glorification

Vessels of mercy (Romans 9:23)

POST OVERVIEW. Examining the phrase “vessels of mercy” in Romans 9:23 and understanding how this relates to God’s glory and our resurrection glory.

GLORY

This study is a mini-study of our glory as mentioned in Romans 9:23. This is related to our resurrection (the subject of my upcoming book) because, in the resurrection, we who are fallen but have been redeemed enter into glory.

23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. – Romans 9:23-24

CONTEXT. Paul’s main subject in this section of Romans is the sovereignty of God in salvation. God, and God alone, is the one who decides who will be saved and who will perish. “He has mercy (unto salvation) on whom He desires, and He hardens (unto condemnation) whom He desires” (Romans 9:18). The apostle’s argument in Romans 9 is complex and our purpose here is not to unpack this difficult passage. Rather, our purpose is to notice that our future glory is related to God’s glory and is a demonstration of His mercy as manifested in His calling unto salvation “not Jews only, but also Gentiles” (9:24).

GOD’S GLORY. We must first distinguish between God’s glory and our glory as used in Romans 9:23. God’s glory emanates from Himself and is of His very essence. God is, by nature, wholly glorious. Also, God’s glory is both infinitely vast and complex. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). God created the entire universe to display His glory, and yet we know that “Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You” (1 Kings 8:27). But the universe is only one aspect of His glory, for His glory extends into things both visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth. God, in His condescension, has made Himself known to His creatures, and His supreme demonstration of His glory is His “granting to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that we may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). The point is that the riches of God’s glory have been made known by means of His preparing beforehand (in eternity past; Eph. 1:4) for glory (i.e., glorification) chosen vessels of mercy. In other words, God’s infinitely vast and complex glory is supremely displayed in the glorification of His redeemed people, these vessels of mercy.

AND OUR GLORY. By contrast, the natural man, because he is, by nature, fallen and corrupt, seeks to destroy glory. Man is a complete stranger to glory and cannot obtain even the smallest part of it unless God, in His mercy, chooses to bestow it on us. But, praise God, in the resurrection this is exactly what happens to these redeemed vessels of mercy, that “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52) all the elect will be glorified. This is our glory.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 9/4/2024                     #710

Seeing the resurrection in 1 Peter 5

POST OVERVIEW. A careful examination of 1 Peter 5 reveals that our future resurrection unto glorification is implied in several of the verses in this chapter. In this article, we are looking for the resurrection of the saints. (See also Post #690 on January 31, 2024, for an examination of the resurrection in 1 Peter 1.) This article will appear in my upcoming book, “The Resurrection: when the church is glorified.”

Although not the central theme of 1 Peter, the future resurrection of all believers on the last day appears in various places in this epistle. This article looks at the appearances of the resurrection in 1 Peter 5.

TWO IMPORTANT RESURRECTION IDEAS

Before we begin the examination of 1 Peter 5, we need to discuss two important ideas about the resurrection.

First, resurrection is essentially about the glorification of the believer. Resurrection is the event that inaugurates our glorification. On the last day, at the last trumpet, all believers, whether asleep or alive-and-remaining (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52) will be glorified as they rise and meet the Lord in the air. Again, the resurrection is the initiating event of the eternally glorified state of all believers. At the resurrection, we will be glorified and will continue eternally in that glorified state. So, the resurrection begins glorification.

Second, when we read about our future glory, we should at least mentally note the connection with the resurrection. Both the resurrection and our eternal glory constitute our hope, but in slightly different ways. As the finish line ends the effort and the suffering of a long foot race, so the resurrection ends the trial and the suffering of life here on earth. We persevere to the end, pressing toward the goal for the prize, knowing that there is a finish line not far ahead that will end the difficulty of the race. And so we endure the hardship with hope, knowing that soon we will rise immortal in the resurrection.

