God’s expected end for man was salvation; it still is. The grace of God and the gift by that grace hath abounded unto many (Romans 5:15). The grace of God is Jesus Christ; the gift by Jesus Christ is eternal life (Romans 6:23). Once faith in Jesus Christ has come into a man’s heart, his fruit is unto holiness and his end is everlasting life (Romans 6:22).
God’s grace and the free gift of eternal life by that grace has abounded unto many and not unto all. God cannot say, “All.” He must say, “Many.” Cain has kept the Lord from saying, “All.” All have not accepted God’s great salvation. Have they not heard the word of God? Yes, verily; but, they have not all obeyed the gospel. Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world (Romans 10:18). Isaiah is very bold. Of God’s grace, Isaiah states: I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me (Romans 10:20). But of Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people (Romans 10:21).
God’s having come to man to provide salvation (the Atonement) will be followed by man’s going to God in the Adoption (Romans 8:23). By faith in Christ, we are now the sons of God (1 John 3:2). We have the Spirit of adoption within us (Romans 8:15). Having received the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:5) by that Spirit of Christ, we have become predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself (Ephesians 1:5).
We who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ will be received of him in what God calls the Adoption: the rapture of the living and the resurrection of the dead. We will meet the Lord in the air; and, so shall we ever be: with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The Adoption is when God demonstrates his power even over our flesh: it will be changed (Romans 8:23). 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 (1 Corinthians 15:52).
When we were without Christ, we were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:12). We were without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12b). But now, in Christ Jesus, we are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both Jew and Gentile one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself, of twain, one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:13-15).
Christ hath reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby (Ephesians 2:16); for, through him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Therefore, we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
This commonwealth relationship will best be seen during the Millennial Reign for the Church and during the Eternal Kingdom, on a new earth, for the nation of Israel, the Sheep Nations and the Church. Israel will be an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. They shall suck the milk of Gentiles and the breasts of kings; and, they shall know, saith the Lord: I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob (Isaiah 60:15-16).
To be continued…