Scripture has always demonstrated that the union of God with believers establishes a permanent relationship with Him; and unbelievers who claim union with Him (for whatever reason) are always soon seen to be false, exemplified in those who perished in the past (e.g. Heb 3:17-19; Jude 1:5). There is, in one degree or another, fellowship between every believer in Christ and the Father—via Their Holy Spirit! There is constant growth in this fellowship, even if incrementally so, with every reborn soul by the Father’s “work” (Phl 2:13). Of course fellowship is the primary reason concerning union with God, in which all reborn are ever on the increase (Ro 8:29; 2Co 3:18; Eph 4:15), until entering the presence of the Father and His Son.
NC
NC
Grace and Glory
The liberty of the grace of God is the present portion; the liberty of the glory of God is the prospect of His children. God has met us in His grace in our estrangement from Himself, pardoned our sins, brought us to Himself, made us to know His love as our Father, put His Spirit within us and given us to rejoice in His Son. All this grace, perfect grace, and the child of God is in the happy liberty of this grace in the presence of his Father.
We have our present privilege by the Lord Jesus—“access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom 5:2). We have our prospect also, and which for excellence can only be compared with the blessing of the present favor; we “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2). What the glory of our Father is in its full extent, we know not, but sufficiently has it been told to make us eagerly long for the say of its display. His glory as Creator is declared by His “heavens” (Psa 19:1); His glory in the new creation will be declared in His children (2Co 4:6; Rev 22:17).
A glory far transcending the glories of this creation awaits His people. The Lord Jesus Christ, the risen and glorified Man, is the Head of the new creation, and its glories will be worthy of Him. Glimpses of heavenly glory have been seen for moments of this earth. One was granted on the mount of transfiguration, and again the glory shone (Act 22:11) from the face of the Lord Jesus as Saul was on his way to Damascus. The prize of the calling up on high awaits the children of God. They will be made like the Son (Phl 3:21; 1Jo 3:2), glory will be revealed in them, they will shine with Him (Jhn 17:22) manifesting the glory of God to all (to those eternally dwelling on the new earth—NC).
The Father’s grace towards us is perfect this very day. If we view ourselves as we were in our sin upon this earth (remembering only for purpose of penitent recognition, but not contemplation—NC), enemies to God and alienated from Him by wicked works, still we think of that which is greater than our sins and deeper than our natural hatred to God—His grace towards us (1Jo 3:20). If we lift up our eyes from ourselves and all that we are by nature, and look to heaven (Col 3:1, 2)—there in the glory we see the Lord Jesus, who died for us; and we learn, “to the praise of His glory,” that we are accepted, brought into divine favor in the Beloved, where He is. The grace of God in its riches is for us as His people, washed and made fit for heaven.
While our bodies shall be transformed like unto the Lord Jesus’ “glorious body” (Phl 3:21), at present we groan in this tent of mortality. Sorrows around and pains within us, occasion grief. Sighing according to divinely-given affections and hopes, is quite distinct from discontent and murmuring. The apostle Paul was a man of praise, yet he groaned, being burdened. The love of Christ in him, and the indwelling Spirit, made him do so (Rom 8:26). Deep sympathy with suffering, and sorrow for sin and surrounding wickedness, and desires to be with, and like the Lord Jesus, called forth his sighings; “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (2Co 5:2). “Ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Ro 8:23).
In the liberty of the glory the Lord Jesus will look into our hearts, and we shall look in His heart and find nothing but love. No mean thoughts will crowed our spirits then; all will be pure and holy, and all full of love in the light. We shall behold His glory, fully understand Him, and have perfect fellowship with Himself and His Father. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory” (Jn 17:24).
—H F Witherby (1836-1907)
MJS daily devotional excerpt for March 10
“A superficial acquaintance with God’s plan leads to the view that while justification is God’s work, by faith in Christ, sanctification is our work, to be performed under the influence of the gratitude we feel for the deliverance we have experienced and by the aid of the Holy Spirit. But the earnest Christian soon finds how little gratitude can supply the power. When he thinks more prayer will bring it, he finds that, indispensable as prayer is, it is not enough. Often the believer struggles hopelessly for years, until he listens to the teaching of the Spirit, as He glorifies Christ again, and reveals Christ, our Sanctification, to be appropriated by faith alone.” –Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
We have our present privilege by the Lord Jesus—“access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom 5:2). We have our prospect also, and which for excellence can only be compared with the blessing of the present favor; we “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2). What the glory of our Father is in its full extent, we know not, but sufficiently has it been told to make us eagerly long for the say of its display. His glory as Creator is declared by His “heavens” (Psa 19:1); His glory in the new creation will be declared in His children (2Co 4:6; Rev 22:17).
A glory far transcending the glories of this creation awaits His people. The Lord Jesus Christ, the risen and glorified Man, is the Head of the new creation, and its glories will be worthy of Him. Glimpses of heavenly glory have been seen for moments of this earth. One was granted on the mount of transfiguration, and again the glory shone (Act 22:11) from the face of the Lord Jesus as Saul was on his way to Damascus. The prize of the calling up on high awaits the children of God. They will be made like the Son (Phl 3:21; 1Jo 3:2), glory will be revealed in them, they will shine with Him (Jhn 17:22) manifesting the glory of God to all (to those eternally dwelling on the new earth—NC).
The Father’s grace towards us is perfect this very day. If we view ourselves as we were in our sin upon this earth (remembering only for purpose of penitent recognition, but not contemplation—NC), enemies to God and alienated from Him by wicked works, still we think of that which is greater than our sins and deeper than our natural hatred to God—His grace towards us (1Jo 3:20). If we lift up our eyes from ourselves and all that we are by nature, and look to heaven (Col 3:1, 2)—there in the glory we see the Lord Jesus, who died for us; and we learn, “to the praise of His glory,” that we are accepted, brought into divine favor in the Beloved, where He is. The grace of God in its riches is for us as His people, washed and made fit for heaven.
While our bodies shall be transformed like unto the Lord Jesus’ “glorious body” (Phl 3:21), at present we groan in this tent of mortality. Sorrows around and pains within us, occasion grief. Sighing according to divinely-given affections and hopes, is quite distinct from discontent and murmuring. The apostle Paul was a man of praise, yet he groaned, being burdened. The love of Christ in him, and the indwelling Spirit, made him do so (Rom 8:26). Deep sympathy with suffering, and sorrow for sin and surrounding wickedness, and desires to be with, and like the Lord Jesus, called forth his sighings; “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (2Co 5:2). “Ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Ro 8:23).
In the liberty of the glory the Lord Jesus will look into our hearts, and we shall look in His heart and find nothing but love. No mean thoughts will crowed our spirits then; all will be pure and holy, and all full of love in the light. We shall behold His glory, fully understand Him, and have perfect fellowship with Himself and His Father. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory” (Jn 17:24).
—H F Witherby (1836-1907)
MJS daily devotional excerpt for March 10
“A superficial acquaintance with God’s plan leads to the view that while justification is God’s work, by faith in Christ, sanctification is our work, to be performed under the influence of the gratitude we feel for the deliverance we have experienced and by the aid of the Holy Spirit. But the earnest Christian soon finds how little gratitude can supply the power. When he thinks more prayer will bring it, he finds that, indispensable as prayer is, it is not enough. Often the believer struggles hopelessly for years, until he listens to the teaching of the Spirit, as He glorifies Christ again, and reveals Christ, our Sanctification, to be appropriated by faith alone.” –Andrew Murray (1828-1917)