But we hope also in our glorification because the knowledge that we will eternally be glorified helps us see the brevity of our earthly distresses. When we compare our tribulations in this life with the glories that await, we can indeed view these trials as “momentary light afflictions which are producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:18). We can say with the apostle Paul, “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

We see, then, that the resurrection and our future glory overlap and blend into one another. Our glorification unto eternity is our hope and that glorification is revealed at the resurrection. The resurrection is to glorification as birth is to physical life and as new birth is to eternal life. The resurrection is the inception of our glorification.

Whenever the Scriptures mentions our future glory, the resurrection is necessarily in view because the resurrection is the event that begins our eternally glorified existence. Thus we can think of in these terms: “our glorification at the resurrection.”

DISCOVERING THE RESURRECTION IN 1 PETER 5

5:1. In 5:1, Peter says he is “a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed.” We also recall from earlier in the epistle (1:5) that all believers are “protected by the power of God for a salvation ready to be revealed at the last time.” These two verses speak about the same thing: namely, of the resurrection of the saints on the last day. In 5:1, Peter is saying that he also (meaning “he along with all believers”) will share in the glory that will be revealed at the resurrection. Similarly in 1:5, the apostle teaches that God Himself is now protecting our salvation, a salvation which will finally be revealed in its glorious fullness in our resurrection on the last day.

In other words, in 5:1, Peter exhorts obedience based on our soon-coming glorious resurrection and in 1:5, he teaches the doctrinal truth that our salvation will remain completely secure until our soon-coming glorious resurrection. In both cases, we can be confident that our glory will soon be revealed. (Consider the same teaching in Col. 3:4 – “When Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”)

5:6. We turn now to 5:6, where Peter is addressing the issue of humility. Because “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (5:5), the apostle commands believers to humble themselves so that God may exalt them “at the proper time.”

But now what is “the proper time” when God will exalt the believer? Notice Peter speaks of the proper time, indicating that there is one proper time when all believers will be exalted. When is that time? Of course, we know that the time when all believers will be exalted is at the resurrection. So, Peter is commanding believers to humble themselves now “during the time of your stay on earth” (1:17), as they “live the rest of the time in the flesh (in the body)” (4:2) “that (ἵνα) He may exalt you (glorify you) at the proper time” (at the resurrection; 5:6).

Therefore, as obedient disciples, we humble ourselves under God’s sovereign hand, rejoicing as we persevere through life’s circumstances, patiently waiting for the promised resurrection when we will be exalted (glorified).

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10

5:10. As Peter concludes his letter to these scattered and suffering believers, he makes two more allusions to the resurrection and to our future glorification.

We will begin by examining the phrase, “(God) who called you to His eternal glory in Christ.” This phrase contains two significant theological concepts: first, the doctrine of God’s calling of believers and second, the doctrine of our future eternal glorification.

DIVINE CALLING. The doctrine of God’s divine calling of believers states that we are unable to respond to the gospel, because, in our natural state, all mankind is spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins (Eph. 2:1). Therefore, God Himself must call a person out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). (See also Colossians 1:13; etc.) Unless and until God calls a person out of their spiritual deadness and darkness, the person is helplessly trapped in their sin. God’s calling of an individual is not conditioned on anything about the person nor is it dependent on anything the person does or does not do. Whom God calls and whom God does not call and the timing of God’s calling of an individual are entirely within the sovereignty of God and therefore are outside the control of man. This doctrine also teaches that the calling of God to a natural person dead in their sins cannot be resisted or refused. That is, when God issues His divine calling, the individual human must respond. When God issues His divine call, the sinner comes to life and emerges from their spiritual tomb.

JESUS’ DIVINE CALL TO LAZARUS. This is perhaps best illustrated by the story in John 11 of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead for four days. He was thoroughly and completely dead. You might say he was extremely dead. He was so dead that his sister said, “By now he stinketh.” But Jesus, as God in human flesh, “cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ The man who died came forth” (John 11:43-44). Jesus sovereignly commanded Lazarus to get up and come out of the tomb and Lazarus, even though he had been dead for four days, could not resist or refuse the command. God called and man the creature obeyed the call. It is the same with all those whom the Spirit of God calls to eternal life. Those who are dead in their trespasses and sins are made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:1, 5) so that we might experience everlasting joy and “so that in the ages to come He (God) might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). (See also Rom. 8:28, 30; 9:23-24; among many other Scriptures that explicitly teach this doctrine.)

