by David Brenneman
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." Galatians 4:4-7.
"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:5-14.
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:1-3.
"For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." Romans 8:22-23.
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14.
In the world today we have an adoption process that, when completed, establishes a new family name, new family tree.
A agency of the people screens the prospective adopting family. Backgrounds are checked, stability is verified. When all is good and acceptable, a Judge will order a scrubbing of the last name all the way back to the birth certificate.
When we came to Christ, God, the Righteous Judge, formalized our adoption into the family of God by the blood of Jesus Christ. It permanent because of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
All that remains is our transition from this physical world and body to the presence of God in Christ Jesus.
When sealed in the Spirit, we are permanently His. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ.
I, for one, am looking forward to running to Jesus for the embrace of the century.
The seal of the Spirit does oh so much more than we first realize.
Satan's schemes involve trying to water down our thoughts concerning our adoption by God the Father.
He will try to do whatever, obviously in deceptive small steps, to get Believers to think more of other things and people than their holy relationship with Jesus.
"Satan wants to curse the believer with doubts, but the Christian can be strong in God's promises of eternal salvation in Scripture (see John 6:37-39; 10:28-29; Romans 5:10; 8:31-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Security is a fact; assurance is a feeling that comes to the obedient Christian (1 Peter 1:3-10)." - Pastor John MacArthur.
When Jesus separates people at the Final Judgment...He will easily see those whom are sealed in the Spirit from those who are not.
Paul encouraged us in his writing to be sure of our salvation...once assured...to live it out.
We are now Ambassadors for Christ until such a time as our part in the global plan of God is complete.
We can see the way that so-called worldly royalty acts in public when visiting other nations. We see that there's protocols for most everything they do that's seen by others.
Are you at all giving your best effort to represent Jesus to the world in which you live?
Are you at all learning all that you can about your Father who is in Heaven?
Are you at all concerned about how your life will be viewed before Jesus when you give an account of your life, your Ambassadorship?
Do you groan in your inner man or inner woman for your adoption to be completed in Christ?
For those who are paying attention...look around at what is becoming the topic of many a preaching. The Return of Jesus Christ. The final pieces of the Church of Jesus Christ are coming together.
The hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" comes to mind at times like this.
"and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace...".
Figuratively speaking it does feel n look like it's been an eternity since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The patience of God...oh yes He’s been patient. Not willing that any should perish but that all might be saved. Once the Church is complete...Jesus will come for His Bride the Church.
It's an incredible thing to consider that Jesus will be able to embrace every single Christian at the same time, the full love of God being felt to each when we all get to Heaven.
Each day we wake up is a day closer to Jesus returning. Make the most of every opportunity to be who you are in Christ. Our adoption is in Christ Jesus and our Father in Heaven we will see one day.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment