Romans 8:1 ¶ There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death. 3 For what the
law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in
the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
This is an
amazing chapter in the Bible that should give comfort to every Christian who
reads it. Unfortunately it has been misused by too many preachers to try to
control their congregations with guilt and self-contempt. This is a contrast
between saved and unsaved not someone’s idea of what it means to be a good
Christian or a bad Christian.
If you are in
Christ, if you have received Him as your Saviour, then you are not condemned,
and there is no condemnation in you. It is not literally saying there is no
condemnation in you as long as you are a good boy or girl. It is saying that
those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned but eternally saved. Those who
are in Christ Jesus walk after the Spirit. It also doesn’t say that the
Christian is not accused or that the Christian has done nothing worthy of
condemnation. It doesn’t say there is no affliction, no suffering, no
chastening, or no tribulation for the Christian. It says you stand uncondemned
because of Christ, not because of anything you did.
The Law could
not accomplish this. It was wholly unable to do this because of our sinful
flesh. We can be justified and sanctified in Christ and not be held guilty for
our sin by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Paul explains here
clearly why those who have not received the Spirit of God and of Christ, the
Holy Spirit in its function and operation, named the Holy Ghost in His person
elsewhere, those who have not received this Spirit cannot please God because
they are in their flesh, judged and tainted by a sin nature. If the Spirit of
God dwells in a person they do please God because of Christ. Here is evidence
that a person has that Spirit abiding in him or her. First, the promise, then
the evidence.
John 14:23 Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Galatians 5:22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.
Here is what God does in
separating flesh from soul in His own spiritual circumcision.
Colossians 2:11 In whom
also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye
are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead.
Romans 8:10 ¶ And if Christ
be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is
life because of righteousness. 11 But if
the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that
raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit
that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore,
brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God:
This is a call to salvation
through Jesus Christ.
Again, as
before, Paul makes it clear that you, Christian, are freed from the power of
sin. By Christ’s resurrection by the One who created us we will be raised from
the dead, given life, quickened. Our current flesh cannot please God and by the
fact that we have the Spirit of God in us we can be raised. Here is evidence of
the mechanism, why a Christian can be resurrected as they will be. Because the
Spirit of God lives in us we will be rise from the dead.
We are
debtors to the Spirit that will raise us up so that every man and woman on
earth owes it to God to trust in Christ. We are the children of God because of
the Spirit of God dwelling in us. We have received this Spirit of adoption. The
adoption, as will be explained, is the redemption of our body, the purchased
possession made anew in Christ and like Christ. Abba, Father, according
to Strong’s was used often in prayer as we use Father even today. It was an
Aramaic word that came to have a sacred meaning for the Jews of the
Greek-speaking world regarding God.
Romans 8:17 ¶ 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 children
of God we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ of all things visible
and invisible. This is our destiny. The question in verse 17 is one of
suffering. Must we suffer the physical agony of persecution and death as Christ
did to have that inheritance? This has confused some in the past.
It is absurd
for us to think that every saved Christian has been martyred or murdered to
assure their salvation. Certainly, there were martyrs in the past who looked at
their violent death at the hands of others as a way to obtain eternal life. In
fact, I have read that in some early persecutions there was altogether too much
volunteering to die going on so that pastors had to tell people that was not
necessary or even acceptable to practically ask to be killed. Persecution would
come to them without them seeking martyrdom.
Still, we
must understand the context in which this is said. The early Christian lived in
a world that hated them and hated Christ as it hates us but in a way we cannot
understand with our Constitution’s Bill of Rights which supposedly guarantees
religious freedom or even the modern belief in more civilized societies that
all religions should be respected and allowed to practice. See the commands and
expectations to suffer persecution for Christ.
Let’s focus
on the word suffer and its derivations when it means, not to permit or allow
something as in some contexts, but to endure affliction, persecution, and
tribulation. One of the cruelest demands made against Christians under torture
was to renounce Christ then as it is now in countries around the world.
PhIlippians 1:29 For unto
you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also
to suffer for his sake;
2Thessalonians 1:5 Which is
a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted
worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
1Timothy 4:10 For therefore
we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is
the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
2Timothy 2:9 Wherein I
suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not
bound…12 If we suffer, we shall also
reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
If you live
as a Christian it is sure that at some point in your life you will endure
persecution for it, even if it is mild.