CALLED TO ETERNAL GLORY. Having seen the nature of God’s divine call, we will now explore the purpose of God’s divine call. The text says that “the God of all grace (has) called you (i.e., all believers) to His eternal glory in Christ” (1 Peter 5:10). The meaning of this is not difficult to discern. When we were chosen by God in eternity past (1:1), our divine calling by God in time and space was guaranteed, so that we would certainly attain to God’s eternal glory in Christ. And when will God “Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you”? That is, when will you receive your eternal glory? You will receive your eternal glory when you are glorified in the resurrection. The event that changes us from disembodied spirits or living embodied mortals into glorified immortals is the resurrection.

SUMMARY

What we see then is that Peter ends his letter in much the same way he began. At the beginning of the letter, in 1:3-5 the apostle had spoken of a “living hope,” of an “imperishable inheritance,” and of a “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” We saw that these were references to the resurrection and that this teaching about our future glory encouraged these persecuted believers to rejoice in suffering.

Now, at the end of the letter, Peter again exhorts us to endure our present suffering “for a little while” (5:10) because soon the God of all grace will call us into our eternal glory at the resurrection.

So, we rejoice in the hope of our resurrection through whatever trials and suffering we experience here in this short life.

Soli Deo gloria            rmb                 2/20/2024                   #694

Pearls from the Word: Philippians 1:6

INTRODUCTION. A series of posts on my musings on selected verses from Philippians. This post is on Philippians 1:6.

The book of Philippians was written by the apostle Paul from prison. But despite his circumstances, Paul writes to his beloved Philippians with joy, thanksgiving, confidence, and hope as he instructs them how to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. – Phil. 1:6

This verse gives strong encouragement to every believer in Jesus that he or she will continue to follow Christ all their days and will, on the last day, be perfected with a glorified body to live forever with the Lord. Yes, all that is here in this verse!

GOD BEGAN A GOOD WORK

In this verse, we read that Paul is confident because God has done an amazing work here in this church in Philippi. “He began a good work.” This “good work” can be restated as, “God has saved you. You were dead in your transgressions and separated from Christ, but then you heard the gospel and believed.” The “good work” that God began in you is the work of your salvation. You have been delivered from the domain of darkness. You have passed from death to life. By grace you have been saved. The “good work” that God began in you is that you have been born again and you are now a new creation in Christ. You have been justified by faith. So Paul’s confidence about God’s good work applies to every believer, to everyone in whom God began the work of salvation.

HE WILL PERFECT IT UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS

But Paul’s confidence is also this: If God indeed began a good work in you and you have become a born-again follower of Jesus, God has guaranteed that you will persevere in your faith until the end of your life and that finally, on the last day, when Jesus returns, you will receive your perfect glorified body for your eternity with the Lord in heaven.

The New Testament is consistent and clear: every single person who has believed in Jesus Christ will believe in Him to the end. This doctrine has been called “the perseverance of the saints” and is explicitly taught in the Scriptures, not only here in this verse, but also in passages like Romans 8:30, which says, “and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Justification is the beginning of our salvation and glorification is the end. Thus we can say with confidence that every person who has been justified by faith will certainly receive their glorified body on “the day of Christ Jesus.” The God who began the work of salvation by our justification will keep us until He perfects the work by our glorification.

BUT THERE’S MORE! And God also preserves us until the day of Christ Jesus. From the moment of our justification, the Lord is actively preserving us in the faith. We persevere because God is preserving us. As we journey through this world of sin, we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), but the real power is from “God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (2:13). Since God the Father chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), and since we have been redeemed by Christ’s blood (Eph. 1:7), and since we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13), we can be confident of this very thing, that God will keep us until the day of Christ Jesus.

