Joining the Ultimate Royal Family

What would you think if a royal family wanted to adopt you? I'm sure most of us would be flattered and some might even accept that offer. We could give up our jobs and live in luxury. No more mowing lawns or making dinner for us since some servants would do all that.

What many folks shamefully reject is the magnanimous offer of the King of Kings to adopt them into his family. Paul explains this benefit of surrendering one's life to Christ in Romans 8:13-15 (BBE). "For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father."

Though our spirits are adopted at this time, we'll also have new bodies to live in when Christ returns. Romans 8:23 (BBE) explains, "And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies."

We also read in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (BBE) that, "See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed. For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life."

But for now, we have access to all the spiritual blessings of God through the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:19 (BBE) says, "So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,"

We also can do what the Levites in Israel could never do, except for the chief priest once a year. Because we're Christ's children, we may enter his throne room through prayer. Hebrews 10:22 (BBE) invites us, "Let us go in with true hearts, in certain faith, having our hearts made free from the sense of sin and our bodies washed with clean water:"

Isn't this, along with the peace of mind and rest promised us, worth surrendering our wills to the Master? I'll point this out in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Through Adam, we all have offended the creator of the universe. But through Christ, we gain his pardon. Doesn't it make sense therefor to give up our own foolish ways to follow him?

On Saturday, I'll post about a song which was used on a reality police show.

The Christian View of Liberty

Americans make much of their liberty. On July fourth, patriotic folks shoot off fireworks and celebrate another year of freedom. And while they celebrate independence from a tyrannical foreign power, we believers celebrate our dependence upon the King of Kings.

But how can subservience to a king free us? Sin is what rules our world at present. Jesus himself answered that question when he confronted the Pharisees. They thought they were free and were Abraham's children when they actually were in satanic bondage. John 8:34(BBE) reads, "And this was the answer Jesus gave them: 'Truly I say to you, Everyone who does evil is the servant of sin.'"

Worldly folks figure we live drab and tedious lives. If only they could know how we rejoice in God's provision of salvation from the tyranny of sin. Romans 5:1 and 2 (BBE) say, ""For which reason, because we have righteousness through faith, let us be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Through whom, in the same way, we have been able by faith to come to this grace in which we now are; and let us have joy in hope of the glory of God."

Better still, we become adopted children in the royal family of Christ. As Paul explained in Ephesians 1:4 and 5 (BBE), "4   Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love: As we were designed before by him for the position of sons to himself, through Jesus Christ, in the good pleasure of his purpose,"

Moreover, we give all that we are in exchange for all that Christ is. Hebrews 9:16 and 17 (BBE) explains, "Because where there is a testament, there has to be the death of the man who made it. For a testament has effect after death; for what power has it while the man who made it is living?"

Since Jesus died, we gain all that he has bequeathed to his adopted children. And since he lives, he enjoys it all with us. Revelation 19:6 and 7 (BBE) describes this joyous occasion when the Bride, meaning all of us believers, will be married to the Lamb of God, meaning Christ. "And there came to my ears the voice of a great army, like the sound of waters, and the sound of loud thunders, saying, 'Praise to the Lord: for the Lord our God, Ruler of all, is King. Let us be glad with delight, and let us give glory to him: because the time is come for the Lamb to be married, and his wife has made herself ready."

So we understand that what sinners consider bondage is actually liberty from the hellward spiral of the world. Knowing these glorious facts, how can any believer in Christ stay silent? This world will pass but Christ's rewards are eternal.

This and much more will be in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Worldly folks think they're free but they're in the worst bondage imaginable.

On Saturday, I'll post about the summertime blues teenagers get when they have to actually work for a living.