No Condemnation or Separation – Romans 8, Part 2 – Lite (36 min)

Because of the Father’s love for His Son and the adopted children that He redeemed through Christ, the Father has given the Holy Spirit to mark and guide His possession while we persevere in our sanctification.  As such, Romans 8 wonderfully reveals the Trinity’s collaborative work during the Christian pilgrimage to the eternal home. For those in Christ Jesus on this journey filled with groaning, God has promised there is eternally no condemnation and no separation.

Let’s get started on Part 2 in the study of Romans 8! 

Verses 12 to 17 are of great comfort because they: (1) explain how we can know our standing from the inward witness; (2); address the permanency of our relationship to the Father; and, (3) provide the promise of being a co-heir with Jesus Christ.   Please read Romans 8:12-17 in your favourite version of the Bible.

The Inward Witness of the Standing

As we progress through various stages of maturity in Christ, dark spiritual forces will sometimes war on a believer’s mind relative to their standing and relationship with God.  Imagine, the enemy tried this on Jesus by questioning Jesus’ identity as the “Son of God” during the temptation in the wilderness just before He began His earthly ministry.    It also seems common for children of God to be tested just before making progress in their earthly assignments.  Some may believe that God has not designated a role or specific responsibilities, but the Word of God states that every believer has a calling that is allotted specifically for them.  It is written:

• “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Three times the enemy tempted Christ:  two times he said, “if you are the Son of God” then do something to prove it (so to speak); and, once he tried to tempt Jesus to gain His inheritance without obedience to the Father. (Refer to Matthew 4:3, 6, 9).  Have you noticed that Matthew 4:1 states that the Spirit initiated this testing?

When considering that this Spirit that led Christ through testing and raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11) is in redeemed believers (from the point of their regeneration), then we ought to recognize that God has placed in believers the incorruptible Seed that will sustain our mortal bodies until earthly assignments are completed.  Furthermore, Romans 8:12 continues on to explain that we should have an obligatory gumption now to put the old way of living under our feet; to take authority over it through the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead!  We are free from the slavery of sin and the old nature, and we now have by the Holy Spirit the discernment and astuteness (verse 13) to put to death the deeds that the fallen nature craves through its bodily senses.

If the Holy Spirit is resident in you, His Holiness will prompt you to overcome sin by becoming dead to it.  The bodily senses may stir, but your regenerated spirit with the aid of the Holy Spirit refuses to allow the natural man to have authority.  The indwelling Holy Spirit will progressively identify the areas He wants you to concentrate on (and thank God that He does not overwhelm us with a list of every imperfection; rather He gradually brings to our mind something that we need to defeat or overcome). 

• “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,” (1 Peter 2:11)

Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was to show us the Father and to atone for sin.  Although the earthly redemptive work of the only begotten Son of God was finished at the cross and is complete for all time, once God’s grace initiates faith in Christ, the indwelling Spirit works within us.  He:

• “… teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

The inward witness of the Holy Spirit teaches us to live rightly now and to prepare for Christ’s appearance.

• ” For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8: 14)

If someone does not see the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in their lives whereby there are definite and progressive changes that resemble Christ-likeness, then that person should self-examine to see whether they are truly in the faith.  As long as you have breath, there is a place for repentance!

The Holy Spirit’s current earthly ministry (in this age of grace) is to convict the unbelieving world of sin, and to teach the believers all truth by transmitting whatever He receives from Christ to the children of God (John 16:8-9, 13-14).  As believers then, when we hear something that causes fear to rise up, we can speak the Word of God over a situation in full confidence and with the authority of a child of God.  We know that fear has to leave whether a situation changes or not.  The indwelling Spirit is not a spirit of fear but one of adoption (Romans 8:15).

• “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

This Witness will confirm you are redeemed regardless of how you feel.  There are so many things that can influence our senses.  Praise God, the loving Father in His omniscience ensured His written Word would be preserved so that we could stand on it! 

Believers are not debtors to the flesh but we are debtors to the Spirit.  We are not under any obligation to obey our human senses because we have a more powerful force within us that empowers us to yield our minds, will, and emotions to the One who bought us from the slave master of sin.  He paid the debt we could not pay and now we willingly become bondservants (love slaves) to the One who provides more than this world could ever offer.  We need only remember to Whom we belong, what that means eternally, and who we are to listen to.

