The Daily Word of Righteousness

How Romans 8:2 Works, continued

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. (John 14:23)

We have just finished describing three great steps in the program of redemption. We have come now to the fourth step.

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death by:

4. Completely filling our changed personality with the fullness of the Father and the fulness of the Son through the fullness of the Holy Spirit so we are living in untroubled rest in the Father through Christ.

Here is the goal of the program of redemption. The goal is to provide an eternal house, a throne, a chariot for God.

God desires to dwell among His children but there are difficulties. We see the difficulties in the Garden of Eden, at Mount Sinai, at the way Christ was treated while living on the earth.

God (as always) has a brilliant solution. It is to create for Himself a throne made of people whom He is making sons, a Wife for the Lamb, judges of men and angels, kings and priests who are authorized and competent to govern successfully, bless, and heal the saved of mankind. This is the Church, the Olive Tree. This is the true Israel of God, composed first of Jews then of Gentiles.

God never dwells in Adam, only in Christ. Before God will dwell in any human being Christ must be formed in him or her.

First, we must be forgiven.

Next, all the idols of the world, the flesh, and self-will must be removed from us.

Next, our human nature, now released from idols and bondages of all kinds, must be crucified and raised in Christ. All must die and all must be born again in Christ so that it is son of God and son of man—because this is what Christ is and the Lamb will marry only that which has been begotten from Himself.

Eve was fashioned from Adam and was Adam in another form. She was married to Adam by virtue of being formed from Adam. Eve could not marry another because it would be Adam marrying another.

The Church is being fashioned from Christ and is Christ in another form. She is married to Christ by virtue of being formed from Christ. The Church cannot marry another because it would be Christ marrying the other personage.

In so saying we are not implying that we are equal to Christ or are another Christ. There is one Lord Jesus Christ and we in Him.

Christians today are seeking the power of Christ. This is a mistake. We should not be seeking the power of God but the Person and Presence of God.

Satan wants to be like God but he would never consent to be part of God. Satan wishes to preserve his individuality.

Christians today want to be like Christ but do not consent to become part of Christ. They desire to preserve their individuality. When they do they become satan, the accuser, the adversary, the enemy.

There is only one Christ in God's plan and we are being made an integral part of Him. He is the Vine and we are the branches. Our individuality is lost in His Splendor but our uniqueness is preserved and enhanced, just as the individuality of Christ is lost in the Splendor of the Father but His uniqueness is preserved and enhanced.

We are not partners with Christ. We are being created part of Christ—bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.

The Bride is not a queen. She is the Body of Christ. Queens get ideas of their own and seek their own glory. The true Bride of the Lamb never seeks her own glory. She herself is the glory of Christ.

The purpose of the Law of Moses is to bring us to Christ. Christ, and only Christ, can set us free from the law of sin and death. This He does—totally, completely, majestically.

Are you a participant in the majestic program of redemption? If not, what are you a participant in?