Spiritual Gifts part 71. Three cataclysmic events radically changed planet earth.

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Sunday,
January 9, 2011

Spiritual Gifts Part 71: Three different cataclysmic events radically changed the nature of planet earth.

The Doctrine of Adoption

The Holy Spirit uses our situations of suffering to produce the virtues of Christ’s character in us.

katartizoo;
to render fit, sound, complete
a. to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair: MAT 4:21

b. to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust: HEB 11:3
c. ethically, to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be: 1PE 5:10

The plan relies on our obedience to His commands.

The plan involves learning from situations of suffering.

The plan centers on the work of the Holy Spirit in manufacturing the virtues of Christ in us.

Paul has the audacity to say that exulting in our tribulations is THE SAME THING as exulting in hope of the glory of God.

Here we see believers in Christ on the upward arc of God our Father’s great plans for us:
Justification
Grace and Peace
Glorification

In the meantime we can exult in our tribulations, because we have assurance that the Spirit will transform our suffering, by stages, into hope.

Our Father’s plan for us in time is that we advance to maturity, receive those blessings held in escrow, and glorify God in time and on to eternity.

Paul is emphasizing that glorification is the ultimate end and goal of adoption.

The final result is that we shall become like the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, perfect and in glorified bodies.

The original function of nature was perfect order. However, nature had its fall along with man.

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, nature is going to function properly.

God will unveil the true nature of Christians at the Rapture, and He will publicly manifest our real status at the Second Advent of Christ.

Paul is emphasizing that glorification is the ultimate end and goal of adoption.