Glorious Liberty

"That also itself creation will be liberated from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."1

This bondage (a form of slavery) of corruption (decay, ruin, deterioration, perishable, rottenness) all creation has been subjected to because of sin. Death reigned through one man Adam, but through One, we receive through the One abundant grace and righteousness through which we will reign. This is a free gift which we receive by grace through faith in the One. Not only that, when we believed in Christ, something extraordinary happened, unlike any other creation, we are a new creation in Christ being the first born of many brothers, we received a Spirit of adoption, and the power to become children of God. Through the one man Jesus, many will reign, liberated from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

"For it was fitting that he, for whom by whom all things exist, many sons to glory, having brought, the author of their salvation to make perfect through suffering"5

Now, what was man that God was mindful of him? God put all things under his feet, giving man dominion over the earth, "He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him."6 What was not subject to man? Death was one thing. "He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."7 Paul writes, he became like His brothers, flesh and blood, to help the offspring of Abraham, "made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."8 

"Indeed, in that he has suffered, he himself having been tempted, he is able to help those being tempted."9

Because he suffered, we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness. Christ did not come to condemn man, but to reconcile and to save, thus He condemned sin in the flesh. One man was "made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."10 Surely we see grace, and hopefully we see the lesson of the law in that it doesn't give men dominion over sin. Though the law was spiritual and good, Paul writes, the commandment that promised life instead produced death, as the sinful passions of the flesh were aroused by the law, and worked to bear fruit for death.11 The old had a passing glory, the law a ministry of death and condemnation. Men were slaves to sin, and its wage was death. Who would deliver from this body of death? 

"For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."12

One act of righteousness, through the one man Jesus Christ, brought justification and life for all men. Surely God said "in the day that you eat from it you will surely die" but now he says through Christ in the day you eat from the tree of Life you shall surely live. This gift is different than the tresspass, many died because of one man, but because of one man many will live, "how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"8 If we are being united in His death, surely we will be like Him in life. "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."14

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."15

Paul writes "we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."16 This is the concept of salvation by grace through faith, so we do not boast that we did it and in order that we realize His power is being perfected in our weakness. The Law kept Israel under bondage until Christ, it did not perfect men nor give Life, it produced death, Christ came that we might have Life, and abundantly. The principle of sowing states that the seed must die to bring forth life. "Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."17 We should know this, it is in the teachings of baptism that we are united in His death, participating in His suffering so that we may be united in His life. 

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."18

Far exceeding is the glory in Christ. Paul writes it is "for the glory of God that grace extends to more and more people, so it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."19 He writes "we have the same spirit of faith... Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence."20 "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."21 We see why we have the riches of His grace, and why we experience suffering, for glory, "many sons to glory, having brought, the author of their salvation to make perfect through suffering"22

"For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.23 So death is at work in us, but life in you."24

God has "shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Paul writes this perfection is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory, and that he counts all things rubbish so as to know Christ. But there is a price to pay for those who wish to know Christ, so they will suffer as Christ did, and some more than others so that His glory is to be revealed, "always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake." But the reward is great to others as life will be experienced, as Paul writes though "death is at work in us, but life in you." So the death at work in Paul, was producing revelation knowledge of the truth so that others would experience life through the teachings of Paul. But this suffering is light momentary affliction that is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope."25

This suffering and the hope we have is a picture we see in creation itself moaning and groaning, eagerly waiting, "longing for the revealing of the sons of God," for it "will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." In our redemption of the body, our transfiguration, so will the earth be renewed, and if the earth is symbolic of us and the body of Christ is symbolic of the Church, it too will be transfigured. There will be a pure bride, a new heaven and a new earth. It is a picture of the glory of transformation, to be conformed to the image of Christ, from glory to glory, while our bodies decay, deteriorate our spirit is being renewed day by day. 

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."27

Like the earth we too groan inwardly. We hope in Christ, this is to the praise of His glory, "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope."28 Faith is the substance of things hoped for. We hope for the redemption of our bodies. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words."29 When we first put our hope in Christ, when we believed we, "were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."21 One day we will gain full possession of this redemption in Christ, of our body, and this hope within us will be fully realized, we will see Him face to face, to the praise of His glory!

"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"30 "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness."31

We have this hope in us, as our spirit is agreed with His that we are His children, in such a Spirit of hope and adoption we cry Abba Father! One day the agony of this bondage of corruption will cease, and we will fully realize the glory of God as we will fully become like Christ. We have this hope within us now as it transforms us from glory to glory. "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."32 To the praise of His glory, we are His children and we are becoming like His glorious Son, in whom we have such Glorious Liberty to approach our Father. 

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”33

We are moving up into this Glorious Liberty. Into the realm where our born again spirit dwells, perfected, sitting as Paul writes in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. One day we will see Him face to face in glory, that glory which the Father has bestowed upon Him, and we will be fully known as Christ fully knows us. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"34 For there is no condemnation in Christ, "The Spirit helps us in our weakness... the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."35 

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined... And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."36 

God gave man dominion, all things had been placed under his feet, but he was not subject to all things, death had dominion because of sin. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ conquered death, having been raised he has dominion over death and the devil. "God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."37 Also in Christ, we were chosen, so that we who put hope in Christ, are to the praise of His glory.38 We also have received an inheritance, the Spirit as a guarantee of the inheritance, to the praise of His glory.39

"in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus."40

We see the eternal purpose in Jesus, who came in the fullness of the Father, of grace and truth. By the riches of His grace, the good pleasure of the will of the Father, he purposed in Christ, that we should receive the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory. It is a Spirit of adoption, whereby we are called children of God. While our bodies decay, we are being transformed by Spirit and Truth into the image of His Son, from glory to glory, until we have full possession.41 

"And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."42 

By grace through faith in Christ, and by His Spirit, the pledge of the inheritance, we are called the sons of Abraham, the elect, the remnant, predestined by promise through the Seed of Christ. "Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?"43 There is no condemnation in Christ,44 but where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Life and Liberty. "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus..."45 Jesus died for sin, sin and death no longer has dominion over us. "Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."46

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son."47

I stand in the glorious Liberty given to me by Christ, I have this power to be called and to receive the promises of a child of God. In this liberty I am being transformed into the image of His Son, from glory to glory. As a child of the Father, I am rooted and founded in love, and as a young man His words abide in me, I am strong, I shall overcome this world, it is my nature. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”48 

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.""49

Those who receive abundant grace and the gift of righteousness in Christ will reign. These are justified and will be glorified. We know our justification is in Christ by faith "and those whom he justified he also glorified." So what is this glorification of those justified? There is glory in obedience, doing the will of the Father, a glory in transformation, in sanctification in truth, to be like His Son, and glory in oneness with the Father. This is Glorious Liberty; to "be liberated from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." It is by adoption, I have such hope in my inheritance, a Spirit of adoption, not of fear but of power, love, and the sound mind of Christ. May the Father enlighten us to know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power in us who believe.50

Transfiguration