Section 6
of glorification while we are in the section on sanctification. We may enjoy the foretaste or first fruit of glorification. Sometimes when I am alone with the Lord, I experience a foretaste of the glo rification to come. Every proper Christian should have experiences like this.
God's dispensation must be according to His righteousness. If Christ had not become a man with flesh and blood and if He had not died on the cross to take away our sins, it would have been impossible for God to dispense Himself into us. When some hear this, they may argue, "To say this is to be too legal and strict. Don't you know that God is love? He is not that strict and legal. Because God the Father loves me, He can simply come to me and dispense Himself to me, no matter how sinful I may be." Such a concept ignores the fact that God is a God of righteous ness. As such a righteous One, He is more strict and more legal than any of us.
Yes, God is the Father, and He does love us. However, according to the parables in Luke 15, we cannot come directly to the Father. The prod igal needs the shepherd (the Son) to seek him and to find him, and he needs the woman (the Spirit) to enlighten him so that he can wake up, repent, and decide to come home to the Father.