It is written:

• “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Jesus said:

• “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23)
• “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

The inward witness of the Holy Spirit will remind us of the Father’s promises; He will reveal to us that which Christ is interceding for us; He will reveal the calling of the LORD; He will bear witness of our future and give us the power to rebuke dark spiritual forces by using God’s Word. 

The Permanency of Our Relationship to the Father

The last part of Romans 8:15 states:

• ”… but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Let’s think about that for a moment.  Three things come to mind in this passage.

First of all, I have “received the Spirit of adoption”.  In reviewing the interlinear, I realized that this phrase is the Greek verb “lambanō” which is parsed in the Second Aorist Active Indicative.  In my simplistic and limited understanding of Greek grammar, I understood that “lambanō” meant that the “receiving” was without regard for past, present, or future time and that regardless of when it had, has, or will occur, it is a fact.   Was this something I could dismiss?  The translator was accurate in placing this as a past tense for me since regeneration occurred at a point in time in my past, and yet from an eternal perspective, when was I adopted?

Then God’s Word amazed me again.  Please consider what is written in Ephesians.

• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Isn’t that full of wonder?  Father God chose the redeemed before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ.  And, it was pleasing to the Father’s benevolence to demonstrate the majesty of His grace by (1) setting His elect apart; (2) viewing His elect as blameless because of His Son’s substitution; and, (3) accepting us into this love union in Christ – all before Christ had been incarnated. And, in His wisdom and love, He incorporates human response andwill into His plan. Incredible!

He is therefore demonstrating:

• “… at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

Secondly, I can unashamedly and earnestly cry out “Daddy” and He will acknowledge me because I have received the Spirit of adoption.

The point here is that no one can cause someone to adopt them.  This must be done by the one choosing to be responsible for the other.  Part of that responsibility is to help in a time of need.  This is truly amazing.

The term adoption in the New Testament is “huiothesia” which “Helps”  states is probably from (Strong’s G5207) hyiós meaning “son”; and, (Strong’s G5087) títhēmi meaning “to place”.  So, properly it means sonship (legally made a son).  There’s that standing again:  To be placed as a son; to be given the legal title of child of God.

Thirdly, Jesus Christ instructed believers to recognize that we can call God our Father just like He did.  Of course, Jesus is preeminent and very God; we are adopted by the Father and joined to Christ.

Jesus cried out to God saying:

• …”Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”” (Mark 14:35-36)

Just think about this for a moment.  When asked how to pray Jesus told His followers to refer to God as “Father“.  It is written:

• “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:1-2)

Later when Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Christ, He explained the standing of the believing in this way:

• “… “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.‘ “” (John 20:17)

Later in Romans 8, we understand that Jesus gave us this right because it was the Godhead’s desire.

• “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
• “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”” (Hebrews 2:11-13)
• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3 NASB95)
• “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
• “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words provides the following explanation of the word Abba.

• “Abba is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 . In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. … Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; “father” expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together [Abba Father] express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.

Just before Jesus gave up His life as the all-sufficient atonement for sin, He said:

• “”No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. … “…when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:15-16, 26)

This Spirit of truth, the Spirit of adoption, the Helper testifies to us of Jesus and leads us to bear the fruit we have been appointed to which was prepared by the Father before time began.  This union unites us with God the Father, the Preeminent Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; this union bears witness that a redeemed child of God is permanently accepted in the Beloved!  Adopted!

The Promise of An Inheritance with Jesus Christ

All children of God are heirs of God; not some, all but with a qualifier? The qualifier is “if indeed we suffer with Him”.  Ok.  This is something we should go deeper into.  It is written:

• “and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)

Verse 17 joins the concept of sonship, or the direct unchangeable family relationship with God, with the next verse about enduring current suffering until our future glory that God will share with us.  So, must all believers suffer?

Let’s start by saying, that living in this troubled world with all the corruption should grieve the followers of Jesus Christ.  The internal witness of the Holy Spirit will certainly not enjoy the fallenness of this world and should be “suffering” over the decline of society and all of creation.  So, what happens if a believer loves this world or does not grieve over sin in the world? 

