Posted on 07/14/2021 5:04:17 AM PDT by metmom
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
True Christians long for the return of their King.
The words of the old hymn, “This world is not my home,” express the attitude of every true child of God. True Christians have a hope in their heart, a hope focused on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the apostle Paul, we long to be set “free from the body of this death” (Rom. 7:24); we “groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). We long for the day when “just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:49).
Our hope is a sanctifying one. John writes, “Every one who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3), while Paul reminded Titus that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:11-13). Our hope is a sensible one, leading to godly, responsible living. It does not justify careless living (2 Thess. 3:6-15); there is no such thing as someone who is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.
Do you find yourself longing for Christ to return and “transform the body of [your] humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21)? If so, take heart. That’s another evidence that your salvation is genuine.
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray with the apostle John, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
For Further Study
In Philippians 3:20 Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven,” while in Colossians 3:1-2 the apostle commands us to focus on heavenly things. Where is your focus? What do you spend your time on? Rearrange your priorities and schedule to give first place to eternal realities.
Studying God’s Word ping
Maranatha!
🙏🙏🙏
AMEN!!!!!
Good post. Thanks!
This world is not my home. Waiting. 🙏
Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh. Sometimes it seems like we get so bogged down with our troubles. I know I do. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Maybe the kundalini people think Paul didn’t get healed, because he didn’t have enough faith, to which I say, hogwash. Anyway, the point of the matter is, Paul may have thought, and we should too, yes, our problems seem insurmountable, but maybe Paul thought, he had all of the trillions and trillions of eons, to forget about his thorn in the flesh. And when trillions and trillions of eons have passed, eternity will have just begun. What a hope we have. By the way, that is assurance of salvation, and putting it rather BLUNTLY, I don’t really care if anyone likes or accepts my assurance. 😀
As the song says, “I just stopped by on my way home.”
Awaiting that
Glorious New Morning that
Will come when the
Radiance Will be
The Lord Jesus!
Amen
Might come across the wrong way but I always question self-professing Christians who wish to live their life now and don’t long for being with Christ.
It does make you wonder.
Another thread to devolve into the continuing Rapturist/Anti-rapturist slugfest?
Depends on who shows up all in a tailspin over people believing there’s a Rapture.
This is a great time to come back in to FR. There is a Tailspin Alert warning and here I stand, ready to help batten down the hatches and brave the cruel onslaught oby the doctrines and traditions of fallen men crowd. !
Welcome back.
How have you been?
Would you like to splain to us what John means when he writes ‘we shall see Him as He is because we shall be like Him’?... Will everyone see Him, or just those He transforms (1 Cor 15:51-58)to be like His glorified state?
Hi metmom! I’ve had a few health problems since January but I’m finally getting back to normal (?!). But I will say that the November election broke my spirit for a while. I had to just walk away until God gave me an attitude adjustment and peace about what’s going on. So here I stand, ready to fight the good fight!
I think we’ve all been there.
It was a very discouraging time.
No.
Will everyone see Him, or just those He transforms (1 Cor 15:51-58)to be like His glorified state?
When one reads the ENTIRE verse you've referred to, it is obvious who the 'we' are.
Whether others might see Him is not evident from THESE verses, but this one may shed some light on the subject...
Revelation 1:7.“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”
You just dropped off of our radar for 9 months!
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