13 The Eternal State Of The Saved

Chapter Thirteen THE ETERNAL STATE OF THE SAVED

Many who call themselves Christians say that they are not concerned about the future state. What they are interested in is the present. The Bible, however, teaches that it is the future state that is of the greatest importance. In the first place the present life is limited to a span of a few years while the future is an eternity. Secondly, while there are glories of salvation to be enjoyed by the believer, even while in the present body, there is still the presence of sin and its consequences of poverty, sickness, death, and sorrow which will never be gotten away from during the present life. In fact the earthly existence of the saved man is but a period of preparation for an eternal state. Few there seem to be who realize the glories that await those who are saved and how exalted a position is to be held by them throughout an unending eternity. Finite mind cannot grasp the fullness of all this but the Bible reveals enough to show that it shall be the greatest thing that has ever come to any of GOD’s creatures. The eternal state for believers of this age shall be ushered in by the return of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ (all who are saved) shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). "We shall not all sleep (die) but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). This is the blessed hope for which believers are now waiting. When this shall have taken place then GOD by His work of salvation shall have removed every particle of the results of Adam’s sin including corruption and mortality. But there shall be much more than that. The saved shall forever "be with the Lord." This was His promise to His disciples; "I go to prepare a place for you . . . I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). Even before the foundation of the world believers of this age were of GOD the FATHER chosen in CHRIST to be holy and without blame "before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). JESUS speaking to His FATHER said: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). In the presence of GOD the FATHER enjoying His love in company with the Son of GOD and beholding His glory is the certain prospect of every saved person. But it is still more than that.

They shall not only be with JESUS CHRIST, they shall be like Him "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). ". . . as we have borne the image of the earthy (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:49). For the LORD JESUS CHRIST ". . . shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Php 3:21). To be conformed to the image of the Son of GOD suggests a position of great glory. And so it is, for the call by the gospel is ". . . to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Though it has not yet been experienced by them, it has already been given by JESUS to those whom the FATHER has given Him: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (John 17:22). And, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). But there is even more in store for those who are saved than to be free from the consequences of sin, to be forever with CHRIST, to be conformed to His image and to receive His glory. They are to enter into a perfect union with GOD. This is infinitely more than harmony. The angels are in perfect harmony with GOD, but they belong on a different plane. They are of another class. JESUS prayed to His FATHER; "Neither pray I for these (the disciples) alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John 17:20-21).

There are other declarations concerning the saved of this age which support this statement. "For we are members of his (CHRIST’s) body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:30-32). Here the relationship between CHRIST and the saved as between husband and wife. As a man and his wife must be the same level so must CHRIST and the church be also. The ultimate for the saved then, is to be raised to a divine level.

If GOD has only saved man from sin and restored him to Adam’s original state that alone would have been marvelous. To have done a little more and given him the position of an angel would have been greater. To have given to him the order of the archangel, or a seraph or cherub would have been still greater; but GOD does infinitely more than that, He raises the saved of this age even to the level of sonship - heirs.

Because the fact is so seldom recognized it is well to repeat that the marvel of this becomes all the greater when one remembers that Lucifer desired to be like the Most High and tried to bring it about by his own efforts. It was also the promise by Satan to be like GOD that caused man to sin and rebel against GOD. That which both Lucifer and man sought by self-effort and in rebellion against Him, GOD freely gives to those of His rebel creatures, who will but accept His Own Son as the propitiation for their sins. SO GREAT SALVATION!