Are we not now (in Our New man) in full union with Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ? Who is the real man or woman that is us, is it the Old (Carnal) Man (or Woman), or is it the New (Spiritual) Man (or Woman)? Are we not to take 'here a little, there a little' of these Scriptural Truths, in order to Find The Truth of anything? Are we clear minded on the Things of God, that Please Him - are we not like 'flint' never wavering? Are we merely to be observers until the Resurrection of Our Bodies - are we not to be 'doers of The Word' - and if 'doers' what is it that we must do, if not 'all things in Christ Jesus as our New Man'?
That first comment that I put in bold is what I cannot agree to... now all the rest of it is what I believe is being worked in the chosen at this time, yes the process has started and cannot fail to be completed. But what I'm saying is we are not in 'full' unity with God while still in these carnal bodies. The resurrection is so much more than just the physical body changing to a spirit body, that is when I believe we join in 'full' unity with God. But now we are "heirs" and have the "guarantee of our inheritance."
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and
heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Luke 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
v.28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
This Scripture in Luke that says "your redemption draws near" as Christ is literally returning. Christ had said when they first see the "sign of the Son of Man appear in heaven" that is when He will call them up to meet Him in the air, the first resurrection, then is their full redemption.
Mat 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
v. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!
This passage in Ephesians puts the process the chosen go through in this life all together in a way that I think is clear.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
v. 4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
v. 5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
v. 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.
v. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
v. 8 which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
v. 9 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ
v. 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
v. 11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
v. 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.
v. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
v. 14 who is
the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. (ESV)
2Cor 5:4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
v. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
2Cor 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
v. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
v. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
mercy, peace and love
Kat