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“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” – 1 John 3:2

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Having been made into flesh, resurrected, and glorified, we follow after by His power to raise us, change us, and bring us. At least, that is the hope of eternal life from before the world began (Titus 1:2). Yea, we rely on Christ the eldest heir, for He is the way to the Father and by none other shall any approach (John 14:6).

We’ll share a few verses that perhaps support our exploration.

Jesus is entirely God and fully man.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Or, as the Hebrews writer says, the express image of God. Made in God’s image to be resurrected and given a sinless body, we will be like Him.

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” – Colossians 1:15

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” – Hebrews 1:3

“[T]he express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power” is something to ponder. Here we could write five more pages. Perhaps one day we will. Try entering into the throne room of Heaven and ask Him how this can be and how He does it. It sounds like a good way to end up at an end, disassembled and headed to clean out the cat litter box, mumbling incoherently to yourself.

We are His possession purchased now, though forgiven of sin and saved, but not yet fully redeemed.

[The Holy Spirit of promise] “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:14

The earnest of our inheritance? Perhaps you put down “earnest money” if you’ve purchased a house. It shows that you are serious about your intent. Jesus is serious about His intent. Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, and especially 5. As Ephesians 1:14 does, it shows that the Holy Spirit given to us is His earnest intent to collect on His promise.

“And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 3:23

In these next verses, we see the Kingdom of God in Spirit now that may point to the end state when we shall all be one.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” – 1 John 4:15

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” – John 14:20

And so we conclude in prayer that we’ve done no damage to the word of God but searched out meat to grow by. Made in the image and likeness of God, to look at the creature to find the creator is fruitless. There’s too much sin, too much baggage, too much pride, fear, and unbelief. You might as well see a shrink for the knowledge of God it’ll get you. To look at oneself to see a picture of God is to so grievously injure the image of the Holy One that it rightly would call for a good old-fashioned whoopin’ from the Father for supposing such an approach.

To enter into the presence of God, this vile body first must be ejected. Surely you don’t want to be there in your current wicked receptacle. We suppose this to be the purposes of the resurrection and glorified body; at any rate, He wouldn’t have us thus, or He would not have given His Son a sacrifice to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

If you’re reading this and finding it hard to know what to do, know only that you must be ready to meet Him, must be numbered among those belonging to Christ Jesus, for the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The kingdoms of death and hell will not abide. The only things left will be the Holy One and His vessels to give Him honor and glory forever. You don’t have to be full of knowledge; you must only be full of faith, ready to be received of Christ. “For we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

God gave His Son an inheritance. Christ is bringing to fruition that Kingdom. God is doing His own good pleasure, the object being not only the end but the leaving behind of any doubt that He is God; the ends of men will come, some to the presence and glory of the Almighty and some to fire. Be among those fit vessels firstly surrendered to Father God through faith in His Son, crucify your desires daily, seek the lost with the Gospel, assemble with the saints in lovingkindness, support one another, teaching all nations that which Christ commands.

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” – Revelation 21:22