Christians often talk about salvation as being a process. From the time we are first saved, until the day of our natural death, we are slowly maturing and growing to be more like Christ. But what happens  when the process is over? 

Glorification is the final stage in the process of salvation. It refers to the future time when a Christian reaches moral and spiritual perfection at the time of death or at Christ’s return (Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:22). Glorification also involves the physical perfection that we will have once our bodies have been resurrected. When we are glorified, we will have a fuller knowledge and understanding of God and His Word (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 13:12). 

But here’s the thing that we have to keep in mind: as long as you’re still alive and Jesus hasn’t returned, the process leading to glorification isn’t done. You will never be perfect in this life. But what the promise of glorification tells us is that, by God’s grace, we will be. And so for every day we have in this life, we faithfully seek to be a little more like Jesus, knowing that someday the work will be complete.