Daily Bread - JAN/15/08

Romans 8:21 - Also because the creation herself shall be liberated from the bondage of the corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

All of creation was subjugated to the reign of terror through Adam's transgression. In this verse, the redemption that is in Christ Jesus that has set us free from the dominion of sin and death is anticipated by all of creation. The redemption that we have received will ultimately be manifested in the glory of the first resurrection when our physical bodies will be raised up to be like His glorious body (Romans 8:19-23; Philippians 3:14-21). All of creation was subjected to corruption because of Adam's sin, but all of creation will eventually be liberated through Christ Jesus. This is also true of our physical bodies; for even though we who are the children of God have experienced the inward resurrection, we still wait in hope for the coming day of the resurrection of our bodies (Colossians 3:1-4; Romans 6:4-5; Ephesians 2:5-6). In the day of the first resurrection, the dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and remain will be changed in a moment (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). In that day the corruptible body will put on incorruption and the mortal will put on immortality.

At the time when Christ comes with all of His resurrected saints, all of creation will be liberated. The lion will lay down with the lamb, and the viper and the adder will lose its venom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). Every consequence of sin named in Genesis 3:14-19 will ultimately be removed (Revelation 22:3; Isaiah 25:8). The creation that was a good creation when God finished His work in Genesis that is now a groaning creation will become a glorious creation filled with the ecstatic wonder of the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org