The Daily Word of Righteousness

I Will Come to You, #9

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. (Romans 8:34)

Our High Priest, Christ, makes intercession for us night and day before the throne of the Father. By so doing He makes it possible for us to dwell in the Father's house.

Finally, the Lord Jesus Himself comes to us, in fulfillment of the Levitical feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34). He personally introduces us to the Father. The Father and the Son take up Their everlasting abode in us. Thus we are created a room in the Father's house.

When we reflect on what has just been stated we can see it was not possible before Christ's death and resurrection for any of the Apostles to have become a room in the Father's house. It is Christ's death and resurrection that has prepared a place for the Apostles and for each of us in the Father's house.

Christ Himself is the Father's House. Christ has prepared a place for each of us in Himself. He has made room for us in Himself. He invites us to dwell in Him as He dwells in the Father.

Peter and the other Apostles could not dwell in Christ while Christ was alive on the earth. It was necessary for Christ to suffer and die, to be raised from the dead, and to return to the Father, in order for the saints to dwell in Him.

He could not explain all of this to His disciples. Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would explain it later.

No human being can dwell directly in God nor will God dwell directly in any saint. God dwells only in Christ and Christ dwells in God. As Christ is formed in us and abides in us we are enabled to dwell in God through Christ. Also, God dwells in Christ in us.

Christ is the everlasting House of God. Christ has prepared a place for us so that we may abide in Christ and He in us. This is the Father's House and the Kingdom of God.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; . . .

The blessed hope of the Christian Church is the coming of Christ from Heaven with the saints and holy angels.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Jesus promised, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself."

I will come again . . . !

Of what coming is the Lord speaking?

The context of John 14:3 does not appear to be the second coming of Christ from Heaven in the clouds of glory (as in Revelation 1:7, above). Rather, it is the coming of Christ to the elect, to those for whom He has prepared a place in the Father.

Notice carefully:

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 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 [mansion] with him. (John 14:22,23)

To be continued.