Glory Begun Below
A Sermon on Romans 5:1-2
Originally preached Nov. 15, 1957
Scripture
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Sermon Description
The apostle Paul saw the glory of God when he was on his way to persecute Christ’s church. In this sermon titled “Glory Begun Below,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches this powerful sermon from Romans 5:1–2 which shows that it is the risen Christ who appeared to Paul and changed him from a Pharisee persecuting the church to a follower of Christ. When anyone sees the glory of God, they are transformed and made new, just as the apostle Paul. How does one see this glory? While today’s Christians do not have experiences as the apostles did, God still shows His glory in this life through many of His everyday graces. The glory of God is encountered while experiencing the grace of God at regeneration. But ultimately, the glory of God will be seen on the last day when the Christian’s salvation is brought to completion. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is emphatic that salvation is a process that ends when the Christian is made like Christ, purged of all sin and made pure by His glory. The question that all must all ask is this: “have we experienced this glory?” If the listener has not, this sermon brings the most important message for this life.
Sermon Breakdown
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The apostle Paul is reminding the Roman Christians about the doctrine of justification by faith. If they understand this doctrine, they will have assurance of their final and complete salvation.
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In Romans 5:1-2, Paul shows three things that follow from the doctrine of justification: peace with God, access into grace, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.
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"Rejoice" here means to boast, glory, or exalt. Paul is saying we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
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To "rejoice in hope of the glory of God" means:
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Looking forward to seeing the glory of God and Christ without a veil
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Looking forward to our own glorification - receiving a perfect, glorified body and being freed from sin
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Paul had glimpses of this glory, like on the road to Damascus. Other examples include Stephen seeing the glory of God as he was martyred and Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration.
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Our glorification is an essential part of our salvation, though it is often neglected. We will be raised, changed, and glorified.
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We were meant to reflect God's glory, but lost that ability after the Fall. But through Christ, we will have that glory again.
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Philippians 3:21 says Christ will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.
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The whole creation is waiting for our glorification (Romans 8:18-23).
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1 John 3:2 says that when Christ appears, we shall be like him.
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The process of glorification has already begun in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are being changed into Christ's image from glory to glory.
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Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Glory has begun below.
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We should make the same "jump" Paul does from justification to glorification. They are inseparable, given by the same God.
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We can have assurance of salvation and glorification. Uncertainty is unscriptural.
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We should rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We should be certain of these things and boast in them.
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To see God's glory, we must look to the unseen, eternal things (2 Corinthians 4:17-18), not earthly things. We must set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2).
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Rejoicing in Hope of the Glory of God
What does Paul mean by "rejoice in hope of the glory of God" in Romans 5:2?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the word translated as "rejoice" is actually much stronger - it means to "boast," "glory," or "exalt." It conveys the idea of congratulating oneself and bursting with pride over something. Paul means that believers can confidently boast and exult in their assured hope of experiencing God's glory. This includes both seeing God's glory (the beatific vision) and being personally glorified. It's not mere hopefulness but absolute certainty about the glory God is reserving for believers.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of glorification for believers?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that glorification is the ultimate outcome of salvation, though often neglected in preaching. It includes the complete redemption of our bodies where "every vestige of sin will be taken out and all the results and consequences of sin will be entirely removed." He cites Philippians 3:21, which speaks of Christ changing "our vile body" to be "fashioned like unto his glorious body." Glorification means we will be perfectly transformed in body, soul, and spirit to reflect God's glory, just as Christ is glorified.
What is the connection between justification and glorification according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that justification and glorification cannot be separated. He points to Romans 8:30 where Paul "jumps from justification to glorification" because they are inseparably linked. If you are justified, you will be glorified because it's the same God who accomplishes both. Lloyd-Jones states: "You can't divide Jesus Christ. If you're in Christ, you're in Christ. And if Christ has been made of God unto wisdom, even righteousness, justification... he must be sanctification to you, and he must be glorification to you."
How does the sermon explain the "seeing" of God's glory?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that believers will one day see God's glory directly, not "through a glass darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12) but "face to face." He references Christ's prayer in John 17:24 where Jesus asked that believers "may behold my glory." Lloyd-Jones cites examples of those who had glimpses of this glory: Stephen who saw "the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God"; Paul on the Damascus road who saw a light "above the brightest shining of the sun"; and Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration who saw Christ's glory temporarily revealed.
When does the process of glorification begin according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that glorification has already begun in believers, though it won't be completed until the resurrection. He quotes 2 Corinthians 3:18, "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory." He cites Isaac Watts' hymn: "The men of grace have found glory begun below; celestial fruits on earthly ground from faith and hope may grow." The "seed of glory" is already in believers through regeneration and the indwelling Christ, whom Paul calls "the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the doctrine of assurance is so important?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that proper understanding of justification must lead to assurance of salvation. He criticizes both Roman Catholic teaching and Karl Barth's theology for denying the possibility of assurance. He states that if believers could lose their salvation, they couldn't "boast and exalt and glory" as Paul instructs. According to Lloyd-Jones, assurance is biblical because salvation is "all of God. It is all in Christ. It is all of grace and by faith, in order that the promise might be sure unto all the seed." True assurance leads to rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.
How can believers cultivate this sense of glory according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers a practical prescription from 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." He urges believers to make an effort to turn their attention away from worldly distractions ("newspapers," "television," "the world and its gaudiness") and instead "set your affections on things above" by looking to Christ in Scripture, asking the Spirit to reveal Him, and seeking God to manifest Himself.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe an understanding of future glory would impact evangelism?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that when believers truly understand and reflect God's glory, it naturally attracts others. He states: "When you and I know the glory of God, and when they see that we are being changed from glory to glory, they'll come to you as they've always come to such people." He references George Whitfield and Wesley, whose manifestation of God's glory drew people "like magnets." He argues that the world would be drawn to Christians who display "the radiance and the glory of God" in the midst of troubling times, showing peace and wonder in their lives.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.