But, the
context of verse 18 is the present time that Paul is living. You not being
permitted to put up a scripture verse in your office cubicle hardly compares to
what early Christians or Christians in Muslim or communist countries had and
have to now endure.
We wait
selfishly for a good reason earnestly expecting and in the hope of the
receiving of a resurrection body that will not suffer and die. All of our lives
we are subject to the bondage of death, a death that is under the power of
Satan, the Adversary.
Hebrews 2: 14 ¶ Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil; 15
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.
As verse 22
makes clear the entire creation groans in pain and suffering as a result of
man’s sin.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as
by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned:
But we wait expectantly in
hope for a new body.
Job 14:14 If a man die,
shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my
change come.
See this verse also on a
physical resurrection from Job, written between 1500 to 2000BC.
Job
19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26
And though after my skin
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and
mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though
my reins be consumed within me.
And a thousand years later see
this verse on a physical resurrection from Isaiah.
Isaiah
26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together
with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust:
for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and
the earth shall cast out the dead.
And then, a
few hundred years later, as Daniel writes under the reigns of the last
Babylonian emperors and the first Persian.
Daniel
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Keeping this
understanding of the ancient Jew and Gentile before the Jew came into being
(Job) read the “dry bones” prophesy in Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel
37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves,
and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel.
See the following on the
rapture or translation, the Biblical term, of the church;
1Thessalonians 4:13 ¶ But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. 16 For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Our current
flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life. It is just not possible for it to
do so.
1Corinthians 15:1 ¶ Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the
twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this
present, but some are fallen asleep. 7
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of
one born out of due time. 9 For I am the
least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God. 10 But by
the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was
not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me. 11
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 ¶ Now if Christ be preached that he rose from
the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of
the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith
is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found
false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up
Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ
raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised,
your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most miserable.
20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive. 23
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they
that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then
cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Fatherwhen he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all
enemies under his feet. 26 The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things
are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things
under him. 28 And when all things shall
be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that
put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the
dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy
every hour? 31 I protest by your
rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with
beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and
drink; for to morrow we die. 33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some
have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35 ¶ But some man will say, How are the dead
raised up? and with what body do they come? 36
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou
sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or
of some other grain: 38 But God giveth
it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is
one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and
another of birds. 40 There are also
celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is
one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 Thereis one glory of the sun, and another
glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from
another star in glory. 42 So also is the
resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in
incorruption: 43 It is sown in
dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in
power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it
is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual
body. 45 And so it is written, The first
man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is
spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the
second man is the Lord from heaven. 48
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the
heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption.
51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed. 53 For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory? 56 The sting of
death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
So, in order
to live forever we must have a body different than one of mortal flesh and
blood. We can be resurrected because inside each of us, if we have received
Christ, the very Spirit of God dwells. Because of that we will be resurrected
and with a different, spiritual body which we can enter into eternity with the
LORD who created us.
This is our
expectation and hope, one vital understanding of the meaning of Easter, the
resurrection of Christ celebrated, whether it is worshipped once a year, every
Sunday, or every day, as it should be. We will triumph over death by the One
who resides in us. We have that hope.
Romans 8:26 ¶ Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. 27 And he that
searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 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.
Paul says
here that many times we cannot even pray for what we should or as we ought to
and the Holy Spirit opens up that communication channel with the throne and
says the things that need to be said. The Holy Spirit, the very mind of God,
makes the throne of the universe just a whisper away.
Verse 28 is a
very important verse and a good introduction to what comes next. According to
the sentence structure people who love God are the called according to His
purpose. It’s not rocket science.
Where else
are people referred to as the called? In chapter 1 it was the Christians
at Rome whom Paul was writing to as well as Paul Himself.
Romans 1:1 ¶ Paul, a
servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of
God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by
his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh; 4 And
declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness,
by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By
whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among
all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom
are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to
you and peace
from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you
believe you are called to something, called to be saints, sanctified ones set
apart for God. Here in this passage in Romans 8 loving God precedes the
calling.
