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grace and glory



"And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:30 ESV) 

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV) 

Thomas Manton (1620–1677) wrote, “Grace is the beginning of glory, and glory is but grace perfected. Grace is glory in the bud, and molding, and making; for when the apostle would express our whole conformity to Christ, he only expresses it thus, ‘We are changed into his image from glory to glory,’ (2 Cor 3:18), that is, from one degree of grace to another. It is called glory, because the progress of holiness never ceases till it comes to the perfection of glory and life eternal. The first degree of grace is glory begun, and the final consummation is glory perfected. All the degrees of our conformity to Christ are so called. It is a bud of that sinless, pure, immaculate estate which shall be without spot and wrinkle; the seed of that perfect holiness which shall be bestowed upon us hereafter. Thus, the spiritual life is described in its whole flux; it begins in grace and ends in glory. See the golden chain: Rom. 8:30, ‘Whom he hath called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.’ There is no mention of sanctification, for that is included in glory. Grace is but young glory and differs from glory as an infant doth from a man; therefore, by degrees the Lord will have you enter upon your everlasting inheritance.”

-- From The Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. 13 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1870/2020), p. 331.


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