostle emphasizes the transformative process by which present trials contribute to the future glory that believers will inherit, underscoring the surpassing value of this eternal state.

Nature of the Inherited Glory

The glory that the saints will inherit is described as both eternal and incorruptible. In 1 Peter 5:4, the apostle Peter assures believers, "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." This imagery of a crown signifies honor and victory, and its unfading nature points to the permanence of the glory that believers will receive.

Moreover, the glory is characterized by its divine origin and quality. In Colossians 3:4, Paul declares, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." This statement reveals that the glory of the saints is intrinsically linked to the revelation of Christ Himself. As Christ is glorified, so too will His followers share in that glory, reflecting His divine majesty and holiness.

Participation in Divine Nature

The inheritance of eternal glory also involves participation in the divine nature. In 2 Peter 1:4, believers are described as having been given "precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." This participation signifies a profound transformation and elevation of the believer's state, aligning them with the holiness and righteousness of God.

Hope and Assurance

The promise of eternal glory serves as a source of hope and assurance for believers. In Romans 5:2, Paul speaks of the hope of glory: "Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in the faithfulness of God and the accomplished work of Christ.

The assurance of this inheritance is further reinforced by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul explains that believers are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of His glory." The Spirit's presence is both a foretaste and a pledge of the glory to come, providing believers with certainty and encouragement as they await their full inheritance.

Conclusion

The eternal glory inherited by the saints is a central tenet of Christian eschatology, offering believers a vision of their ultimate destiny in Christ. It is a glory that transcends earthly understanding, rooted in the divine promise and secured by the work of the Holy Spirit. As such, it remains a source of profound hope and motivation for the faithful as they navigate the trials and tribulations of this present age.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 2:8
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he has set the world on them.
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Psalm 73:24
You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
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Proverbs 3:35
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
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Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
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1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
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Library

Subject Index.
... Glorification of God, 9. Glory of God end of sanctification, 502, 503. ... the work of,
a unit, 208. the work of, eternal, 210, 284, 285. ... Guilt, inherited, 86, 87. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/subject index.htm

General Service to the Unmercenaries and Wonder-Workers.
... of the holy ones doth for ever rejoice, for they have inherited the Kingdom of ... they
were servants of Christ and have entered into the life eternal. [Glory ... ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xxvi general service to.htm

The Good Man's Life and Death
... of theology as the lambs of the flock of glory. ... hallelujah, hallelujah; why weep
we the saints to heaven ... weep for sickness, that it hath inherited eternal health ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the good mans life and.htm

Praying Without Doubting
... The quality of inherited faith was not destroyed in ... Him from bringing many sons unto
glory according to ... perceive the truth about Christ's eternal verities when ...
/.../anderson/prayer availeth much/chapter 5 praying without doubting.htm

The Service Common to Two or Many Hierarchs.
... The glory of the church have ye adorned, O blessed ... all the filth and have worthily
inherited the nourishing ... us the words of the life eternal, supplicate that ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xi the service common.htm

What and Whence are These?
... "Through much tribulation" they have inherited the kingdom. ... perhaps, that none of
the saints had committed ... of Jesus has brought into eternal glory men stained ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/what and whence are these.htm

Sanctification
... presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his ... of our flesh or because of any inherited
righteousness which ... doctrine." It is the promise of eternal life, for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/sanctification.htm

The Replacement of the Fallen Angels by Elect Men (28-30); the ...
... not bind them in the fetters of inherited guilt, nor ... deliverance and a place in the
eternal Kingdom be ... this process begins in man, could anyone glory in his ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter ix the replacement of.htm

Demonstration v. --Of Wars.
... [749] And if thou dost glory in thy wisdom ... 23. And the holy People inherited an eternal
Kingdom; the holy people who were chosen instead of the People. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration v of wars.htm

Abbott -- the Divinity in Humanity
... heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ, inheriting all that Christ inherited from His ... He
is the one eternal sacrifice ... We are changed from glory to glory into His image ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/abbott the divinity in.htm