Let’s take a look at some definitions and note their significance within verse 17, and then the chapter, and book.

Heir

The first word we will discuss is the word “heir” because it is mentioned 3 times in this verse. Notably, it is used 16 times in the New Testament (5 times in Romans; 3 times in the Gospels; 3 times in Galatians; and the remaining 5 times in Titus, Hebrews and James).

The word used is the Greek word “klēronómos” (G2818) which is a compound word from Strongs’ G2819 and the base of Strong’s G3551.  In its original meaning, it is a legal partitioning of something by and from a benefactor, a recipient by apportionment; a sharer by lot, a possessor of the thing being granted.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states “in Messianic usage, one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship: so of Christ” and provides the following verses to demonstrate how “klēronómos” is used:

• “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:2)
• “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)
• “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:7)
• “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” (Romans 4:13)
• “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)
• “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5)

From the biblical usage of this word, we can see that being adopted by the Father (the benefactor who never dies) entitles all believers to become heirs (beneficiaries) of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the heir).  And that with the qualifier of suffering, the scope of the inheritance may vary for each beneficiary.

• The inheritance is something that has been assigned by God that has not yet taken full possession (like Abraham heir of the world through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13), the kingdom that was promised; and like Christ who is the appointed heir of all things created and all the worlds (Hebrews 1:2).
• The heirs are believers who will inherit an immortal glorified body; enjoy roles during the Millennial Age that will be ushered in at the return of Jesus Christ (King of kings); and, then enjoy eternity (with assignments) in the New Jerusalem from Heaven on the renovated earth (Revelation 1:5-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 22:5, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 4:11). Have you ever wondered what reigning with Christ will mean?
• The heirs receive their inheritance by appointment because of faith that produces obedience (not by merit) (Matthew 5:5, Matthew 19:29, Ephesians 1:11, 18, Colossians 1:12, Colossians 3:24, 1 Timothy 6:19; Matthew 6:20, 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 21:7)
• This is likened to how Noah became the heir of “the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7); noting that those who did not believe Noah’s preaching disqualified themselves and suffered loss.

Currently, we have blessings through the Holy Spirit of joy, peace, righteousness, and strength (Psalms 16:11, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 3:19).  Everything that belongs to Christ now belongs to us although we do not fully appropriate what has been endowed to us because of our erroring nature.   While the fullness of our inheritance is yet future, sonship or adoption has benefits and responsibilities before receiving the full inheritance.  We are being sanctified.  And just as we share in the blessings as a son now, we share in the sufferings of Christ here and now as well.  There is a cost to following Christ.

Jesus said:

• “… “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
• “”Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”” (Luke 24:26)
• “”He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.“ (John 12:25-26)

Suffer With

The second word we will discuss is the word “suffer with”, Strong’s G4841.   It is used only 2 times in the New Testament (Romans 8:17 and 1 Corinthians 12:26) while there are at least 26 Greek words meaning “to suffer”.

• The word used is the Greek word “sympáschō” (G4841) which is from G4862 and G3958 and means to feel pain together; to suffer evils (troubles, persecutions) in the like manner with another. 
• The second part of the word (Strong’s Number G3958 – paschō) is used 42 times in 41 verses.  Bible Helps explains that the word expresses a tangible feeling.  It is stated as feeling “heavy emotion, especially suffering; affected, experiencing feeling …; “the feeling of the mind, emotion, passion.  This term was used to describe the sufferings of Christ and Paul.

The word “sympáschō” (G4841) gives the sense that the one suffering is experiencing the very same emotion or experience as the one they are with. 

• “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)
• “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

This makes me wonder how much the non-persecuted church has suffered with Christ.  Christ’s sufferings started in John 5:16 because He had healed someone on the Sabbath; and His suffering culminated when He gave up His Spirit on the cross after enduring physical, emotional, and spiritual crushing.    Jesus said:

• “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. … “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:10-12, 44)

Paul wrote:

• “… “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”” (Acts 14:22)
• “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)
• “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (Philippians 1:29)
• “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

The outcome of the suffering that Christ and Paul spoke of is a consequence of being marked by righteousness; an obedient life of service to Christ.  This suffering is not the outcome of poor decisions; it is the outcome of being different from the rest of the world and faithful to our Saviour.