So, fellow believer, be confident of this very thing: God has saved you, and God will preserve you, and God will give you a perfect glorified body when Jesus returns.

SDG                 rmb                 5/24/2022                   #535

The doctrine of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)

NOTE: This post is an excerpt from my upcoming book on the end-times to be published this summer. rmb

“The Resurrection Chapter.” That is the nickname attached to 1 Corinthians 15, and it is entirely appropriate. This chapter gives the most comprehensive teaching on the Resurrection in the Bible. In this article, we will be looking at Paul’s teaching on both the historical certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the certainty of the believer’s future resurrection at Christ’s coming. Our objective is to discover Paul’s doctrinal teaching on the Resurrection.

(NOTE: Since we are covering a large section of Scripture, only portions of Scripture will be quoted to illustrate specific points. It is assumed that the reader is following along in their Bible as we move through the chapter. rmb)

THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (15:4-8)

Paul begins by establishing the historical certainty of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. He does that based on the trustworthiness of the Scriptures and on the reliability of many witnesses.

THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES (15:4)

15:4 – The gospel of salvation declares the fact that “Christ was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” An essential element of the gospel is the claim that Christ was raised from the dead on the third day “according to the Scriptures.” The Scriptures are completely trustworthy, and the Scriptures declare that Christ was raised from the dead on the third day. Thus, these two trustworthy witnesses, the gospel and the Scriptures, agree.

SUMMARY: The gospel and the Scriptures declare that Christ has been raised from the dead.

THE EVIDENCE OF HIS APPEARANCES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION (15:5-8)

15:5 – He APPEARED to Cephas, then to the twelve

15:6 – He APPEARED to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep

15:7 – He APPEARED to James, then to all the apostles

15:8 – last of all, He APPEARED to me (Paul)

Paul lists eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, almost all of whom could have been consulted at the time this epistle was written because most of these eyewitnesses were still living. The risen Christ APPEARED to many people, and those people could testify to the fact that they saw Jesus Christ after He rose from the dead.

SUMMARY: Many eyewitnesses could testify to the APPEARANCE of the risen Christ.

THE NECESSITY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (15:12-19)

15:12-19 Paul argues that, if Christ has not been raised, “then your faith is worthless.” The salvation promised in the gospel is a vain hope if Christ has not been raised. Christ’s resurrection is essential to the gospel (see 15:4 above). Indeed, without the resurrection, there is no gospel.

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OUR RESURRECTION (15:20-23)

15:20 – “But Christ has been raised from the dead,” and since Christ has been raised, “in Christ all will be made alive (15:22).” This is a declarative statement of fact and so constitutes a PROMISE, that all who are in Christ will certainly be glorified in resurrection.

15:23a – “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits . . .” Christ’s resurrection on the third day was “the first fruits,” the prototype for the general Resurrection.

15:23b – “. . . after that those who are Christ’s at His coming (παρουσία).” The Resurrection of all the redeemed of all the ages will occur at Christ’s παρουσία. As Christ was raised up, so all who are His will be raised up at His coming. “Raised up” should be understood as “glorified.” (See Philippians 3:20-21; Romans 8:30)

SUMMARY: Since Christ has been raised from the dead, all who are in Christ will certainly be glorified in the Resurrection.

OUR RESURRECTION BODIES (15:42-49)

In this section of the chapter, Paul is describing the glorified, resurrection bodies we will receive at Christ’s coming, and he does this by making two comparisons. He compares our natural bodies which we have with the glorified bodies we will receive (15:42-44), and he compares the first Adam and the body he gave us with the last Adam and the body He will give us (15:45-49).

COMPARING THE NATURAL AND THE GLORIFIED BODIES (15:42-44)

15:42 – Paul is very explicit about his subject – “the resurrection of the dead.”

