A Glorious Destiny in Christ
We are being conformed into the image of the son.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whoi have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
This word IMAGE
1504 eikṓn (from 1503 /eíkō, "be like") – properly, "mirror-like representation," referring to what is very close in resemblance (like a "high-definition" projection, as defined by the context). Image (1504 /eikṓn) then exactly reflects its source (what it directly corresponds to). For example, Christ is the very image (1504 /eikṓn, supreme expression) of the Godhead (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15).
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
We must recognize that the sin, struggles and temptations we face are COMMON TO MAN.
We must recognize that if we are IN CHRIST, we are going through the process, and it's the SAME PROCESS.
We partner with God in this process in our lives.
We partner with God in this process in the lives of others.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:25-27
How does Christ love the CHURCH? By giving himself up for her
IN ORDER TO:
- Make her holy ( Sanctification )
- How does he make her holy ( cleansing by washing with water through the word )
- RHEMA WORD - a spoken word, made "by the living voice"
- Present her to himself as a
- Radiant Church
- Without Stain or wrinkle
- or any other blemish
- Holy
- Blameless ( unblemished from the marring effects of sin. )
How do we love the Church? ( THE PEOPLE )
We give ourselves up.
We give up our right to be offended.
We give up our right to be RIGHT.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
How are you loving people in their process?
Or Are you impatient, unkind, envious, boastful, proud, dishonoring, self seeking, easily angered, keeping record of wrongs, holding grudges, delighting in evil, un-trusting, lacking hope, giving up?
Love allows for empathy.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16
We empathize with weakness.
If we do not, we suffer from pride.
We can approach God with confidence and receive mercy and grace in our time of need.
The other question is, can others approach YOU with confidence that they'll receive the same grace and mercy that YOU'VE received from God?
“He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.”
Hebrews 5:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/heb.5.2.esv
“For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints — and by continuing to serve them.”
Hebrews 6:10 CSB
http://bible.com/1713/heb.6.10.csb
“Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.”
Hebrews 7:25 CSB
http://bible.com/1713/heb.7.25.csb
Jesus is the priest AND the sacrifice
We are a priest and a sacrifice. Living sacrifice.
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14 CSB
http://bible.com/1713/heb.9.14.csb
In every stage and season of maturity, God’s grace is enough
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14 CSB
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