Romans 8:18
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” . The Church of Christ is on a journey, but unlike Israel in the wilderness that sought the promised land and toiled to get there, we are in the promised land already in Christ Jesus, the risen Lord.
As Apostle Peter put it, the Church is now in between the ‘Sufferings of Christ’ and the ‘Glory to follow’.
1 Peter 1:11″Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
The Spirit of Christ was present in OT Saints inquiring about the times we are presently in.And the result of such search was always ‘that Christ shall suffer and enter into his glory’ .That’s what Peter meant by the” glory to follow”.
Jesus himself rebuked his disciples and called them fools for not grasping this all important theme of all scripture.
Luke 24:25-26″Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”
So Christ has actually entered into his glory, and we(His Body-the Church) have so entered also.
BUT Peter yet talks of another glory,” the glory to be revealed ‘.
1 Peter 5:1″The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:” To show that we are not yet there, he proceeds in the next few verses to admonish on what the Church leaders(Pastors and Teachers) must occupy themselves with as we await that revelation of glory. (see vs 2-9).
NOW the Church is in the Gospel age; that which heralds the final and eternal Age of glory. This is the reason you the Believer mustn’t be rattled or frustrated by the happenings in these times or those coming in the immediate future.
Rom 8:22-23
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
What should the Church be doing?
THE CHURCH OUGHT TO BE FOUND IN HIM AND COMPLETE IN HIM:
Phil 3:9″And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
The Church ought to put on Christ.
Gal 3:27″ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
As a believer, your life is in Christ. ‘In Christ Jesus’ is your physical address in practical terms. And it’s your profit to hold this fact sacrosant, and use it to navigate your flesh as you move through this world daily.
Romans 13:14 ” But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof”.
So how do you know if you have put on Christ?
Firstly, your prime and ultimate desire will be for men to see Christ when they behold you. In what Apostle Peter calls your ‘conversation’ .
1 Peter 2:12:”Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation”.(see 1 Peter 3:1-2, Phil 1:27).
Second indication that you have put in Christ is that you are not perturbed or careful anymore of man’s judgement of you. This is important as Paul warned in
Col 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”
You’re completely acquitted in the Lord, esteeming his acceptance above any man’s opinion of you.
Heb 2:11″For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren”.
Finally, the greatest sign of full acquaintance with the Lord is when you are confident that you are ‘complete in Him’.
Col 2:10
” And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
Know that the New Man, (which is who you are now) is God’s workmanship, his crafting. When men manufacture gadgets, they issue a Warranty on it. A warranty is a testimony of their confidence in the completeness and wholesomeness of their product. That means : ‘this product will do exactly what we say it will, otherwise we will refund your money’.
If men can give such guarantee, how much more God.
You’re complete beloved if Christ be in you.Do not allow any ‘wants’ to unsettle you, or blind your eyes. Your needs are already provided in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:1
Yeah, Christ is in you, that’s what makes you complete. Paul describes it as a glorious mystery (Col 1:27)
It’s something you keep in view daily, examuning the magnitude of that grace.
2 Cor 13:5:”Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
You know you’re complete in Him when you are no longer yearning for more of God in religious obeisance as many do today when they cry” more of you, more of you” before God in prayer.
When you’re not allowing your heart to be unsettled by any man’s doctrine, visions, and testimony that leaves you fearful, depressed and feeling inadequate before God.
You’re complete in Him when you’re not fretting over any circumstances you find yourself in, COVID-19 inclusive.
Finally, acquit yourself holy and precious in God’s eyes. And be filled with the joy of God’s love and approval.
-by Nich Mbaezue PhD