Reading: “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” 1 John 3:2

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). Its goal is to make us like Christ. This will be finally accomplished at glorification, which is called “the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13; 3:16-19). Christ who dwells now in us as the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) will be in us then as the fullness of glory (1 John 2:28-3:2).

Glorification is the final stage of sanctification when we will be like Him and with Him. This is the hope of every Christian. Those who have longed to be like Christ in life, whose habit of life has been towards the “upward calling,” will be transformed into His image in eternity. The Holy Spirit will take full possession of our being and redemption will be complete (Romans 8:23).

In the present we are pilgrims and sojourners in a “strange land” as the Israelites in the Babylonish Captivity. But we can sing “the Lord’s song in a strange land” by faith in the coming Saviour and in the full possession of the Holy Spirit.