The Daily Word of Righteousness

Imputation and Transformation, continued

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (I John 3:9—NIV)

The Law of God and His Word will go forth throughout the ages to come. All of us will continue to be transformed by it. The victorious saints, the remnant of Jews and Gentiles, now one stick in the Lord's hand, will return with the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem and turn away sin from the Jewish people.

Speaking of the coming to maturity of His Body the Lord said:

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:32)

Compare:

"He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day That we may live before Him." (Hosea 6:2—NASB)

The Church finally will come to perfection. There yet shall be a Bride as terrible as an army with banners, without blemish of any sort whatever. Difficult to imagine in the present hour but as certain of fulfillment as the Word of God!

Salvation includes imputation and transformation.

Imputation is the assigning of righteousness to the believer on the basis of the forgiveness of his or her sins. The assigning of righteousness is made possible through the atonement made by the blood of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

Transformation includes redemption and growth in the image of Christ and growth in union with God through Christ.

Redemption is a finite work. Redemption is deliverance from all of the person and all of the works of Satan. The deliverance occurs in spirit, in soul, and in body.

There is a time when redemption begins and a time when redemption has been completed.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2—NIV)

Transformation is an infinite work. It has a specific beginning, when we receive Christ, but continues throughout eternity, as we understand it.

Transformation, as we have said, includes redemption from the power of Satan as well as growth in the image of Christ and growth in our union with God through Christ.

Transformation occurs as we are discipled, taught, the Word of God and then act on it. As we act on the Word of God, the body and blood of Christ are given to us in the spirit realm. Christ is formed in us in spirit, in soul, and, when the Lord returns, in body. We are not completely transformed until all we are and do proceeds from the Person of Christ.

As Christ is formed in our personality the Father and the Son come through the Spirit and make Their eternal home in us.

To be continued.