ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
Some people think we may claim the redemption of our bodi~s now if we have faith enough. If that were so, why then should Paul say we are "waiting for the redemption of our body"? No, my friend; we are waiting for the great emancipation that will be ours in the resurrection. Then we shall take our full places in the family of God. Then we shall come into the fullest realization of the sonship of God. Then "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor.15:54-57). Following the statement of this truth in verse 23, which we have just considered, Paul adds in verse 24: "Jn that hope were we saved." This is the correct rendering here. Our spirits have been saved; and in that sense our salvation is a thing of the past. We are saved definitely and consciously. for time and for eternity. But we are hoping for the redemp- tion of our bodies also: we are waiting for full salvation, when we shall be made like unto our glorified Lord. We are sub- missively waiting for His coming. Do you get impatient, dear suffering soul? Do you long for the return ·of Christ? His promise is sure; His return, certain! "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Doth his successive journeys run." And "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." However, the return of Christ to rule and reign is not primarily the "blessed hope" of the church. His return for His Bride, when "the dead in Christ shall rise" at the trans- lation of the church-this is the Christian's "blessed hope." Then following the seventieth week of Daniel. He will return in glory, with the church, to establish his millennial kingdom. Then it is that "the creation itself also shall be delivered from [Page 151
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