Romans 8:18-25, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
When I think of this glorious hope that we have in Christ Jesus I tend to think of it as our living hope (1 Peter 1:3-5) that comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And this living hope is our inheritance that is imperishable and un-defiled and that does not fade away and is reserved in heaven for those who are in Christ and this reservation is being kept by the power of God through faith for salvation which will be revealed in the last times. This is the Glorious hope that we are looking forward to, because here on earth in our sinfulness and the brokenness of this world we face many difficulties, even varying degrees of suffering. Yes, life has it’s moments of joy and pleasure but we must all agree that something is terribly wrong. It was the fall of humanity in Adam that has scarred all of humanity, so we look forward to the day when what went wrong will be made right. But if we are not in Christ this day that is coming (the return of Christ) will not be good for those who are far from God and dead (spiritually/eternally) in their sins and trespasses.
For I was once dead in my sins and trespasses, but God who is rich in mercy and because of His great love in which He loved us has made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). We are actually seated (positional/spiritual) together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6) so that our life is now hidden with Christ in God, so that when Christ who is are life appears, we will appear also with Him in glory (Col.3:3-4). Therefore our lives are not our own because we have been bought at a price; the blood of Jesus Christ and received the Spirit of life (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Actually we received the Spirit of adoption as sons in which God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, by which we cry out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:5-7) Therefore we are sons and heirs of God through Christ in that this spiritual adoption is the down payment until the finalization of our adoption (our inheritance).
This Spirit of adoption is the down payment (guarantee) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession; our body (Eph.1:13-14, Rom.8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:5) which has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ who appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb.9:26b). He did this (the removal of the first covenant to establish the new covenant) so that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (Heb.9:15, Heb.10:9-10).
Romans 8:23-25 – Therefore we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption (final), the redemption of our body as we look forward to that which is unseen. Looking forward in hope with anticipation to the things which are unseen and eternal, the promise of our eternal inheritance – The Glorious Hope!
2 Corinthians 5:1-4 – For we know that if our earthy body, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens by which Christ has appeared in the presence of God for us (Heb.9:24) in that He always lives to make intercession for us (Heb.7:25), and we are secure in Christ. Remember our life is hidden with Christ in God. So what is our state of being here on earth? The reality is that our citizenship is in heaven and so we should be looking forward to and anticipating the coming of Christ by living in light of that eternal hope which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, by pointing others to Christ.
But as we wait we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling which is from heaven in which we are eagerly waiting for the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body and conform it to His glorious body (our heavenly body a building from God – 2 Corinthians 5:1, Phil.3:20-21). For we who are in this tent (our earthly body) groan, being burdened not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life (2 Corinthians 5:2-4).
For this corruptible body – which is corrupted because of sin and the fall – we must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit in-corruption (1 Corinthians 15:50), this is why we look forward with anticipation for this in-corruption and this immortality, our eternal glory – the redemption or our body (Rom.8:23) in which we will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye when Christ returns (1 Corinthians 15:52). So when this corruptible (fallen nature) has put on in-corruption and this mortal (death from sin) has put on immortality then death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
Therefore we should be thankful because of this great victory and hope we have in Christ as well as determine to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord – who has given us such great and precious promises – knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corn.15:57-58) as we look forward with anticipation to this eternal hope, the finalization of our adoption, the redemption of our body. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a down payment (guarantee) of what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5).
We are confident knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight knowing that we were saved in this hope and hope that is seen is not hope for we hope for what is not seen (eternal glory) by faith eagerly waiting for it with perseverance. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Rom. 8:24-25). Therefore because of this Glorious hope we have in Him, we must make it our aim to live for the Lord and to be well pleasing to Him, who has made a way for us to have this redemption and glorious gift of salvation – our eternal inheritance and hope in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God. And as Children of God it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed (Christ), we shall be with Him, like Him, and we shall see Him as He is in all His glory (1 John 3:1-3).
This is our glorious hope! – oh how glorious it will be when we put of this sin-infested corruptible mortal body, in which we will experience this eternal hope of glory, knowing in that very moment that the suffering we may have gone through here on earth was not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us when we step into glory (Rom. 8:18) and we are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye as He transforms our lowly body and conforms it to His glorious body – for we will be with Him, like Him, and see Him as he is. It is then that we will know more clearly what this glorious hope is that we have anticipated in Christ Jesus which will be enjoyed not in a moment but for all eternity.