15:42 – Sown in corruption (“perishable”); raised in incorruption (“imperishable”)

15:43a – Sown in dishonor; raised in glory

15:43b – Sown in weakness; raised in power

15:44 – Sown a natural body; raised a spiritual body

SUMMARY: Our resurrection body will not be subject to corruption, will be glorious, will be powerful, and will be a spiritual body.

COMPARING THE FIRST ADAM AND THE LAST ADAM (15:45-49)

15:45 – The first Adam received life from God and so “became a living soul,” but the last Adam is God and “became a life-giving spirit.” Adam received life from God, but Jesus, as God, gives life to men (John 5:21).

15:46 – First we receive a natural body and then a spiritual (glorified) body.

15:47 – The first man was made of dust, but the second man was sent from heaven.

15:48 – “As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.” Those who remain in Adam remain subject to corruption and dishonor, but those are now in Christ will look like Christ at His coming (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:29).

15:49 – We have borne the image of Adam, but because we are in Christ, we are PROMISED that we will also bear the image of the glorified Christ.

SUMMARY: Because we are in Christ, we are PROMISED that we will also bear the image of the glorified Christ.

THE EVENT OF THE RESURRECTION (15:50-55)

15:50 – Paul states that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,” and “corruption (perishable) does not inherit incorruption (imperishable).” What he is saying is that there is no way that our natural body can be modified or dressed up to make it admissible in heaven. How, then, do we who believe in Christ inherit the kingdom of God

? How do we who are currently subject to corruption and decay become incorruptible? There is only one answer to those questions, and that is, “through the Resurrection.”

            15:51 – Paul tells us a mystery; “we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” When Paul says, “we will not all sleep,” he means that at Christ’s coming (παρουσία), there will be believers who are still alive in “flesh and blood.” But we already know that all believers, whether in the grave or in “flesh and blood,” must go through the Resurrection to inherit the kingdom of God (15:50). Hence, “we will all be changed.”

            15:52 – The glorification of believers will occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Our “change” will be instantaneous. The trumpet of God (1 Thess. 4:16) will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised first (1 Thess. 4:16) “incorruptible,” and then we, the living, will be changed (1 Thess. 4:17). In the Resurrection, the dead in Christ will instantaneously be transformed from decaying corpses into glorified and incorruptible spiritual bodies, and those who are still living will instantaneously be changed from “flesh and blood” into glorified and incorruptible spiritual bodies.

            15:53 – “For this perishable MUST put on the imperishable, and this mortal MUST put on immortality.” It is necessary that our perishable bodies put on imperishable resurrection bodies, and our mortal bodies put on immortal resurrection bodies, and this is exactly what happens in the Resurrection.

            15:54-55 – When we have received our resurrection bodies, and have put on the imperishable and the immortal, then “Death will be swallowed up in victory.” Why? Because death will be no more! All the righteous will have become imperishable and immortal and will, therefore, no longer be subject to death. Death no longer has any victory and death no longer has any sting.

SUMMARY: In the Resurrection, at the last trumpet, all who are in Christ will instantaneously be changed into glorified, incorruptible spiritual bodies which are not subject to death.          

These “Summary” sections constitute Paul’s foundational doctrinal teachings about the Resurrection from this chapter.

SDG rmb 5/7/2021

Raised together with Christ – Colossians 3:1-12 Part 1

If I have died to sin (Romans 6:2), why do I still struggle with sin (Romans 7:15-25)?

If he was a slave of sin, but is now a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18), how can it be that Paul, the model Christian, laments his wretchedness in his struggle against sin (Romans 7:24)?

If the “old man” has been crucified, why does he still influence my behavior to sin?

I was musing on these and other weighty issues this morning and was led to consider Paul’s letter to the Colossians. As I meditated on Colossians 3:1-12, I discovered that the apostle Paul deals with several of these meatier matters here in this passage, so I decided to devote two or three articles to teaching on this.

