One of my favorite, life changing verses
has been Colossians 1:27:
Colossians 1:27:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory:
The reality of the presence
and power of Christ in us is magnificent at this present
time. We can operate the manifestations of the spirit
and produce the fruit of the spirit. The impact of the
creation of Christ in us is indeed magnificent. However,
there is also an element of “HOPE” involved
with the new birth that many people overlook. Our life
should be glorious now, but how more glorious will it
be in the future.
2 Timothy 1:9-10:
Who [God] hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest
by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel:
First, God purposed
it. God promised us a future of glory and immortality.
He wanted to spend eternity with His beloved children
and planned for it before the foundation of the world.
He then accomplished it in history through Christ's
death and resurrection. Now through the gift of holy
spirit, He has already started the process of glorification
in His people. However, its final fulfillment is still
to come.
Romans 8:28-30:
And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified.
The simplicity of God's
purpose is to bring about a family of children who are
conformed to the image, or likeness, of his Son. The
whole Bible moves forward towards the final fulfillment
of this plan with the glorification of God's children
as well as all of God's creation.
Ephesians 1:3-14:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory
of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded
toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto
us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation
of the fulness of times he might gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to
the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his
glory.
Second, God sent His son
to accomplish His plan
of salvation:
Galatians 4:4-7:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons. 6 And because ye are sons,
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no
more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir
of God through Christ.
Third, God will complete
or fulfill it with
the return of Christ. As heirs we have the hope of the
final fulfillment of God's plan of salvation with the
glory to come at Christ's second coming. Look at this
beautiful detail:
Philippians 1:3-6:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer
of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in
the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:16-25:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that
we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if
so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. 18 For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation
of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the
sons of God. 20 For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason
of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature
itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the
whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together
until now. 23 And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for
the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that
we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
As God's children we already
have the firstfruits of God's Spirit; therefore, the
process of glorification has begun.
II Corinthians
3:18:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Yet we still "groan"
in our mortal bodies as we wait "in hope"
for the "redemption of our bodies" and "the
glorious freedom of the children of God" which
we will receive at Christ's return. It is only then
that we will be "clothed with immortality"
(I Corinthians 15:53) so that "what is mortal is
swallowed up by life" (II Corinthians 5:4). Then,
and only then, will we finally be "with Christ,
in glory" (Colossians 3:4) and "conformed
to the image of God's Son" (Romans 8:29).
1 John 3:1,2:
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore
the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not 2 Beloved, now are we the
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
God gave us holy spirit
so we could be more Christ-like. We have the greatest
thing God has ever made available to His family now
with the assurance that it will only get better in the
future. Let’s live enjoying all that He has done
for us anticipating things to get better every day.
