Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1Pet 1:18-21).
In Roman 8:29 we read, “whom He did foreknow…” which literally means, “I knew you before.” Indeed, we were in Him and with Him before the foundation of the earth (Ep 1:4). But we could not comprehend Him who is Love (1Jn 4:8). And so we descended to this time-space dimension we call earth with all it’s limitations and struggles. Ultimately each of us will be forced to accept our miserable estate and death will have it’s way (Ez 18:20, Rm 3:23, Rm 5:4).
But to demonstrate His tremendous LOVE toward us, God came to humanity in the form of a man – a state in which He pre-existed (Jn 3:16) and defeated death itself (1Cor 15:55-57). And by believing in this Jesus (Ac 16:31), who in truth is God – for in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 2:9), by accepting His work on a cruel cross (Gal 6:14), by repenting of one’s sinfulness (Lk 5:23) and committing one’s life to Him (Rm 12:1), a lost sinner can be saved and inherit Eternal Life (Rm 6:23, Rm 10:9).
Hence we are RE-DEEMED or brought back to our former glorious estate by Him who purchased our salvation by His own precious blood (1Pet 1:18-19). And not only did He conquer death but He went to hell where I was supposed to go because of my sin (Ps 16:10, Ep 4:7-10, 1Pet 3:18-20). He actually took my punishment.
This is the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). We all are prodigal sons. You see, like the prodigal in Luke 15, this REDEEMING LOVE can never be truly understood unless it is lost with no hope of ever getting it back, but regained against all hope. Hence we are REDEEMED! Then love is finally and at long last understood. Indeed, God, who is Love, is understood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth (Ep 3:17-20).
Why is that necessary? So that we can enter into Oneness with Him (Jn 17:21). So that we can inherit all things (Rev 21:7a). So that we will know Him as well as He knows us (1Cor 13:12). So that we will be “filled with ALL the fullness of God” (Ep 3:19). Oneness with God is the fellowship He desires (Jn 17:21). And even a partial understanding of this love is enough to transform the vilest sinner into saint (Rm 1:7).
In this GREAT SALVATION we go from a prodigal son to a Son of God (Jn 1:12, Rev 21:7b). Yes, indeed, He is the FIRST BORN among MANY brethren (Rm 8:29).
HALLELUJAH! PRAISE HIS NAME FOREVER!
Be blessed in Jesus name,
Brother Jerry Turk