• “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

Types of Normative Suffering For a Believer?

There are many types of persecution varying from the mildest forms to the most severe physical earthly pain (like Paul was beaten and ultimately martyred).  There have been many saints over the millennia who have been martyrs for refusing to denounce their faith.  Here are some cross-references about suffering that should help us with our attitude toward it (2 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:24; James 5:10, 13; 1 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:9).

• “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In milder forms, persecution can include rejection, ridicule, harassment, trouble, mistreatment, and human inequity as a result of the character of Christ.  The greater the stand and reflection of Christ, the greater the persecution.  This does not mean the believer does not receive favour; on the contrary, we receive God’s grace which is the strength and provision for everything we need to live a Godly life.  It also means that a true believer will be confronted with enemy spiritual forces who influence human beings to enact hardship.

• “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

It is written:

• “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”  (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Should you pray for deliverance?  Absolutely.  You should pray about ALL things and that the will of the LORD be established in your life. 

He may will that you endure hardship, or He may will that you be delivered from it.  The Lord will individually witness to you by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, what your particular situation is.  If it is to suffer for some higher purpose, it will be for your good and His glory.  What we know is that our loving and merciful Father has set limits on suffering, and our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, is acquainted with grief and ever lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:11).  It is also written:

• “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: … A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; … He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4, 11)
• “”He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”  (Revelation 3:12)
• “”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””  (Revelation 21:4)

Glorified Together

The third term we’ll review is “glorified together” which is only used once:  Romans 8:17.

• The word used is the Greek word “syndoxázō (G4888)” which is from G4862 and G1392 and means to exalt to dignity in company; to be exalted to the same glory to which Christ has been raised.

From this and with the consistency of other Scriptures Paul penned through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can understand that the adopted children of God who share in Christ’s sufferings will have a resurrected and glorified body like Christ had; and, we will share in the same glory as joint heirs with Jesus to the extent that created beings can share with the God-Man Jesus.  In light of what we know from Scripture and the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit, regenerated children of God will never be God (like Christ is God) but we will be filled with God and God will be radiant in everything.  Let’s take a look at what Paul wrote to the Colossians:

• “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [preeminent, chief, supreme] over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn [the first to rise] from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence [prōteúō – to be first in rank or influence].” (Colossians 1:9-18)

This confirms that Jesus Christ was before all things; John said He was the Word that was with the Father and that the Word was God.  Jesus has been the eternal Word before His incarnation and before the foundation of the world (Refer to John 1:1-5).  John later writes:

• “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, 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)

So then, we do not know what this glory will be exactly because in God’s wisdom and our limited ability to perceive it, this glory has not been revealed to us except to say we will be like the resurrected Christ. We also know that the Father will extend His nature and glory in everything (1 Corinthians 15:22-28).  Praise the LORD!  

Honestly, I hate my sin (all of the areas where I come short of the glory of God); and, I love my LORD (knowing that I need to grow in my love and reverence of Him)!  So, to be free from the presence of sin eternally – and – to be with the AWESOME glory of being accepted in the presence of the eternal source of life, love, goodness, light, all wisdom, all authority, and grace is the best inheritance promise ever made!  And just to think, that is simply the beginning!

Thank you, Father God; thank you, Jesus Christ my Saviour; thank you my sanctifying and preserving Holy Spirit! 

In part 3, we will look at the eternality of God’s promise of no condemnation and no separation from God’s love. For now, I leave you with these Scriptures:

• “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. … See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. … Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, 15-18, 23-24 )

If you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Redeemer and you sense a tugging at your heart, it’s probably the Holy Spirit beckoning you to meet Him, to see Christ for who He is (Saviour, Redeemer, Lord of all creation, eternal God, Son of God and the God-Man). You can use your own words to tell the LORD you believe and ask Him to fill your heart with the knowledge of Him and the power to choose freedom over sin.

Where will you stand on that day? I hope you are one who will choose life!

A resource containing Scripture that correlates fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah’s redemption accomplishment can be located at:   https://desiringfruitfulness.ca/choices/.

All Scripture in this blog is from the New King James Version unless otherwise specified.