Seattle, May 2, 2005.
55. BECAUSE AS HE IS. SO ARE WE, here and now, in this present dispensation. In this current world. There would be no question if John had placed such a blessed condition off into the heavenly future. We know that in eternity, we will have a body just like His resurrected body. When John said, in this world he made it quite apparent that he meant it to be for today. Not even tomorrow, but today. 1 John 4:17 The same thought is to be found in the writings of the Apostle Paul to the Roman church. He defined predestination as conformation to the image of His Son. Which would exalt the Lord Jesus to the position of being the first born among many who bear His image and likeness. That again is something that relates to this life, here on earth. The Lord Jesus has privileged us to fill the vacancy left by His departure from this life. We are ambassadors of Christ and directly represent Him to this world. A responsibility which requires an intimate knowledge of all of His virtues and the ability to demonstrate them to this world. 2 Cor. 5:20
HIS BLESSING IS OURS, NOW. He has already blessed us with all the spiritual blessings available in the heavenly kingdom. It is important that we take note of the fact that He HATH prepared and provided the rich blessings of the Lord for our benefit, now. Along with that He HATH raised us up together. He HATH also caused us to sit together with Christ in heavenly places. Eph. 2:6 There is most definitely an emphases in these verses of an accomplished matter. The availability of the rich fulfillment of these promises is for today. It is high time that we awakened to all the powers and blessings which are ours in the Lord Jesus and avail ourselves of them. We are paupers if we do not share in all the rich spiritual blessings that have been purchased for us.
HIS INTENT. The reasoning of the Lord in all that He has done for the church is that she might be on display, showing forth the glorious light of the gospel and the glory of the Lord. The church that He has visualized is a church of power, glory and great demonstration of His might. It is the demonstration of His manifold wisdom not only to those on earth but to all authorities and dignitaries which are to be found in the kingdom of heaven. Eph. 3:10 The standards of the Lord may seem high and almost unreachable and they are, except that this is what He wants to see developed, to its fullness in the body of Christ. All the necessary means of obtaining the high and holy calling in Christ Jesus have been made available to the church. Rest assured that the Lord will find a people who will submit themselves to His desire and in them will be seen all the fullness of the Lord. He will receive unto Himself in these last days that body of believers who comprise the perfect, faultless Bride of Christ called a glorious church that is absolutely without a fault of any kind.Eph. 5:27