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LIBERTY E PLEASE: read all listed verses.The object of this lesson is to show a little more of what God has promised to them that believe on Jesus Christ. 1 John 3: 3; Titus 2:11-15; Heb. 9:28. Then consider Isaiah 28: 9-10.
Rom. 8:16-25. The groaning of creation is apparent everywhere. For example consider the case of animals. Lions attack, mercilessly kill, and eat harmless gazelles. Gazelles keep on reproducing, but their progeny suffers from the lions. The lioness must eat and feed her cubs.
This has gone on for centuries. Why not just let all lions and gazelles die off and stop their hurting? Why should it continue? This describes a little of Rom. 8:19-21.
Rom. 8:20 is also why God allows the asp and the cockatrice (poisonous serpents) to exist. They contribute to the suffering, but they too, suffer.
God has given hope that all of the creation shall be released from its misery. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isa.11:9). THAT is why lions and gazelles can't become extinct. That's why gazelles can't just give up. God's Word says there WILL be lions, bears, leopards, wolves (all are predators now) in the millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ. They won't be predators then.
Until then, the predators MUST survive. Therefore, they must eat. No mortal can adjust the problem or ease such groanings of creation.
God has appointed a time when His glory shall be known in all the earth, according to Isa.11: 9. He shall gain His eternal purpose. Jesus Christ knows how, and He has the authority to "fix" things that are locked into frustration now.
Matthew 24:9-14 shows a similar plight for believers. For nearly twenty centuries, God's Blood bought saints have endured fathomless suffering. Millions and millions bore terrible martyrdom. Why didn't Jesus come and deliver them?
Why doesn't the world behave itself, and quit hindering the work of God? Why does satan wage relentless war against the people of God?
The answer is in Rom. 8:21-25. God has purposed to take out of the nations a people for His Name. Many of such holy people will receive glorified, immortal bodies, without dying! The Church MUST survive until then! Why?
First, because the husbandman has long patience for the precious fruit of the earth, James 5:7. Secondly, because the saints are awaiting the redemption of our body, Rom. 8:23. Therefore, generation after generation, century after century, the saints of God have endured. But look at God's promise of glory. It is the liberty of the sons of God, noted in Rom. 8:19. Praise God.When will that happen
? Rom 8:23 tells us. When will the redemption of our body take place? At 1 Cor.15:51-58. This means that the hope of 1 Thes.4:16-17 is MORE than that of escaping the antichrist. It is the hope, and the beginning of the fulfillment of Rom. 8:23 and Isaiah 11:9. It is the fulfillment of 1 John 3:2-3. It is our deliverance from the bondage of corruption. All of creation shall be changed.At last! Forever, the redeemed shall be free from bodily appetites by which sin tempts us. Note Matt. 22: 30-32. In our glorified bodies, we will not even want or need to be married! Again, Luke 20:27- 36. Freedom from normal, mortal appetites is one part of the glorious liberty of the sons of God, Rom. 8: 23. We shall be gloriously changed, 1 Cor.15: 51.
Adam's race cannot now escape the appe- ites for food, marriage, sex, and reproduc- tion. God gave them to man in Gen. 1: 28. They WILL continue until we are raptured and changed, 1 Cor. 15:51-52. This is not to disparage the normal appe- tites of mankind. The holy use of them all is blessed by God. Heb.13:3; 1 Tim. 4:3-5; Psa.127:3.
Having such appetites is NOT an excuse for us to sin! God will judge everyone who defiles their appetites by sinning with them. God, Who subjected creation to the first
condition, will give it a new condition when Jesus comes at 1 Thes. 4: 16-17, and when 1 Cor. 15:57 occurs. Note also that flesh and blood (mortal humanity) cannot inherit that condition. Mortality MUST be changed, and only God can change it. Religious doctrine cannot do it, else Apostle Paul WOULD have done it! He "paid the price." But it didn't happen to Him. Phil.3:8-12.
As the Holy Spirit leads, we are getting more light about the purpose of God for the Body of Christ. We are getting nearer and nearer to the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. "... and unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time with out sin unto salvation (Heb.9:28)
Jesus has warned us to watch and pray. Are you ready for the future that God has planned for His people? We can only be ready by being (or becoming) born again and then following Jesus. John 3:3-5; Roman 10:9; Luke 9:23-25.
There is a difference between a human affection and a vision of service from God. A vision from God is a reason and purpose for which you will sacrifice, if need be. An affection is something you simply like.
Many have affections and are content to indulge them. When they are done, nothing remains. But a vision is needed to persevere as in Prov. 29:18. Jesus urged us to obtain a vision. Mt. 6:33.
Abraham and the saints of old had a vision. Heb.11:9-17. Do you have that vision, or only an interest in prosperity for selfish uses? Per the vision, prosperity is God given for the sake of the vision. Your welfare is a benefit of the vision. Psa. 37:3.
FACT: God opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. Psa. 17:4.
I love you.
Pastor Poole