AT HIS COMING, HE RECEIVES THE INHERITANCE WITH THE RISEN CHURCH

^[p. 274] AT HIS COMING, HE RECEIVES THE INHERITANCE WITH THE RISEN CHURCH

In Colossians 1: 18, Christ is called “the head of the body, the church ... the firstborn from the dead.”

But in what manner do these things take place? — “As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” These words are found in 1 Corinthians 15, where we find the subject of the resurrection exclusively treated. Thus again it is also written in Romans 8: 30, and that in reference not to sanctification, but to glory — “Whom he justified, them he also glorified”; without any mention of sanctification. Philippians 3: 21: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.”

The time when these things will be accomplished is clearly taught in Scripture. Christ is now hid in God, and our life is hid with Him there; Colossians 3: 3. The present time is that during which are gathered, by the Holy Ghost, the members of His body, His joint-heirs, while He is seated at the right hand of Jehovah, until His enemies are made His footstool. The apostle says, “But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down in perpetuity at the right hand of God, waiting from henceforth until his enemies be set for the footstool of his feet,” Hebrews 10: 12-14. He has accomplished all that was to be done for the redemption of us, His friends; and while He is still gathering His own by the power of the Holy Ghost whom He has sent, and who reveals Him, and the Father through Him, He is seated, in the expectation of the possession — and not in the effective possession — of the earth, of creation; until the number of the joint-heirs is completed. He is sitting on the Father’s throne, and it is there that the church knows Him at the present time.

But while He is waiting, we wait also; and even as regards the whole creation, it waits also: it waits for the manifestation of the children of God. As for the time and manner of that manifestation, the Scriptures are clear.

^[p. 275] Since we are to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus, it is evident that it must be by resurrection and by glorification; for He is risen and glorified. Therefore it is said that the whole creation waits for the manifestation of the children of God; and the apostle adds, “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,” Romans 8: 19, 23. Again, it is written, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory,” Colossians 3: 4. “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” 1 John 3: 2.