In Paul’s
argument in 1Corinthians 1 the calling is for those that believe. It is not
that the wise men after the flesh, mighty, or noble men can’t be saved but they
often are too full of themselves to prostrate themselves at the foot of the
Cross throwing themselves on God’s mercy.
1Corinthians 1:17 ¶ For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the
preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom
of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the
scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the
wisdom of this world? 21 For after that
in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks
seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; 24 But unto them which are
called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is
wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things
which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are: 29 That no flesh
should glory in his presence. 30 But of
him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
In fact,
those who are called are also elected, known beforehand by God, by virtue of
their calling.
1Peter 1:2 Elect according
to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied.
2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the
rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if
ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
And yet, that
we would be sanctified, those who believe, was from before the world began,
based on His foreknowledge. We are chosen that we would be holy and without
blame before him in love.
Ephesians 1:4 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:
When we are saved we are said to
be sealed and the Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, earnest money, so to
speak.
2Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed
us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13 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,
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy
Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Now let’s
remember this statement Paul makes later regarding God’s perfect will.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have
all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
So, let’s put
it together. God wants all men to be saved. He did not make any for the express
purpose of damning them. While God calls all men to Christ only He knows
beforehand who will receive Him. Those who receive Christ have a calling and
are called by God to serve Him and love Him.
We are about
to see what we are predestinated to be and how we can be predestinated to
anything.
But, to conclude with this
passage, what does it mean all things work together for good?
The Bible is
primarily a book to us, a conversation if you will, from God to us. It is the
revelation of His ministry, God’s ministry, of reconciling mankind to Himself.
Hence whatever brings us closer to God is good. This is not about you getting
the job you want or having a good day with no nuisances. Either something draws
you closer to God or it pushes you further away. All things draw us closer to
God if we are saved, the chosen, the called, the saints, the sanctified ones
who belong to God. Unfortunately, that magical 1-2-3 repeat after me mantra
that passes for salvation has fooled
many people into thinking they’ve made a commitment when they haven’t even
considered Christ’s resurrection, the belief in which is the foundation of our
salvation as stated in Romans 10:9-10. If a painful event in your life can push
you away from God you need to immerse yourself in His words in His book to
learn the truth about reality and your life. I recommend really digging into
Job. Then pray, ask for guidance, and submit yourself humbly to His will as
revealed in the Bible and in reality.
Romans 8:29 ¶ 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.
Not only did
God not create any human beings specifically for the purpose of casting them
into Hell and then the Lake of Fire but those that He knew would receive Him in
the form of Jesus Christ as their Saviour when they receive Christ are
predestined to something after they are saved. That is, to be like Christ, the
brother or sister of Christ by virtue of being conformed to His image.
1John 3:2 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.
And it is
those people, those born-again followers of Christ, whom He calls to follow Him
in holiness, good works, faith, and trust. And it is those people whom He
justifies before Himself. And it is those people whom He justifies that He
glorifies with Himself.
Brothers and
sisters, you are now saved from the power of sin. You have been saved from the
penalty of sin. You will be saved from even the presence of sin. This is your
destiny, to be glorified with God by God.
1Peter 5:6 Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time:
Romans 8:31 ¶ What shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us? 32 He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing
to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it
is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, 39 Nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In this
perhaps greatest passage in the Bible on eternal security, that those in whom
dwell the Spirit of Christ and God, the Holy Spirit, known as the Holy Ghost,
cannot be lost.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28
And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and
my Father are one.
See here in
verse 39 with creature as a created thing. Even the ancient Greeks like
Plato understood that the forms we see and understand in this world have their
perfect, eternal counterparts which first existed in the world of the spirit.
It should not confuse us then that something like height or depth being spoken
of as a creature. These things, first as ideas and thoughts, exist first in the
mind of God and then in the physical world.
The point is
though that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate those who have God’s
Spirit in them from His love.
At Easter,
celebrating, and I hope you are celebrating in your heart, the resurrection of
Jesus Christ and by way of our faith and belief in that, our trusting in His
righteousness and not our own to get to Heaven, to eternal glory and life with
the One who made us, you realize your salvation. I hope you see that it is
secure. Don’t let preachers try to talk you out of it to control you. Trust in
the Lord. Put your confidence in Him. And above all things;
Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace
of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world; 13 Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ;
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