LOOKING for Our Redemption: Fullness of Our Salvation

This aspect of our faith, the full redemption, was hard for me to see. I have strong views, and sometimes those views are just wrong, or partially wrong. I like to think about that when I get to fastened to a viewpoint just to remind me that I have thought one thing only to realize that it was wrong later, and this is one of those things. This is how it was regarding the truth of our full redemption. I had attended a Bible study class that taught on a proper understanding of our full redemption, and I got into an argument with the man teaching the class. (Well, he did say that he was ok being challenged. I may have taken him too seriously, but I do need to see the pathway to a conclusion if I am going to amend my views.) The difficulty that I ran into regarding the truth of our full redemption that most of Churchianity has removed from the equation, was my understanding of the power and redemption available to us right now.

As you will see in this blog, I believe in pressing into the Kingdom of God now because that is what we need to be transformed into His image. I discovered these realities in the pits of my despair, (I say "pits" because there were many). I learned that Jesus's death and resurrection were totally sufficient to meet my needs, and that His love truly knew no bounds, and that if I will mix the promises with faith, I can enter into those promises because Jesus already defeated the power of sin and death. Death, and all lesser forms of death including mental and physical suffering, were taken by Christ when he suffered for our sins. This means death has no power over us who believe on Him. So, when they began talking about the reality that we don't receive the fullness of our salvation right now, I protested vehemently. But I was wrong, and they were wrong too, as it turns out. I say that because they did seem to misunderstand the fullness that we have now by saying things like "healing isn't a finished work because many godly saints who had faith weren't healed." No, the word is clear that healing is our bread and can be received as children receive their dinner because Jesus took our penalty. The word is also clear that a living faith will always come forth in divine change, be it moral character, or bodily healing.

If we say we have faith but don't see the outflow into the physical realm, we probably have strong hope-but not faith. Faith truly does KNOW for certain that a thing IS despite what is seen, and it comes from the Spirit of God, who is faith! (Hebrews 11:1) But Satan uses these stories of failed healings to keep unbelief going in the church, because in the end he wants us all dead yesterday. So because the teacher didn't appreciate the fullness of our salvation that exists now, I could not accept the truth that he was trying to share regarding our the fullness of our redemption. In a nutshell, right now, we have the deposit of the Holy Spirit who administers God's life to us, and God Himself (that's the Spirit). Christ in Us! But Paul explains somewhere that our spirits are alive because of Christ, but our bodies are still dead because of sin. Obviously. God did not intend for us to get saved to go to heaven, but to get saved from physical death too. Death was the consequence of sin, and life is the consequence of Jesus's obedience. He is the second Adam, and all who trust in him will overcome physical death by rising from the dead someday to live with him forever. I know, it's CRAZY! Why does it feel harder to believe that story then it does to believe that we will live in some far off heaven? I guess because it's so darn real.

Here are a few verses about it.

2 Peter 3:10-13

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the father fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire agains the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. But, beleoved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and athousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of god, wherein the heavens being one fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to hispromise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

Is the church looking to such things? What things? The earth to melt with ferverent heat? Are we looking for the full redemption of our bodies? God made a downpayment on us. He has a deposit down on us, and we are his, but in a corrupt body. How many are aware that a full purchase is in the offing, and are living to that day when we shall stand before Him. How then shall we live?

“Wherefore, believe, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

Don’t be led away in error, but ‘Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen”

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