September 14, 2022

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17

To cause eternal separation between God and all of humanity has been Satan’s purpose all along. What Jesus accomplished in His life, death, and resurrection is far greater than recovery from the ruin that has been wrought by sin. In Christ, we grow more closely bound to our heavenly Father than if we had never fallen. In taking upon Himself human nature, Jesus has bound Himself to the human race with cords that will never be broken.

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.  Hebrews 2:11

This cleansing, or sanctification, serves to transform our inner characters for the perfect, new bodies we are promised; and for the perfections of heaven. The crucibles we must traverse should be understood as divine preparations for heaven; preparations that will serve to rid our characters of defects, provided we accept and cooperate with the process. Paul writes as if we are to see ourselves now as citizens of heaven. This concept, if accepted with meekness and sensitivity, will show me traits that I must forcefully “drive out” of my life now! I must ask the Holy Spirit to show me the absurdity of thinking this or that wrong habit, way of thinking, or character trait is acceptable in His kingdom. Apart from gaining divine discernment, I am only deceiving myself and doing the devil’s work for him. But, with the Holy Spirit, I can confidently yield myself to the Lord, knowing how ready He is to reclaim me as His own.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Philippians 3:20-4:1