ALL IS CONTINGENT ON BEING RAISED UP WITH CHRIST

What Paul is going to now teach in Colossians 3:1-12 is all contingent on his implied assumption in the first verse, which reads, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ (3:1, NASB).” The “if” in this verse should be understood as meaning “since,” because everything that follows in this passage applies only if the person described has, in fact, been raised up together with Christ. If you have not been raised with Christ, Paul’s teaching and exhortation will be confusing. But if you have been raised up with Christ, Paul’s teaching will be amazing and encouraging.

TWO QUICK COMMANDS

To his “raised-up-with-Christ” audience, the apostle issues two commands: seek and set. Since you are a born-again (John 3:3) believer in Christ, “Keep seeking the things above (Colossians 3:1b).” Keep hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Keep thinking about your heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20). Keep eagerly waiting for our Savior from heaven (Phil. 3:20-21). And again, since you have been raised up with Christ, “Set your mind on the things above (3:2).” Your sight is to be fixed upward. Allow your mind to dwell on noble things (Phil. 4:8). Renew your mind through the Word (Eph. 4:23; Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 2:2). These blessings are only possible if you have been raised up with Christ.

DOCTRINE: SPIRITUAL DEATH AND LIFE, AND GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST

Now Paul adds doctrinal truth to his teaching. A word about doctrinal truth: Doctrinal truth is universal in that it applies to all persons in a defined group without exception. Our “defined group” is all those who have been raised up together with Christ. The doctrinal truth is, “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (3:3).” So, we see that, according to Paul’s teaching, all true believers have “died.” In some real sense, we have died, and yet it is obvious that we also live. How do we untangle this knot? This is a complex subject that we will attempt to address briefly. Because of the sin of Adam and the Fall of man, all people without exception are born into the world with a bent toward sin and with a love of sin. This “old self” (Colossians 3:9) is a slave of sin (Romans 6) and, unless and until this person is raised up together with Christ, they continue to be under God’s wrath and judgment because of their sin (Romans 1:18). If they physically die in this state, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire. But the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims the news that when anyone who is living in the “old self” hears that Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners, and they repent of their sin and trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior, at that moment their “old self” dies, their “new self” (3:10) comes to life, and that person is raised up together with Christ. At that moment, that person has died to their old life of sin and they have been raised up with Christ to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Their “old self” has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), but they live to the glory of God. So, in that sense the believer has died, yet they live. And since Paul is teaching doctrinal truth, this “died-yet-living” is true of all believers.

Finally, in Colossians 3:4 we learn still more doctrinal truth about those who have been raised with Christ. Since you have been raised with Christ, “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Paul speaks unambiguously about that time in the future when Christ will be revealed. It is an undeniable fact that Jesus Christ is going to appear from heaven in blazing glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). It is a certainty that Christ will be revealed, but “When Christ is revealed,” what will be true of those who have been raised up together with Him? “Then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” This is the doctrinal truth that the apostle here declares: All those who have been raised up with Christ in life will be revealed with Him in glory in the resurrection. Those who have been raised with Christ will be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:30). (See also Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Thess. 4:14-17.)

SUMMARY OF RAISED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (COLOSSIANS 3:1-12) PART 1

Here is what we have discovered so far, in Colossians 3:1-4. “Therefore, since you have been raised up together with Christ:”

  • Keep seeking the things above (manifestation of faith / obedience)
  • Set your mind on the things above (manifestation of faith / obedience)
  • You have died in a spiritual sense, because the “old self” that loved sin and that lived a life of sin, has died (This is a doctrinal truth and is a consequence of faith.)
  • Your new life of holiness and obedience to God has begun (This is a doctrinal truth and is a consequence of faith.)
  • When Christ is revealed in glory, you also will be revealed in glory (This is a doctrinal truth and is a consequence of faith.)

The next lesson will continue with this passage and will see more of what Paul is teaching in Colossians 3:1-12.

SDG                 rmb                  2/27/2021